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

초록

When hypoxic ischemia occurs in the brain, massive neuronal death undergoes primarily due to ischemic excitotoxicity at targeted areas. It is followed by the second round of neuronal death in the neighboring areas, which is called "delayed neuronal death". Based on the time course and the process of the delayed neuronal death, it was proposed that alteration of gene expression should be involved in the process. We used cDNA microarray analysis to carry out massive and systematic identification of genes that are regulated in rat brain following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Gene expression was monitored from 12 hrs to 4 days after MCAO in cerebral cortex and striatum of rat brain, wherein severe infarction was detected. 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.