Drug-in-Food Administration of Levetiracetam in the Scn1aA1783V/WT Mouse Model of Dravet Syndrome Suppresses Spontaneous Seizures
Abstract number :
3.195
Submission category :
2. Translational Research / 2D. Models
Year :
2025
Submission ID :
1234
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/8/2025 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Authors :
Presenting Author: Ashwini Sri Hari, PhD – University of Utah
Kyle Thomson, PhD – University of Utah
Ryan Cotter, BS – University of Utah
Gustavo Vasquez, MS – University of Utah
Jenny Huff, BS – University of Utah
Maggie Simmons, BS – University of Utah
Jose Reyes, MS – University of Utah
Jill Dahle, MS – University of Utah
Cameron Metcalf, PhD – University of Utah
Karen Wilcox, PhD – University of Utah
Rationale: Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a pediatric, epileptic encephalopathy caused by de novo mutations in the gene SCN1A encoding a voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav1.1) subunit. DS is characterized by early-life febrile seizures, psychomotor dysfunction, and pharmacoresistance1. The Scn1aA1783V/WT mouse model is used by NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program’s (ETSP) contract testing site at the University of Utah to screen novel therapies for DS. This model results in pharmacoresistant febrile and spontaneous seizures (~1/day), high mortality rate, and behavioral comorbidities2, 3. Levetiracetam (LEV) is an antiseizure medication (ASM) with a unique mechanism of action and favorable safety profile that is orally administered as an add-on therapy in DS patients. LEV monotherapy significantly (p< 0.05) increased the temperature threshold for hyperthermia-induced seizures in the
Translational Research