[Ion channels and neurological disorders].
Ion channels are a family of protein molecules that mediate the electrical activities, including synaptic transmission, of the nervous system. Recent studies revealed that genetic mutations are associated with various neurological disorders. Although identification of the genetic defects is certainly a big step towards elucidation of pathophysiology and development of therapeutic strategies, it is not always easy to correlate the genetic abnormalities with the neurological symptoms. Recently, we have analyzed the pathophysiological mechanism of cerebellar ataxia and absence epilepsy in calcium channel mutant mice. The results demonstrate diversity of the cellular and network changes caused by the genetic defects. Understanding the underlying mechanism of the diverse changes would contribute to better understanding of human neurological diseases.
Imoto
Keiji
K
Department of Information Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, and School of Life Science, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki, 444-8787 Japan. keiji@nips.ac.jp
Sasaki
Sachie
S
D000818:Animals; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000503:physiopathology; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000503:physiopathology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*
D007473:Ion Channels