24^th International Conference on Neuroscience and Neurochemistry July 23-24, 2018 Birmingham, UK

Elena I Zakharova is a Specialist in Neurophysiology and Neurochemistry. Using the original method of synaptic fractionation, she previously participated in studies that revealed a different cholinergic synaptic organization of cognitive functions in the brain of intact animals with different cognitive abilities. Under the leadership of MD Alexander Dudchenko (hypoxia, ischemia, biochemistry, molecular biology) and together with PhD Zinaida Storozheva (neurophysiology, neurodegenerative diseases, learning models) and PhD Mikhail Monakov (cerebral hypoperfusion, ischemia, surgery), she revealed a significant cholinergic reorganization of learning and memory under cerebral hypoperfusion in rats on the 2VO model. This suggested that the neurotransmitter reorganization of functions can play an important role in brain adaptation in these pathological conditions and that the new influences of neurotransmitters can maintain the damaged cognition. It was necessary to investigate other neurotransmitter systems and in more detail in the same pathological conditions.

Neurotransmitter organization of cognitive functions under chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (carotid ligation, 2VO model) can differ from norm and its own pharmacotherapy is required to treat delayed cognitive dysfunctions. In rats, the dopaminergic (DA) and cholinergic (ACh) mechanisms of rapid one-trial, working long-term memories and learning were studied on 2VO model. 6-7 days (7d) or 1 month (1M) after carotid ligation, rats were trained on the spatial contextual model in the Morris water maze and taken to a neurochemical experiment 2-3 days after the end of training. In synaptosomal subfractions of the cortex and hippocampus, the activity of the DA and ACh neurons markers, respectively, of tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase was estimated. The rats of control group (sham operated, SO) were divided into an upper quartile (the most capable rats); lower quartile (the incapable rats) and two middle quartiles according to their cognitive abilities. SO rats in each quartile had its own specificity of DA-ACh synaptic links (correlations) with cognitive functions, including also the same and differently directed links (positive-negative correlations). In the 7D group, the learning-memory was significantly impaired and the lower quartile rats dominated; DA influences on the functions completely disappeared, ACh influences significantly reduced or emerged new ones. In the 1M group, the functions were restored, but the level of upper quartile was reached only for long-term memory; only a few DA or ACh synaptic links were restored; new, including nonDA and nonACh links, dominated. DA and ACh reorganization of functions in 2VO rats was the result of degeneration or synaptogenesis of corresponding synaptic populations. A working hypothesis is that the neurotransmitter reorganization of cognitive functions is an obligatory consequence of the brain adaptation to hypoperfusion and altered blood supply of the brain. Such studies are required to determine the pharmacotherapy of delayed disturbance of cognitions.

Basavaraja Papanna is a Medical laureate with Postgraduate training and degree in Neurosciences. He is the Member of the Neuroscience Committee at the Royal College of Psychiatry in United Kingdom. His research interests and publications include Neuropsychiatry, Huntington Disease, General Adult Psychiatry, and Sleep Disorders. He is conducting a research study in the epidemiology of Huntington’s diseases in Asia using genetic diagnostic methods.

The epidemiological studies on Huntington’s disease (HD) suggest that prevalence rates in the Asian population are significantly lower than the western population. There are preliminary observations that would propose that HD is underestimated in some Asian countries due to stigma related to diagnosis, normalization of behaviors, or use of restricted methods (genetic and neurological) for confirming the diagnosis of HD. This systematic review of epidemiological data of HD prevalence in Asia has highlighted the level of impact of HD on the Asian population. Original articles and reviews about HD prevalence in the Asian population were found through available databases such as EMBASE, Medline, and PsycInfo. Relevant articles were analyzed with the scrutiny of references including specific keywords. A meta-analysis was performed on prevalence rates to find the degree of similarities with I2. Point prevalence was measured as the number of people affected by HD on 100,000 populations. Results show the highest point prevalence of HD in the Indian subpopulations of Pakistan, Punjab, and Gujarat with 1.35 (OR95%CI=1.14-1.57) (Table 1). The lowest point prevalence was found in the Chinese population with 0.25 (OR95%CI=0.16-0.36). Europe remains at a high prevalence compared to Asian countries with 1.00 (OR95%CI=0.82-1.19). Results also show that the prevalence rates have statistical significant variability in all Asian countries (I2=93.90%, p=<0.001). The overall prevalence in the world is 0.61 (OR95%CI=0.43-0.81). Our study reveals that Huntington’s disease affects the population in Asia to a lesser extent than Europe, although some countries like Indian subpopulations of Pakistan, Punjab, and Gujarat present with the highest global prevalence. The plausible explanation is that some countries did not adopt genetic and neurological testing while affected individuals will not self-refer to HD screening for fear of social stigma and negative influence in marriage.