The systemic administration of a potent muscarinic agonist pilocarpine
in rats promotes sequential behavioural and electrographic changes th
at can be divided in three distinct periods: (a) an acute period that
built up progressively into a limbic status epilepticus and that lasts
24 h, (b) a silent period with a progressive normalization of EEG and
behaviour which varies fi-om 4 to 44 days,,and (c) a chronic period w
ith spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs). The main features of the SR
Ss observed during the long-term period resemble those of human comple
x partial seizures and recurs 2-3 times per week per animal, Therefore
, this novel and unique experimental approach may serve as a model of
epilepsy mimicking the human condition.