Stages of status epilepticus in the developing brain.

Background: Adult rats undergo five distinct electrographic stages during status epilepticus (SE). Whether developing animals manifest those stages is not yet known.

Goals: Determine in the kainic acid (KA) model: (1) the EEG stages of SE in P15 and P35 rats; (2) the relative susceptibilities of these two age groups to develop SE; and (3) the effect of phenobarbital on SE stages.