Retroviral integration sites display a subtle sequence preference unique to each virus. The HIV integration site favors G at nucleotides immediately adjacent to the attachment sites. The oxidative DNA glycosylases, with the exception of NTH1, all recognize some form of damaged G. Among the most common oxidative base lesions are 8-oxo-G and Fapy-G. It is intriguing that the BER pathway responsible for repair of oxidative damage, largely damaged Gs, appears to be important for HIV integration and that this integration occurs preferentially at Gs. In contrast, BER apparently does not affect MMLV integration and MMLV has no preference for G/C base pairs at integration sites. Whether BER proteins affect the integration sites of lentiviruses is under investigation. Lafora disease is an autosomal reccessive and fatal form of epilepsy characterized by the presence of cytoplasmatic aggregates of water-insoluble, poorly branched polyglucosans. These accumulate in the central and peripheral nervous system, among other tissues. This model reliably produces tumors of similar size and location, which allows for examination of many variables associated with brain tumors. Furthermore, it has been commonly used to detect tumor-induced changes in brain water content. In this study, a primary brain tumor cell line was not employed as metastatic brain tumors are more common and are associated with higher levels of edema formation. Immunocompromised mice are routinely used in cancer research, as the immune deficient nature of this strain allows for examination of human cancer cells in an animal model. However, one limitation of the use of these animals is the translational potential of research carried out in immune deficient species. Nonetheless, the results of the present study using immunocompromised mice are consistent with previous studies performed in immune competent animals, suggesting a dominant role for SP and the NK1 receptor in neurogenic inflammation in a variety of models of CNS disease.