Identification and functional study of genes controlling delayed neuronal death proceeded after ischemic excitotoxicity in brain

초록

Hypoxic ischemia produces ischemic excitotoxicity in the brain, which results in massive neuronal death at the targeted areas. It is followed by the second round of neuronal death in the neighboring areas, which is called "delayed neuronal death". Several lines of evidence suggest that there is the alteration of gene expression in the course of "delayed neuronal death". To identify such genes in rat brain following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we carried out a series of experiments utilizing microarray. We focused on the changes of gene expression occurred from 12 hours to 4 days after MCAO in cerebral cortex and striatum of rat brain, wherein severe infarction occurred. Comparing the hybridization levels between ischemic and sham-operated animals revealed a group of gene that is up- or down-regulated in postischemic brain. Extensive efforts to select and confirm the genes playing important roles in physiological context are undertaking. Subsequent functional studies of identified genes will provide a great opportunity to understand the mechanism underlying the delayed neuronal death in hypoxic ischemia.