Increased Susceptibility to Cortical Spreading Depression in the Mouse Model of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine Type 2
2011

Increased Susceptibility to Cortical Spreading Depression in the Mouse Model of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine Type 2

Sample size: 38 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Leo Loredana, Gherardini Lisa, Barone Virginia, De Fusco Maurizio, Pietrobon Daniela, Pizzorusso Tommaso, Casari Giorgio

Primary Institution: Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

Hypothesis

CSD facilitation in the FHM2 mouse model is sustained by inefficient glutamate clearance by astrocytes and consequent increased cortical excitatory neurotransmission.

Conclusion

The FHM2 mouse model shows increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression, which may be linked to impaired glutamate clearance.

Supporting Evidence

  • Homozygous Atp1a2R887/R887 mutants died just after birth, while heterozygous Atp1a2+/R887 mice showed no apparent clinical phenotype.
  • In vivo analysis revealed a decreased induction threshold and an increased velocity of propagation in the heterozygous FHM2 mouse.
  • The study proposes the FHM2 mouse as a valuable model to investigate migraine mechanisms and treatments.

Takeaway

Scientists created a special mouse to study a type of migraine, and they found that these mice are more likely to have a brain event that can trigger migraines.

Methodology

The study involved generating a knock-in mouse model with the W887R mutation and analyzing cortical spreading depression properties in vivo.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on a specific mutation and its effects, which may not represent all cases of familial hemiplegic migraine.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01

Statistical Significance

p<0.01

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pgen.1002129

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