Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Modulation Of Nmda Receptor Activity During Physiological And Pathophysiological Events, Christine Marie Emnett
Modulation Of Nmda Receptor Activity During Physiological And Pathophysiological Events, Christine Marie Emnett
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors that serve crucial signaling and neurotrophic functions throughout the central nervous system. Both hyperfunction and hypofunction of NMDARs are associated with neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. Thus, both positive and negative pharmacological NMDAR modulators are of clinical interest as treatments. Understanding drug mechanisms could lead to more rational drug design. Memantine and ketamine are NMDAR open channel blockers that exhibit similar pharmacodynamics at NMDARs but have different clinical uses. Memantine improves cognitive decline during Alzheimer's disease. Ketamine is an anesthetic and analgesic with psychotomimetic effects, but it is also a rapid acting and long-lived …
Flavonoids With Novel Nicotinic Activity As Potential Pharmacotherapies To Treat Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity, Joseph A. Lutz
Flavonoids With Novel Nicotinic Activity As Potential Pharmacotherapies To Treat Ethanol-Induced Neurotoxicity, Joseph A. Lutz
Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy
Ethanol causes neurotoxicity via several mechanisms at different points in the cycle of dependence, including neuroinflammation and oxidative stress during ethanol exposure as well as excitotoxicity during ethanol withdrawal. The primary therapeutic implication is that ethanol-induced neurotoxicity requires multifunctional pharmacotherapies which reduce all mechanisms. Using an innovative pharmacological high throughput screening method on a large plant extract library we discovered flavonoids with alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) activity. In addition to their well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, this novel activity means they can potentially reduce excitotoxicity and therefore makes them ideal for inhibition of ethanol-induced neurotoxicity. Rhamnetin, the candidate compound, …
Screen For Suppressors And Enhancers Of Excitotoxic Neurodegeneration, Anthony Omorodion Edokpolo
Screen For Suppressors And Enhancers Of Excitotoxic Neurodegeneration, Anthony Omorodion Edokpolo
Dissertations and Theses
Excitotoxicity is an important and frequently observed neurodegenerative process. Excitotoxicity mediates brain damage in a range of diseases and conditions including stroke, and is triggered by excessive stimulation of glutamatergic synapses. In spite of extensive studies, the molecular mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity following the over-activation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors are not well understood, and clinical trials based on our partial understanding of the process ended with disappointment. Genetic screens in simple animal models offer a powerful alternative approach, since screens are unbiased, analysis is facilitated by strong research tools, and cellular mechanisms are highly conserved through evolution. We produced a …
Synaptic Physiology Of Glutamate Clearance In The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Jenny (Chan Ying) Wong
Synaptic Physiology Of Glutamate Clearance In The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Jenny (Chan Ying) Wong
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.