Prosper N'Gouemo, Ph. D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics

• M.Sc. Physiology, University of Montpellier, France
• Ph.D., Physiology, University of Montpellier, France

Contact Information:

Our research interests are centered on mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis, the process by which a normal brain is transformed into pathologically excitable tissues exhibiting enhanced susceptibility to spontaneous seizures. This project is focused to determine the role of altered expression of ion channels in neuronal hyperexcitability that leads to seizure susceptibility following alcohol withdrawal, as well as in genetic and post-status epilepticus models of epilepsy. Ion channels that appear to show significant functional changes include: voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channel, Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel and a new family of acid-sensing ion channel. In this project, state-of-the-art electrophysiological (patch clamp) and imaging (confocal microscopy) techniques, as well as molecular techniques (Western blot, PCR) are used to probe the ionic selectivity of the channels and their levels of expression, as well as phosphorlyation-dependent alteration in channel conductance. The combination of these diverse techniques provides a synergic approach to determine critical factors contributing to alcohol withdrawal seizures, genetic epilepsy and the development of chronic epilepsy. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the hyperexcitable seizure-prone states may contribute to identify novel molecular targets for epileptogenesis and provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for prevention of chronic epileps

Representative Publications:

• N'Gouemo, P. and Rogawski, M.A. (2006). Alcohol withdrawal seizures. In: Models of Seizures and Epilepsy (Pitkaneen A, Schwartkroin PA, Moshe SL, Eds), Amsterdam, Elsevier, pp 161-177.
• N'Gouemo, P. and Morad, M. (2003). Ethanol withdrawal seizure susceptibility is associated with upregulation of L- and P-type Ca²⁺ channel currents in rat inferior colliculus neurons. Neuropharmacology 45: 429-437.
• Faingold, C.L., N'Gouemo, P. and Riaz, A. (1998) Ethanol and neurotransmitter interactions-from molecule to integrative effects. Prog. Neurobiology 55: 509-535.

More Publications at PubMed

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