European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP)
    European Society of Toxicologic Pathology
ESTP Publication Award 2009

The ESTP presents its publication award 2009 and 1,000 EUR* prize to

Dr. Alok Sharma

Dr. Alok Sharma is awarded in recognition of his two outstanding papers on a model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy published in Toxicologic Pathology.

Dr. Sharma is awarded for his publications entitled "Temporal profile of clinical signs and histopathologic changes in an F-344 rat model of kainic acid-induced mesial temporal lobe epilepsy" (1) and "Kainic acid-induced F-344 rat model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: gene expression and canonical pathways" (2). In his work Dr. Sharma has characterized the neuropathology of this animal model by state-of-the-art histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The results were set into relation to the clinical findings which led to the generation of a hypothesis for the underlying pathogenesis of this model. The morphological investigations were complemented in an exemplary manner by an analysis of the time dependency of gene expression including pathways analysis. The expression changes of selected genes known to play a role in neuropathology were subsequently validated by quantitative PCR. With the results obtained Dr. Sharma could support the suggested pathogenesis underlying this model. Furthermore, he was able to identify potential biomarkers for neurodegeneration and neuronal plasticity.

These publications show in an exemplary way the integration of conventional histopathological techniques and gene expression analysis. Their relevance is not only limited to the description of a particular model of neurotoxicity, they also show the strengths of combining conventional and new methodologies in toxicologic pathology when applied to the central nervous system.

References:

  1. Sharma AK, Jordan WH, Reams RY, Hall DG, Snyder PW (2008) Temporal profile of clinical signs and histopathologic changes in an F-344 rat model of kainic acid-induced mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Toxicol Pathol 36: 932-943

  2. Sharma AK, Searfoss GH, Reams RY, Jordan WH, Snyder PW, Chiang AY, Jolly RA, Ryan TP (2009) Kainic acid-induced F-344 rat model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: gene expression and canonical pathways. Toxicol Pathol 37: 776-789


The Hague, September 16, 2009

The president of the ESTP The chair of the ESTP award committee
Dr. Ingrid Sjögren Dr. Thomas Nolte

* supported by Novartis Pharma AG