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Cyclooxygenase-2 expression associated with spreading depression in a primate model.
Chiaki Yokota1, Hiroyasu Inoue, Yuji Kuge
1Cerebrovascular Laboratory, Department of Pathogenesis, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan. cyokota@ri.ncvc.go.jp
Summary
Spreading depression (SD) in primates increases neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the cortex. This finding in primates mirrors previous rodent studies, confirming COX-2 induction during SD events.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Spreading depression (SD) is a wave of neuronal and glial depolarization.
- Previous research indicated increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in rodent brains during SD.
- The presence of this association in primate brains remained uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is induced in the primate cortex during spreading depression (SD).
Main Methods:
- Induction of spreading depression (SD) in primate brain tissue.
- Measurement of neuronal COX-2 messenger RNA expression ratios.
- Utilizing human microarray analysis to detect COX-2 induction.
Main Results:
- Neuronal COX-2 expression was significantly induced in the primate cortex during SD.
- The mean expression ratio of COX-2 mRNA was significantly higher in SD animals compared to controls (1.69 vs. 0.5; P = 0.02).
- Human microarray analysis confirmed COX-2 induction in response to SD.
Conclusions:
- Neuronal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is induced in the primate cortex in response to spreading depression (SD).
- This finding in primates aligns with observations in rodent models, suggesting a conserved biological response.