1995 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Molecular Mechamis of West Syndrome
| Project/Area Number |
06670831
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Pediatrics
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| Research Institution | Jikei University, School of Medicine |
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Principal Investigator |
HORITA Hideki Jikei University, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (50057080)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
NOZAKI Hidetsugu Jikei University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Assistant, 医学部, 助手 (20189393)
MATSUSHIMA Hiroshi Jikei University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Assistant Profess, 医学部, 講師 (70190460)
MAEKAWA Kihei Jikei University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (80056613)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1994 – 1995
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| Keywords | West syndrome / Corticotropin releasing hormone / Epilepsy |
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| Research Abstract |
We have investigated the molecular mechanisms of West syndrom which is characterized by generalized myoclonic seizure (infantile spasms), hypsarrythmia, and developmental delay. Although ACTH therapy has been used and though to be very effective to the syndrome for long time, the dstailed molecular mechanisms of the disease has not been understood. We hypothesized that increased level of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) in the immature brain induces West syndrome. To test this hypothesis, we transfected the CRH cDNA into the undifferentiated neuroblast in vitro and established the transfectants expressing the various level of CRH.The transfectants were induced to either neuronal or glial phenotype depends on the extrinsic factors that were added to the culture medium. However, the level of CRH produced by the transfectants was unaffected, and maintained the constant level of CRH exprerssion. These transfectants are now useful to investigate the roles of CRH on West syndrome. The transfectants will be injectes into the mouse brain and tasted whether the increased level of CRH elicites the epileptic seizure in vivo.
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