JMSSJ On-line

JMSSJ On-line, Vol. 47 (1999) No. 3, pp. 110-114

Possible Mechanisms of Senile Dementia and Development of Their Protective and Treating Drugs		>> Full Text PDF >> References
*Yoshihisa KUDO,^a) Takeshi NAKAMURA^a), Kyoko NAKAMURA^a), Takae HIRASAWA^b), and Ikuko EZAWA^b)** ^a) School of Life Science, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science (1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan)* ^b) Graduate School of Human Life Science, Japan Women’s University (Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8681, Japan)

Local ischemia in the specific region of brain has been regarded as one of major causes for senile dementia. Transient increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) of neuronal cells in hippocampal CA1 region has been found to result in so called delayed neuronal cell death. Increase in [Ca²⁺]i was also induced by administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH), an important hormone for plasma Ca²⁺ level. The hormone in a concentration as low as 10 pM caused neuronal cell death in hippocampal organotypic culture within one week. Since plasma PTH level tends to increase in elderly, PTH should be paid attention to be one of the risk factors for senile dementia. Protection of neuronal cells against the Ca²⁺ overloading may be one of the important treatment for the rescuing the neurons from the death due to senescence.

Key words: Ischemia, Neuronal cell death, Calcium, Parathyroid hormone, Hippocampus, Slice culture, Image analysis