Models of Chemically-Induced Acute Seizures and Epilepsy: Toxic Compounds and Drugs of Addiction

Numerous toxic compounds, either from natural or synthetic origin, can promote seizures, cerebral damage, and sometimes epilepsy. Although most of the studies have been performed mainly to study the toxicological mechanisms and deduce successful treatments, these compounds can also serve to set up models of broader impact. The chapter will review different classes of toxicants, namely inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (organophosphorus compounds and methyl carbamates), mitochondrial toxins, chemicals acting on amino-acid receptors, actin-binding toxins, natural toxins acting on sodium and potassium channels, and cocaine.