A computational study on the role of glutamate and NMDA receptors on cortical spreading depression using a multidomain electrodiffusion model

摘要

Cortical spreading depression is a wave of neuronal silencing and ion concentration changes that sweeps slowly through the brain. It is the basis of migraine aura, in which a migraine patient sees a defect move through ones visual field 30 minutes to an hour prior to the headache attack. In this paper, we study the mechanisms by which cortical spreading depression travels as a wave through the brain. We construct a detailed mathematical model based on the physics of ion movement as well as what is known about the molecular players of cortical spreading depression. We build a simulation program that successfully solves the resulting set of highly coupled equations. We find that cortical spreading depression can propagate as a wave by distinct but overlapping mechanisms. We also simulate spiral cortical spreading depression waves and study their properties.