Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Regulation Of Neuroinflammation After Ischemic Stroke By Astroglial Endothelin Receptor Type-B Signaling, John Mcinnis

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

A large body of neuroscientific research has focused on reactive gliosis and glial scar formation because these are among the most prominent features of the cellular response to central nervous system (CNS) injury. Despite much progress in our understanding, controversy remains regarding the relative balance between the protective nature of the astroglial scar and its anti-regenerative features. Recent work suggests that astrocytes are heterogeneous in their resting state and in their reactivity. In traumatic injuries such as stroke and spinal cord injury, proliferative reactive astrocytes protect CNS tissue. By contrast, under neuroinflammatory and/or neurodegenerative conditions, neurotoxic astrocyte phenotypes may contribute …

Neurodevelopmental Roles Of Semaphorin6a/Plexina2 Signaling In Zebrafish, Sarah Elizabeth Emerson

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

ABSTRACT

A multitude of complex cellular changes are required throughout development in order for a single cell to transform into a fully functioning organism. Cellular events including proliferation, migration, and differentiation have to be carefully controlled in order for development to proceed correctly. In order to study such dynamic processes, in vivo models are often utilized. Using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model system, we have investigated the role of an axon guidance signaling pair, Semaphorin6A (Sema6A) and PlexinA2 (PlxnA2), in neurodevelopment.

A previous investigation into the developmental expression patterns of sema6A and plxnA2 in zebrafish, revealed overlapping expression …

Biochemical And Functional Characterization Of Semaphorin6a-Plexina Signaling In Zebrafish Eye Development, Riley St. Clair

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

During embryonic development, cells respond to extracellular signals to establish proper tissue organization. Semaphorins (Semas) are a large class of secreted and transmembrane proteins that signal through Plexin (Plxn) receptors to guide migrating cells to their correct position and thus play critical roles in the development of various tissues including the nervous and cardiovascular systems. We have previously shown that Sema6A-PlxnA2 signaling is essential for visual system development, as decreasing endogenous Sema6A or PlxnA2 in zebrafish results in decreased cohesion of the early eye field, impaired retinal lamination, and smaller eye size. However, the molecular mechanisms governing these phenotypes are …

The Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Mglur1 Regulates The Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel Kv1.2 Through Agonist-Dependent And Agonist-Independent Mechanisms, Sharath Chandra Madasu

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The voltage gated potassium channel Kv1.2 plays a key role in the central nervous system and mutations in Kv1.2 cause neurological disorders such as epilepsies and ataxias. In the cerebellum, regulation of Kv1.2 is coupled to learning and memory. We have previously shown that blocking Kv1.2 by infusing its specific inhibitor tityustoxin-kα (TsTX) into the lobulus simplex of the cerebellum facilitates eyeblink conditioning (EBC) and that EBC itself modulates Kv1.2 surface expression in cerebellar interneurons. The metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1 is required for EBC although the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we show that infusion of the mGluR1 …

'Crk'-Ing The Code: The Role Of Crk Adaptor Proteins In Zebrafish Eye Development, Helaina Renee Stergas

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

The migration of neurons from their place of birth to their place of function is an important process during neurodevelopment. Two adaptor proteins, Crk and Crkl, are known to be important factors for neuronal migration. In the neocortex, both molecules play a critical role in the well studied Reelin signaling pathway, guiding newly born neurons to their correct cell layer to create the laminated structure of this tissue. These two adaptor proteins are implicated in human disease of the nervous system. Heterozygous compound deletion of human chromosome 17p13, which includes CRK, occurs in Miller-Dieker syndrome, a severe type of lissencephaly …