In addition, these mice present a second seizure type resembling human petit mal epilepsy. Calcium channel deficiencies have also been linked with other human conditions such as migraine, seizures, vascular and immune disorders and infertility. The subject of the invention is to use the knowledge gained by discovery of the channel defect in this mouse strain to screen for compounds that alleviate symptoms of the above disorders, and to use these compounds to treat those suffering from the disorders. Epilepsy is a group of disorders characterized by aberrant neurologic function due to abnormal electrical activity of the brain. Epileptic seizures can develop as a result of neurologic injury or a brain lesion or as a symptom of some medical diseases.
Epilepsy can also have a genetic cause.