[Morphogenesis of epileptic seizures]

Abstract

As a result of micro- and ultrastructural examinations of the epileptic foci in patients with epilepsy the authors have demonstrated a phasic character of the morphogenesis of the epileptic seizures. The first phase was the formation of the pathological focus (appearance of respective histo- and ultrastructural changes in the neurons, glia, and vessels) without seizures. The second phase was characterized by epileptization of the neurons: this manifested itself in mass activation of the axo-dendritic synapses (formation of the primary epileptic focus). The third phase consisted in the formation of "epileptic systems" with focal and generalized (mainly isomorph) seizures. In the fourth phase "epileptization of the brain" with polymorphism and increase of seizure frequency (not always) took place. The morphological (the histo- and ultrastructural) findings were compared with the clinical manifestations.