Ketogenic Diet and Adenosine in Epilepsy

Abstract

AbstractIn recent decades, several mechanisms have been reported to underlie the anticonvulsant effects of the ketogenic diet (KD). These mechanisms were found by using in vivo and in vitro animal models. This chapter reviews in vivo and in vitro approaches for investigating antiseizure mechanisms of the KD. In vivo animal models have been used with three types of seizure models: (1) electrical shock-induced seizure models, (2) drug-induced seizure models, and (3) genetically modified seizure models. In vitro animal models have been used by reproducing conditions of the KD: direct application of ketone bodies and hippocampal slices from KD-fed animals. Both can be used successfully for investigating the KD’s mechanisms. The discussion also focuses on adenosine-based mechanisms of antiseizure effects found by using in vivo and in vitro animal models. Adenosine might be one of the key mechanisms of the anticonvulsant effects of the KD.