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News

Research may lead to fewer strokes

UH-Baylor study finds link between arteries, polyunsaturated acids

by MAI BUI
The Daily Cougar

A collaborative UH and Baylor College of Medicine study is leading to better understanding of cerebral arteries and how they function.

"Heart, blood vessels and muscles have this property of contracting. One of the most important things that controls the contraction of the blood vessels are the ion channels that are in the membrane," Stuart Dryer, professor and chair of the department of Biology and Biochemistry, said. 

In cooperation with Dr. Robert Bryan at Baylor College of Medicine, the study provides a result researchers had anticipated.

"Bob Bryan was actually particularly interested in the possibility that there might be some ion channels in cerebral arteries activated by fatty acids," Dryer said. "And the answer is yes ... Together, we've been able to characterize these channels. When we've added fatty acids directly to the cells, these channels turn on and the vessels dilate."

Ion channels are proteins rooted in cell membranes that act as gateways allowing certain ions to pass through in response to specific signals. In this case, the signals were the application of fatty acids.

As the channels dilate, they deliver an increased amount of blood flow to the brain, which aids patients who are prone to strokes. 

However, not every fatty acid was able to stimulate the channels. Many were tested on lab rats, but the only ones that generated those results were all polyunsaturated fatty acids.

"This is interesting because polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in fish oil. And people have for years thought that fish oil have some protective effect on various cardiovascular diseases," Dryer said. 

Through his study, Dryer said he imagines developing a drug to imitate the effects of the fatty acids.

"At the moment there is no such drug, but if one can understand about the binding sites on the channel of these fatty acids interact with, one could tailor a molecule that would fit that very precisely. And provide a means of activating cerebral blood flow in a very specific way," Dryer said. 

This study provides evidence that will benefit some stroke-prone patients but because there are different kinds of strokes and dilation of cerebral vessels, it may not be helpful to many people with the condition. 

Aside from stroke-prone patients, people who have chronic reduced blood flow or continual migraines may also benefit from the study.

Development of new medications is sheer speculation for now, so Dryer is concerned with learning more of the ion channels.

"We haven't started to develop drugs, and I'm not sure if Bob or I are the right people to do that. But we certainly would like to know a great deal more of how these channels are regulated physiology and how they change," Dryer said. 

Dryer also conducted research at UH on biological clocks, nature and embryonic formation of nervous systems. 

"This is a pretty good department; it has a lot of scientists that are doing some interesting research. We get our work published in really good journals, and it's one of the best kept secrets anywhere," Dryer said. 
 

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