This project is designed to identify and quantify the molecular mechanisms of NMDA receptor proteins and their subunit coassemblies that are necessary and/or sufficient for hyperexcitability of physiologically-verified (EEG) epileptic human cortical seizures. The most frequent drug-resistant neocortical seizures occur in human epileptics with cortical dysplasia. This serious seizure disorder occurs in approximately 20% OF all epileptics and is associated with the most severe social and educational retardations compared to the other focal or generalized epilepsies. Most of these cortical dysplasias can be surgically removed and in some cases seizures are reduced or eliminated. Surgical success however cannot be predicted from routine histopathologic analysis of the resected cortex. Continued seizures requiring medication occur in about 50% of cases. By contrast, sophisticated immunocytochemistry on NMDA receptors has now revealed upregulation of the NR2 subunits, and their coexpression with NR1 subunits in epileptic but not non-epileptic cortex. This proposal is designed to uncover the mechanisms by which NMDA receptors generate hyperexcitability by examining freshly resected epileptic cortex (documented by preoperative cortical recordings of the EEG seizure onset). Quantitative comparisons will be made in each patient's """"""""epileptic"""""""" and """"""""non-epileptic"""""""" cortex (no EEG seizure onsets). These parallel studies will uncover differences in NMDA receptor composition and function in: 1) NMDA receptor protein subunit gene products NR2A, B and their coassemblies with NR1 A-H )splice variants); 2) double-labeled NR1-NR2 immunofluorescence on single dysplastic neurons; 3) coimmunoprecipitation blots for NR1-NR2 antibodies; 4) Northern blots (with mRNA hybridization tests for NR2A, B, and NR1 splice variants A-H; 5) quantitative in situ hybridization to confirm Northern blot mRNAs; and 6) in vitro slice and dissociated neuron electrophysiology with field potential, patch clamp recordings, and selective pharmacologic blockade of NMDA receptor subunits. These multidisciplinary protein, molecular, and pharmaco-physiologic analyses will provide new information about the mechanisms of epilepsy and may suggest novel approaches to designing new drugs. These drugs should selectively act on hyperexcitable dysplastic neurons that have unique heteromeric coassemblies of NR2 and NR1 subunits not found on """"""""non-epileptic"""""""" cortical neurons. Specific receptor-targeted drugs would avoid general nervous system depression and should provide more effective management of epilepsy in cortical dysplasia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS038150-02
Application #
6188028
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-2 (01))
Program Officer
Fureman, Brandy E
Project Start
1999-08-01
Project End
2001-01-31
Budget Start
2000-07-01
Budget End
2001-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$35,775
Indirect Cost
Name
Cleveland Clinic Lerner
Department
Type
DUNS #
017730458
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44195
Babb, Thomas L; Mikuni, Nobuhiro; Najm, Imad et al. (2005) Pre- and postnatal expressions of NMDA receptors 1 and 2B subunit proteins in the normal rat cortex. Epilepsy Res 64:23-30
Mikuni, N; Babb, T L; Wylie, C et al. (2000) NMDAR1 receptor proteins and mossy fibers in the fascia dentata during rat kainate hippocampal epileptogenesis. Exp Neurol 163:271-7
Babb, T L; Ying, Z; Mikuni, N et al. (2000) Brain plasticity and cellular mechanisms of epileptogenesis in human and experimental cortical dysplasia. Epilepsia 41 Suppl 6:S76-81
Ying, Z; Babb, T L; Mikuni, N et al. (1999) Selective coexpression of NMDAR2A/B and NMDAR1 subunit proteins in dysplastic neurons of human epileptic cortex. Exp Neurol 159:409-18
Ying, Z; Babb, T L; Hilbig, A et al. (1999) Hippocampal chemical anatomy in pediatric and adolescent patients with hippocampal or extrahippocampal epilepsy. Dev Neurosci 21:236-47
Hilbig, A; Babb, T L; Najm, I et al. (1999) Focal cortical dysplasia in children. Dev Neurosci 21:271-80