Global cerebral ischemia, as experienced during stroke or cardiac arrest, continues to be a major killer in the US and those who survive the acute attack experience many neurological deficits. Currently, there are no therapies to prevent neurological damage from cardiac arrest or stroke. One of the major obstacles for developing effective treatments is the lack of understanding how and why neurons die when deprived of oxygen. Excitotoxicity, excessive release of glutamate in the CMS, is a pathophysiological event that occurs during ischemia and is thought to be a major culprit in cell death. However, therapies using glutamate receptor antagonists to block excitotoxicity result in many detrimental side effects in humans. Alternatively, increasing the level of inhibitory tone may prevent excitotoxicity. Studies using GABA receptor agonists to block excitotoxicity have yielded inconsistent results, resulting in a loss of interest in GABA activating compounds as therapeutic agents. A possible explanation for these findings was unveiled in more recent studies which show that GABAA receptor protein is decreased following ischemia, possibly decreasing the effectiveness of GABA potentiating drugs. Our lab has been able to reaffirm these findings in Purkinje cells in culture, which receive robust excitatory and inhibitory drive and are particularly susceptible to ischemia. Using electrophysiological recordings to asses the functional activity of GABAA receptors, coupled with molecular biology and histology techniques, I plan to characterize the functional decline in GABAA receptor activity following ischemia and determine the mechanism of neuroprotection granted by the neurosteroid allopregnanolone. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31NS060220-01A1
Application #
7486518
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HOP-T (29))
Program Officer
Golanov, Eugene V
Project Start
2008-06-01
Project End
2011-05-31
Budget Start
2008-06-01
Budget End
2009-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$40,972
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Anesthesiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239