Neonatal stroke affects one in 4000 term births and frequently results in cognitive impairments. Neonatal strokes present with seizures, and anticonvulsants (usually phenobarbital) are administered for months afterward. Our central hypothesis is that impaired hippocampal neurogenesis after neonatal stroke contributes to cognitive dysfunction, and anticonvulsants modulate both post-stroke neurogenesis and cognitive outcome. More specifically we hypothesize that anticonvulsants increasing GABA signaling decrease hippocampal neurogenesis and impair cognitive outcome, and anticonvulsants inhibiting histone deacetylase increase hippocampal neurogenesis and improve cognitive outcome. Approach: We will use a recently developed immature mouse model of ischemic seizures and brain injury. P12 CD1 mice will receive unilateral carotid ligation and BrdU labeling, and we will measure cognitive function, atrophy, and maturation of newborn hippocampal cells in the same animals. In a separate cohort of animals we will assess post-stroke integration of newborn neurons utilizing Arc-BrdU-NeuN co-labeling after a novel spatial task. We will determine the impact of chronically administered drugs that enhance GABA transmission or inhibit histone deacetylase upon atrophy, neurogenesis, cognitive impairment and chronic seizures in this model. Significance: Stroke in the immature brain causes cognitive impairment that often persists into adulthood. An intervention providing even partial reduction of cognitive impairment would result in significantly improved quality of life and decreased national healthcare costs. This work will determine which anticonvulsant is more likely to improve cognitive outcome after neonatal stroke and conversely which anticonvulsant should be avoided. This work will also reveal mechanistic insights regarding the role of GABA and histone deacetylase in neurogenesis and recovery after neonatal stroke. The background, training, and experience of the PI as a clinician scientist and pediatric neurologist make her uniquely suited and highly motivated to carry out this important research.

Public Health Relevance

Neonatal stroke is an important cause of learning problems that often last into adulthood. Because neonatal stroke presents with seizures, seizure medications are given and usually continued for months afterward. This work will provide important insights as to which seizure medications are more likely to improve new cell birth and learning after neonatal stroke and which should be avoided. The studies will also inform our understanding of processes important to new cell birth and cognitive outcome in the immature brain after neonatal stroke.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS061969-02
Application #
7900862
Study Section
Developmental Brain Disorders Study Section (DBD)
Program Officer
Fureman, Brandy E
Project Start
2009-08-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2010-07-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$242,048
Indirect Cost
Name
Hugo W. Moser Research Institute Kennedy Krieger
Department
Type
DUNS #
155342439
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
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Falahati, Sina; Breu, Markus; Waickman, Adam T et al. (2013) Ischemia-induced neuroinflammation is associated with disrupted development of oligodendrocyte progenitors in a model of periventricular leukomalacia. Dev Neurosci 35:182-96
Markowitz, Geoffrey J; Kadam, Shilpa D; Smith, Dani R et al. (2011) Different effects of high- and low-dose phenobarbital on post-stroke seizure suppression and recovery in immature CD1 mice. Epilepsy Res 94:138-48
Alberi, Lavinia; Chi, Zhikai; Kadam, Shilpa D et al. (2010) Neonatal stroke in mice causes long-term changes in neuronal Notch-2 expression that may contribute to prolonged injury. Stroke 41:S64-71
Kadam, S D; Smith-Hicks, C L; Smith, D R et al. (2010) Functional integration of new neurons into hippocampal networks and poststroke comorbidities following neonatal stroke in mice. Epilepsy Behav 18:344-57
Markowitz, Geoffrey J; Kadam, Shilpa D; Boothe, Dawn M et al. (2010) The pharmacokinetics of commonly used antiepileptic drugs in immature CD1 mice. Neuroreport 21:452-6
Kadam, S D; Mulholland, J D; McDonald, J W et al. (2009) Poststroke subgranular and rostral subventricular zone proliferation in a mouse model of neonatal stroke. J Neurosci Res 87:2653-66