Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Modeling Neural Immune Signaling of Episodic and Chronic Migraine Using Spreading Depression In Vitro
16:13

Modeling Neural Immune Signaling of Episodic and Chronic Migraine Using Spreading Depression In Vitro

Published on: June 13, 2011

20.4K

Increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression and epileptiform activity in a mouse model for FHM2

Lieke Kros1,2, Karin Lykke-Hartmann3,4, Kamran Khodakhah5

  • 1Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1410 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA. l.kros@erasmusmc.nl.

Scientific Reports
|November 18, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) mice with a specific ATP1A2 mutation showed increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression and epilepsy. This mouse model aids understanding of migraine comorbidities and potential treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Migraine is a common, disabling neurological disorder.
  • Familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 (FHM2) is a rare subtype caused by ATP1A2 gene mutations, affecting astrocytic Na+/K+-ATPase.
  • FHM2 patients often exhibit comorbidities like epilepsy and psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate epilepsy and cortical spreading depression (CSD) susceptibility in a mouse model of FHM2.
  • To analyze the impact of the G301R mutation in the α2 isoform of Na+/K+-ATPase on neurological activity.
  • To explore potential age- and sex-related differences in FHM2 pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a mouse model with the G301R disease-mutation in the α2 Na+/K+-ATPase isoform.
  • Performed in vivo experiments involving cortical KCl application in adult and aged male and female mice.
  • Recorded and analyzed cortical spreading depression (CSD) and epileptiform activity.

Main Results:

  • Mice with the α2+/G301R mutation exhibited heightened susceptibility to both CSD and epileptiform activity.
  • Epileptiform activity was observed to be superimposed on CSD events.
  • Age-related alterations in CSD susceptibility suggested a role for female sex hormones in migraine pathophysiology.

Conclusions:

  • The α2+/G301R mouse model effectively replicates key FHM2 symptoms, including epilepsy and CSD.
  • This model is valuable for studying the pathophysiology of generalized epilepsy and its comorbidity with migraine.
  • The model offers potential for developing and testing future migraine treatment strategies.

More Related Videos

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays10:24

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays

Published on: May 15, 2018

15.3K
Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM05:47

Animal Models of Depression - Chronic Despair Model CDM

Published on: September 23, 2021

8.1K

Related Concept Videos

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications02:25

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer...
9.5K
Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation03:12

Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation

Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
40.1K
Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
33.3K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.4K
Depressants01:28

Depressants

Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
436
Increasing Function01:18

Increasing Function

An increasing function exhibits a rise in output values as input values increase. This behavior is depicted graphically as a curve or line that slopes upward from left to right. Such a function satisfies the condition that if x1 < x2, then f(x1) < f(x2), indicating that the function values grow with increasing inputs. This concept is fundamental in understanding growth trends across various domains, such as population dynamics, financial investments, or resource consumption.The...
394