Gwen O. Ivy

Professor
Phone: (416) 287-7438
e-mail: ivy@utsc.utoronto.ca

Quick Links

Research Focus   |   Research Group   |   Teaching


Research Focus

Cellular changes in rat brain caused by kindling: a model of human complex partial seizures.

Uncontrolled seizures are associated with changes such as cognitive and memory deterioration, lowered seizure thresholds and psychiatric problems. Since similar changes are observed in "epileptic" animals, these abnormalities may relate, at least in part, to seizure-induced changes in the brain. Electrophysiological studies of the kindling model of epilepsy have clearly shown increased neural excitability, but neuroanatomical studies have not yet revealed the precise cellular changes basic to the "kindled state".

We already know that a number of these anatomical changes, including glial and neuronal cell division, cell death, and glial activation occur in brain regions that are anatomically and physiologically related to the kindling (epileptogenic) site. While several of these changes have been proposed to underlie the seizure prone state, the time course of these changes as well as their relationships to each other are largely unknown. We are currently exploring the parameters of kindling induced changes in astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and neurons throughout the brains of amygdala-kindled rats using the latest immunocytochemical, microscopic and image analysis techniques.

Our ultimate goal is to understand the cellular basis of the kindling effect, and, by extension, of epileptogenesis and the long-term effects of seizures on the brain. If we better understand the long-term effects of seizures, we might be able to prevent them using targeted neuroprotective medications. Further, understanding the cellular basis of epileptogenesis may give us the tools to prevent the development of epilepsy, rather than just suppressing seizures with anticonvulsant drugs.

Recent Publications

  • Kitani K, Kanai S, Miyasaka K, Carrillo MC, Ivy GO. The necessity of having a proper dose of (-)deprenyl (D) to prolong the life spans of rats explains discrepancies among different studies in the past. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 May;1067:375-82.
  • Chung S, Ivy GO, Reid SG. GABA-mediated neurotransmission in the nucleus of the solitary tract alters resting ventilation following exposure to chronic hypoxia in conscious rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Nov;291(5):R1449-56. Epub 2006 Jun 15. Erratum in: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Nov;291(5):R1564.
  • Dose-dependency of life span prolongation of F344/DuCrj rats injected with (-)deprenyl. Kitani K, Kanai S, Miyasaka K, Carrillo MC, Ivy GO. Biogerontology. 2005;6(5):297-302.
  • Vessal M, Dugani CB, Solomon DA, McIntyre Burnham W, Ivy GO. Might astrocytes play a role in maintaining the seizure-prone state? Brain Res. 2005 May 24;1044(2):190-6. Epub 2005 Apr 19.
  • Vessal M, Dugani CB, Solomon DA, Burnham WM, Ivy GO. Astrocytic proliferation in the piriform cortex of amygdala-kindled subjects: a quantitative study in partial versus fully kindled brains. Brain Res. 2004 Oct 1;1022(1-2):47-53.
  • Kitani K, Minami C, Isobe K, Maehara K, Kanai S, Ivy GO, Carrillo MC. Why (--)deprenyl prolongs survivals of experimental animals: increase of anti-oxidant enzymes in brain and other body tissues as well as mobilization of various humoral factors may lead to systemic anti-aging effects. Mech Ageing Dev. 2002 Apr 30;123(8):1087-100. Review.
  • Kitani K, Minami C, Yamamoto T, Kanai S, Ivy GO, Carrillo MC. Pharmacological interventions in aging and age-associated disorders: potentials of propargylamines for human use. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Apr;959:295-307. Review.
  • Kitani K, Minami C, Yamamoto T, Maruyama W, Kanai S, Ivy GO, Carrillo MC. Do antioxidant strategies work against aging and age-associated disorders? Propargylamines: a possible antioxidant strategy. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001 Apr;928:248-60. Review.
  • Backman SA, Stambolic V, Suzuki A, Haight J, Elia A, Pretorius J, Tsao MS, Shannon P, Bolon B, Ivy GO, Mak TW. Deletion of Pten in mouse brain causes seizures, ataxia and defects in soma size resembling Lhermitte-Duclos disease.Backman SA, Stambolic V, Suzuki A, Haight J, Elia A, Pretorius J, Tsao MS, Shannon P, Bolon B, Ivy GO, Mak TW. Nat Genet. 2001 Dec;29(4):396-403.
  • Kitani K, Minami C, Maruyama W, Kanai S, Ivy GO, Carrillo MC. Common properties for propargylamines of enhancing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the dopaminergic system in the rat: implications for the life prolonging effect of (-)deprenyl. J Neural Transm Suppl. 2000;(60):139-56.
  • Mendis DB, Ivy GO, Brown IR. Induction of SC1 mRNA encoding a brain extracellular matrix glycoprotein related to SPARC following lesioning of the adult rat forebrain. Neurochem Res. 2000 Dec;25(12):1637-44.
  • Carrillo MC, Kanai S, Kitani K, Ivy GO. A high dose of long term treatment with deprenyl loses its effect on antioxidant enzyme activities as well as on survivals of Fischer-344 rats. Life Sci. 2000 Oct 13;67(21):2539-48.
  • Featherstone RE, Fleming AS, Ivy GO. Plasticity in the maternal circuit: effects of experience and partum condition on brain astrocyte number in female rats. Behav Neurosci. 2000 Feb;114(1):158-72.





Research Group



Mani Vessal,
PhD student



Dianand Solomon, Research Assistant





Agnes Hassa, Undergraduate Neuroscience Specialist



Sagar Dugani,
Undergraduate Cell and Molecular Biology Specialist


Andrea Young,
Undergraduate Neuroscience Specialist

Michelle Ryan,
Undergraduate Neuroscience Specialist

Daniel Bandurka,
Undergraduate Double Major in Neuroscience/Psychology


Teaching

  • NRO B60 Neuroscience I: Cell Anatomy and Physiology
  • NRO C69 Synaptic Organization of the Brain
  • NRO D67 Psychobiology of Aging
  • NRO D65 Neuropathology