Effect of Neurosteroid Withdrawal on Spontaneous Recurrent Seizures in a Rat Model of Catamenial Epilepsy

The study aimed to develop a rat model for catamenial epilepsy, a condition where women experience increased seizures during menstruation due to progesterone withdrawal. Researchers induced chronic epilepsy in rats using pilocarpine and observed spontaneous seizures, with an average frequency of 15 seizures per week. After 5 months, most rats showed neurodegeneration and mossy fiber sprouting. To simulate catamenial seizure exacerbation, the rats underwent neurosteroid withdrawal through a pseudopregnancy-finasteride paradigm, which resulted in increased seizure frequency and EEG discharge exacerbation. This model could be useful for testing new treatments for catamenial epilepsy.