Hormonal Modulation Of Prostatic Growth And Contractility
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$324,237.00
Summary
With increasing age human males are likely to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disorder characterized by urethral obstruction due to an increase in size of the prostate gland. Drug treatments of this condition are not entirely satisfactory and the current project is to examine the mechanisms by which the prostate grows and occludes the urethra. We will use human prostate cells grown in artificial conditions to determine which hormones alter the types of cells and especially examine ....With increasing age human males are likely to develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disorder characterized by urethral obstruction due to an increase in size of the prostate gland. Drug treatments of this condition are not entirely satisfactory and the current project is to examine the mechanisms by which the prostate grows and occludes the urethra. We will use human prostate cells grown in artificial conditions to determine which hormones alter the types of cells and especially examine those cells which can contract as these may be of critical importance in the urethral obstruction. We hypothesize that an enzyme called protein kinase C may be implicitly involved in both cell growth and contractile function and we will examine the role of protein kinase C with a view ultimately to develop drugs which may interfere with this process and therefore aid in non-surgical treatment of the condition.Read moreRead less
The Pharmacology And Physiology Of GABA-C Receptors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,980.00
Summary
GABA is one of the most important chemicals in the brain. GABA and its associated receptors (GABA receptors) work together to keep the balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition which is required for normal brain function. There are three types of GABA receptors called GABA-A, GABA-B and GABA-C receptors. Chemicals acting at these receptors may be therapeutically useful in treating neurological probles such as epilepsy, anxiety, depression and memory-related disorders associated with Alz ....GABA is one of the most important chemicals in the brain. GABA and its associated receptors (GABA receptors) work together to keep the balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition which is required for normal brain function. There are three types of GABA receptors called GABA-A, GABA-B and GABA-C receptors. Chemicals acting at these receptors may be therapeutically useful in treating neurological probles such as epilepsy, anxiety, depression and memory-related disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. GABA-A and GABA-C receptors are members of the ligand-gated ion channel super family in which the ion channel forms an intergral and central part of the receptor. In response to GABA, the channel opens and chloride ions flow through the channel. This causes an inhibitory action i.e. the cell reduces its rate of firing. This project aims to study GABA-C receptors by investigating what proteins make up the ion channel, by studying the actions of a range of chemicals that have specific effects at these receptors and by identifying amino acids that are important for normal channel function. New chemicals identified in our studies will provide leads for the design and development of new therapeutic agents acting on the brain.Read moreRead less