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Investigating The Role Of An Sk Channel Activator On Survival And Motor Function In The Sod1-G93a, Als Mouse Model, Matthew Thomas Dancy
Investigating The Role Of An Sk Channel Activator On Survival And Motor Function In The Sod1-G93a, Als Mouse Model, Matthew Thomas Dancy
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset progressive degenerative motor neuron disease that is characterized by muscle atrophy and weakness due to the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Average survival time for individuals diagnosed with the disease is three to five years; currently there is no cure and only one drug approved by the Food and Administration (FDA). Scientists have proposed various theories in order to solve the mystery which surrounds ALS. One of these theories hypothesizes how hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity leads to the death of motor neurons. In this study, we will address ways of combatting …
Sk Channel Clustering In Sod1-G93a Motoneurons, Saihari Shekar Dukkipati
Sk Channel Clustering In Sod1-G93a Motoneurons, Saihari Shekar Dukkipati
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neuromuscular disease that currently has no cure and extremely limited treatment options. The specific mechanisms that underlie motoneuron degeneration and death, which are classical features of this disease, are mostly unknown. This thesis tests the hypothesis that small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK) may be downregulated in ALS motoneurons, as suggested by computational modelling. SK channel expression was measured in spinal alpha-motoneuron cell bodies or somata of wildtype (WT) and mutant (mt) SOD1-G93A mice, a transgenic animal model of ALS. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of the developmental expression of SK channel isoforms SK2 and SK3 …