Objetivo Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) A is a neuropsychiatric syndrome occurring in both acute and chronic liver failure that includes behavioural, mental and motor disturbances. The more typical motor abnormalities observed are flapping tremor or cortico- spinal signs (exaggerated deep tendon reflexes, Babinski's signs). Those abnormalities significantly diminish the quality of life of the patients. Clinical studies led by the host of this fellowship have suggested that a low grade brain oedema along the glutamatergic cortiCOspinal tract (CST) is responsible for the abnormal cortico-spinal functions observed in patients with chronic liver disease. Thus we propose to study the physiological, morphological and neurochemical changes that occur in the CST of an experimental model of chronic liver failure and try to correlate them with brain oedema. We will use immunohistochemical, electrophysiological and microdialysis techniques to assess the effect of chronic liver failure on: (1) the integrity of the cortico-spinal neurons (2) the degree of myelination of the CST; (3) the levels of expression of the glial and neuronal glutamate transporters and ionotropic receptors at different levels of the CST; (4) the release of glutamate upon electrostimulation in the motor cortex and in the spinal cord (5) the cortico-spinal function. Finally we will try link the electrophysiologic abnormalities to the brain oedema of the CST by using an oedema-lowering therapy. This project will help of a young French researcher who did his PhD in Canada, to come back to Europe and to complete his training. It will also allow the transfer to the host of the technical knowledge he acquired there. Also the risk of chronic liver diseases is increasing in Europe and is already high in upcoming new members of the European Union. Therefore, increasing our basic knowledge of HE now, will be important for the near future to help design new therapeutic strategies. Ámbito científico medical and health sciencesclinical medicinehepatology Palabras clave Hepatic encephalopathy brain cortico-spinal tract edema electrostimulation glutamate glutamine microdialysis motor evoked potential myelin portacaval shunt rat spinal cord Programa(s) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Tema(s) MOBILITY-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF) Convocatoria de propuestas FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5 Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships Coordinador INSTITUT DE RECERCA DE L'HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARI VALL D' HEBRON Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Paseo Vall d'Hebron 119-129 BARCELONA España Ver en el mapa Enlaces Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos
