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Gene Profiling To Develop A Neuroprotective Strategy In A Large Animals Model Of Following Ischaemic Stroke.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,897.00
Summary
Stroke affects 15 million people worldwide each year. At present, the diagnosis and treatment of stroke is not optimal. The use of gene profiling may provide us with information that could allow us to more accurately identify individuals at risk of stroke, predict stroke outcome and effectively treat stroke patients. In addition, by using a targeted approach to therapy we have the potential to reduce brain swelling and improve outcome following stroke with neuroprotective agents.
The Role Of Neuropeptides In The Acute And Long-term Effects Of MDMA, Methamphetamine And GHB
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,321.00
Summary
The widespread use of 'party drugs' (ecstasy, methamphetmaine and GHB) is a major health issue in Australia. We propose a novel hypothesis that key acute and long-term effects of these drugs may involve an action on the neuropeptide oxytocin. A number of experiments are planned to test this hypothesis. The findings from this project will be used to better understand and to explore novel treatments for people who suffer problems as a result of using these drugs.
Neuropathways And Synaptic Adaptations Underlying Drug Addiction In Central Dopamine Systems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,812.00
Summary
There is a rising trend in addiction to drugs, such as opioids (heroin) and stimulants (methamphetamine and ecstasy). A key feature of this addiction is intensified craving for the drug with repeated use. A major brain component thought to mediate drug-craving is the dopamine (DA) neurotransmitter system, consisting of cells in the midbrain that project nerve terminals to forebrain structures involved in reward-based learning. DA cells undergo long-term depression (LTD) and potentiation (LTP) of ....There is a rising trend in addiction to drugs, such as opioids (heroin) and stimulants (methamphetamine and ecstasy). A key feature of this addiction is intensified craving for the drug with repeated use. A major brain component thought to mediate drug-craving is the dopamine (DA) neurotransmitter system, consisting of cells in the midbrain that project nerve terminals to forebrain structures involved in reward-based learning. DA cells undergo long-term depression (LTD) and potentiation (LTP) of synaptic strength when excitatory inputs to DA cells are stimulated. These findings are important to drug addiction as amphetamine has been shown to block LTD and enhance LTP in brain slices of DA cells. Thus, changes in LTD and LTP by illicit drugs may underlie the conditions necessary for expression of drug-induced behavioural sensitisation, the best-accepted model of drug-craving in human addiction. To date, these studies have all been conducted in brain slices. Therefore, the functional importance of this synaptic plasticity in midbrain DA cells has yet to be shown in terms of changes in DA release in forebrain terminals in the living animal. For the first time we will address this issue by recording DA cell firing activity together with DA release using a newly developed technique that permits DA release to be monitored in the living brain in 'real-time' (100,000 samples-sec). This will allow us to identify the origin (cortical excitatory inputs) and receptor mechanisms that mediate LTP and LTD in DA cells and their effects on DA release. Recording DA cell activity with real-time measurement of DA release will promote a new cutting-edge technology to the Australian Neurosciences. These data will provide 'first of its kind' evidence of the functional anatomy and receptor mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity in DA neurons associated with repeated drug use and ultimately enhance our basic understanding of the neural mechanisms of human drug addiction.Read moreRead less
Relationship Between Nigral Injury, Dopamine Handling And Dyskinesia In Parkinsonism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$65,685.00
Summary
Parkinson's Disease is a disabling condition that results from loss of nerve cells (neurones) in the part of the brain known as the substantia nigra (SN). These neurones make dopamine. Symptoms become apparent when 80% of these neurones are gone, suggesting that compensation can occur in the brain. Dopamine can be replaced with the drug L-dopa. Unfortunately this benefit is not sustained and is frequently marred by the production of unpleasant writhing wriggling movements called dyskinesia. Thes ....Parkinson's Disease is a disabling condition that results from loss of nerve cells (neurones) in the part of the brain known as the substantia nigra (SN). These neurones make dopamine. Symptoms become apparent when 80% of these neurones are gone, suggesting that compensation can occur in the brain. Dopamine can be replaced with the drug L-dopa. Unfortunately this benefit is not sustained and is frequently marred by the production of unpleasant writhing wriggling movements called dyskinesia. These movements can also complicate the treatment for schizophrenia and other neurological conditions. The way the brain compensates for loss of SN neurones and why dyskinesia occur is unknown. However we present a hypothesis that the mechanisms for compensation also produce the dyskinesia. We have shown that an injury to the SN results in a compensatory response of vigorous sprouting of the surviving dopamine neurones. This sprouting may also explain why dyskinesias occur. The aim of this study is to establish whether the degree of compensatory response corresponds with the severity of dyskinesia and how this compensatory response can be modified or regulated.Read moreRead less
Forebrain Neuroadaptations To Chronic Morphine Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$435,956.00
Summary
Drug addiction is caused by long term changes in brain areas that normally produce the drives that sustain normal behaviours such as eating, drinking and sex. Addictive drugs effectively hijack these brain areas so that behaviours relating to drug taking become associated with feeling good. In some individuals, over time the pattern of drug taking becomes compulsive and no longer can be controlled. This transition is now known to be due to drugs causing physical changes to certain groups of nerv ....Drug addiction is caused by long term changes in brain areas that normally produce the drives that sustain normal behaviours such as eating, drinking and sex. Addictive drugs effectively hijack these brain areas so that behaviours relating to drug taking become associated with feeling good. In some individuals, over time the pattern of drug taking becomes compulsive and no longer can be controlled. This transition is now known to be due to drugs causing physical changes to certain groups of nerve cells in the brain. The affected nerve cells are responsible for causing new behaviours that appear once addiction is established. Addiction is not exclusive to humans. Animals will self-inject the same addictive drugs that humans use, and show many other kinds of addictive behaviours that parallel aspects of human addiction. Studying the effects of addictive drugs on rats and other animals has been very important in working out where and how drugs work. We now have a very good idea of which parts of the brain are affected by drugs, and it turns out that most addictive drugs act in the same places. We also now know for all of the major drugs, exactly which parts of nerve cells they affect. However, this turns out to be only the first step as the nerve cells that directly respond to drugs can affect other whole networks of nerve cells. This study is going to look at how morphine, a drug that is related to heroin, affects nerve cells in a part of the brain that helps cause addiction. It is going to work out which of the many pathways in this brain region are affected by morphine treatments that cause addiction in rats. It will then see what is happening to single nerve cells in the affected pathways. If we can understand more about these processes it may become possible to come up with new ways to treat addiction. We will also understand much more about the production of powerful emotional and behavioural drives so many of us find hard to control.Read moreRead less
Insult, Injury And Recovery In Brain Disease: From Molecules To Therapeutic Outcome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,215,611.00
Summary
When nerve cells are damaged, destroyed or injured, through disease or trauma, common pathological processes are set in train. Even though there are many factors that might trigger disease, these inevitably lead to common processes that end in cell death or initiate protective processes. One theme involves the factors that surround these responses to nerve injury and stress, and the consequent protective and regenerative responses that ensue. Another theme, closely integrates with the first, is ....When nerve cells are damaged, destroyed or injured, through disease or trauma, common pathological processes are set in train. Even though there are many factors that might trigger disease, these inevitably lead to common processes that end in cell death or initiate protective processes. One theme involves the factors that surround these responses to nerve injury and stress, and the consequent protective and regenerative responses that ensue. Another theme, closely integrates with the first, is to exploit basic biological mechanisms with the aim of identifying and developing therapeutic targets for the management of a wider range of neurological conditions.Read moreRead less