Excitotoxicity

cannot function, causing the neuron to become depolarised and allowing extracellular ions to flow into the cell. Thus, intracellular calcium ions increase resulting in the exocytosis of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, resulting in excitotoxicity. Harmful substances are produced, such as free radicals, resulting in infarction and liquefactive necrosis of nervous tissue. The penumbra is a region of cerebral parenchyma that is at risk of infarction, but is still salvageable if blood…

Alzheimer’s is a common neurodegenerative disease that accounts for the majority of all cases of dementia (Advokat, Comaty & Julien, 2014). Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, it is hypothesized that two systems crucial for the communication between brain cells fail due to the down regulation of acetylcholine and the over activation of glutamate, which result in the death of neurons (IOS Press, 2008). It is believed to involve the irreversible loss of cholinergic neurons,…

Riluzole, an anti-glutamatergic drug that acts by blocking NMDA receptors, is proven to reduce the excitotoxicity in ALS, modestly improving the prognosis [13]; its combination with multidisciplinary care and respiratory support can slow clinical deterioration and improve life quality [1]. Regardless of these therapeutic interventions, only a minority of…

ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a rare incurable disease that occurs in the nervous system. It is a progressive disease, meaning that it gets worse over time. ALS is known for progressing at a fast rate, and being fatal in almost all cases. According to the ALS foundation, the average life expectancy from the time of diagnosis is about two to five years, however, more than half of people diagnosed with the disease live more than three years…

Stroke Case Study 1. The man has had an ischaemic stroke, identify the biological changes that would have occurred in his brain during the process. Arnold’s ischaemic stroke would be initiated when a lack of blood supply (ischaemia) is prevented from reaching the brain (NHS, 2016). The lack of oxygen causes the neurons within the brain to start a chain reaction, in the form of an ischaemic cascade. This begins seconds after the onset of ischaemia. The ischaemic cascade is a biological…

ACTH-1-39: Product Description ACTH 1-39 is a synthetic polypeptide hormone that consists of 39 amino acids. ACTH 1-39 is commonly referred to as Adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticotrophin, or ACTH. The molecular formula for ACTH 1-39 is C207H308N56O58S1 and a molecular mass of 4541.11 kilo Daltons. The structure of ACTH 1-39 corresponds to the full-length structure of ACTH. The natural Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is naturally synthesized by the anterior pituitary gland and its release…

The Effects of Mefloquine (an antimalarial pill) on Mice Cognitive and Deficits in Olfactory Bulb. Mena Mekail Introduction to Scientific Research December 8, 2015 Introduction Worldwide air travel has seen a great increase in recent years, in fact it is projected that 1.45 billion people are expected to travel by air in 2016 (Huang and Tatem 2013). The increase of travel rate from malaria free and endemic countries has led to the increase of antimalarial drug resistance consumption…

This affects the intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and ultrastructures of hippocampal neurons. In relation to the amino acid neurotransmission, report reveal that arsenic-induced excessive glutamate accumulation in the extracellular space induces excitotoxicity [29]. Arsenic exposure can alter epigenetic regulations and the signaling of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). However, in the present study arsenic was not able to manifest any significant alteration in the DNA laddering pattern…

treatments available are not meant to stop the disease, but rather control it. Prescriptions of Riluzole along with other treatments can help the patient to live through the disease more comfortably. As previously mentioned, Riluzone has “anti-excitotoxicity properties” and is an anti-glutamate agent. According to studies done by the Department of Neurology of Hebei China, Riluzole helps to reduce the over accumulation of glutamate which would ultimately reduce the overstimulation of the…

Computed tomography (CT) scanning technology was discovered in 1972 and revolutionized the world of neuroimaging (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). The CT scan was the first technique to allow the imaging of brain tissue in living patients (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). During a CT scan, a patient lies on a flat surface, which incrementally moves through what is referred to as a gantry (Sadock, Sadock, & Ruiz, 2014). A gantry is a round shaped structure that contains a motorized x-ray source…