Aug 17, 2011 08:59 GMT  ·  By

Investigators in the United Kingdom, at the University of Bristol, say that they were recently able to identify a neural protection mechanism that acts during the onset of stroke. Its actions help protect certain types of neurons from the effects of this dangerous event.

Using the new data, the team argues, it may become possible to develop drugs that would protect other types of neurons from the harsh effects of stroke. In order for that to become a possibility, experts need to first emulate, and then improve on, the natural defense mechanism.

Details of how it functions were published in the July 17 issue of the medical Journal of Neuroscience.

What neuroscientists want to create is a method for protecting neurons responsible for speech and movement. After a stroke hits, patients tend to become incapable of communicating and have the risk of suffering from paralysis to at least a portion of their bodies.

Addressing the effects of this dangerous condition could have significant and social effects, especially in the UK, where stroke is the third-leading cause of deaths. The way stroke acts is by depriving critically important brain cells of nutrients, water and energy.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Wellcome Trust provided the funding needed for this work. UB expert Dr. Jack Mellor led the research team, which focused its study on two types of brain cells found in an area of the brain called the hippocampus.

It plays a very important role in the formation of new memories, as well as in other higher cognitive functions. During stroke, neurons called CA1 cells are very likely to get damaged. On the other hand, similar neurons called CA3 cells are much more resistant.

The two types of cells share numerous compatibilities and common traits, which is why researchers decided to investigate what makes them suffer different effects following strokes.

“We hope that if we can understand why some nerve cells are resistant to stroke damage we may be able to develop strategies to protect those cells that are sensitive,” explains Dr. Mellor, who is also a senior lecturer in the UB School of Physiology and Pharmacology.

The neural mechanism that protects CA3 cells acts by making them less sensitive to the effects of the neurotransmitter glutamate. When a stroke occurs, this chemical is produced in large amounts.

“Historically, stroke has been very difficult to treat because of its unpredictability and the need to administer drugs within minutes of the onset of a stroke,” Dr. Mellor explains.

“These problems will not be overcome by our research but our findings do reveal a natural protection mechanism in some nerve cells, which may be useful in developing treatments to protect other nerve cell types,” he goes on to say.