Cel
Neurotrophins belong to a family of molecules, associated with nerve tissues, which have the capacity to affect a variety of cell growth parameters. Their importance in development of the nervous system is without question and well detailed but in the adult the significance of neurotrophins in the normal functioning of the central nervous system has been so far less clear.
Recently it has been shown in the in vitro hippocampal slice preparation that brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, can create a state of long-term potentiation (LTP) associated with heightened synaptic connectivity. The mechanism of BDNF-LTP is, analogous to long-term memory formation, dependent on protein synthesis. A further study from the coordinator of this proposal went on to show BDNF-LTP in intact young adult rats. These striking findings and others suggest clearly:
1, that BDNF can have significant influence in relation to memory 2, that interventional studies employing BDNF are exaggerations of a normal component of synaptic stabilization and memory storage in the intact adult.
The present proposal is designed to explore these two suggestions and, in line with the BIOTECHNOLOGY Area 4.4 Work Programme, to extend the investigation to aged animals.
A multidisciplinary consortium of European scientists all with international reputations, has been drawn together and a project based on three work packages has been created for:
1, Exploration of synaptic mechanisms and gene expression in BDNF-LTP. 2, Determination of the functional consequences of BDNF-LTP 3, Investigation of the involvement of BDNF-LTP in normal memory development
The aim is to run in parallel a programme of relatively basic research and functional studies designed to explore the possible role of BDNF interventions in promotion of memory. The immediacy of application of these latter studies to alleviation of memory impairment in senile dementia is noted. The exploitation plans will benefit a major European industrial concern.
The work proposed both fits the BIOTECHNOLOGY work programme and gains added value from being given a European dimension. The technologies involved cannot all be undertaken at any one of the involved research centres.
Dziedzina nauki
Zaproszenie do składania wniosków
Data not availableSystem finansowania
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsKoordynator
5009 BERGEN
Norwegia