Survey study, 2012
How do changes in brain chemicals during your cycle affect seizures?
This lab study in mice found that a brain chemical that normally decreases before your period protects against seizures. When it drops, seizures become more likely.
What they did
Researchers created seizures in female mice, then raised and lowered a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone to mimic how it changes during the menstrual cycle.
What they found
When the neurosteroid was high, seizures decreased in the mice. When levels dropped, seizures increased in frequency and severity, and the mice became less responsive to seizure-stopping medicines.
What it means for you
This basic research may help explain why seizures can worsen around menstruation and could guide development of better treatments. The main limit is this was a mouse study, not humans.
About the study
- Original title
- A mouse kindling model of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy
- Authors
- Reddy DS, Gould J, Gangisetty O
- Journal
- The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Raising and lowering neurosteroid levels to mimic menstrual cycle
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1124/jpet.112.192377
Topics
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