Alexei Kondratyev, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics

• D.Phil., Moscow Academy of Sciences, 1986, Chemistry

Contact Information

Department of Pharmacology Georgetown University W208 Research Bldg 3970 Reservoir Road, NW Washington, DC, 20057 T: 202-687-0204 F: 801-469-5580 Contact Information

Our laboratory is interested in molecular mechanisms regulating neuronal cell death and survival after continuous seizure activity, as well as the neuroprotective and plasticity-promoting effect of repeated, brief noninjurious seizures. This research effort seeks to understand the changes in gene expression associated with exposure to damaging severe seizure activity on the one hand, and to neuroprotective noninjurious brief seizures evoked by low-intensity electroconvulsive shock, on the other hand. Expression of genes encoding trophic factors, transcription factors, death-promoting and survival-promoting factors are being examined for their changes in response to seizure exposure of different durations. These studies, which utilize immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, PCR, RNase protection and Western blotting, aim to elucidate the mechanisms that are responsible for determining cell death and cell survival in various regions of the limbic system and basal ganglia. Another interest is in the age-dependency and developmental aspects of vulnerability to neural injury. These studies are being performed in rats of varying ages (from newborn to aged).

Representative Publications:

• Kondratyev A, Ved R, Gale K. The effects of repeated minimal electroconvulsive shock exposure on levels of mRNA encoding fibroblast growth factor-2 and nerve growth factor in limbic regions. Neuroscience 114:411-416, 2002
• Gwinn RP, Kondratyev A, Gale K. Time-dependent increase in basic fibroblast growth factor protein in limbic regions following electroshock seizures. Neuroscience 114:403-409, 2002
• Kondratyev A, Selby D, Gale K. Status epilepticus leads to the degradation of the endogenous inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase in rats. Neurosci Lett 319:145-148, 2002

More Publications at PubMed

Related Links:

• Center for Brain Basis of Cognition (CBBC)