Medical Neurobiology Commons^™

Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species Peroxynitrite In Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury, Yiqin Xiong

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Peroxynitrite (PN, ONOO-), formed by nitric oxide radical (^•NO) and superoxide radical (O2^•-), plays an important role in post-traumatic oxidative damage. In the early work, we determined the temporal characteristics of PN-derived oxidative damage in a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Our results showed 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), a specific marker for PN, rapidly accumulated at early time points (1 hr, 3 hrs), after when it plateaued and the high level was sustained to 1 week post injury. The co-localization of 3-NT and lipid peroxidation derived-4-HNE observed in immunohistochemistry indicates PN is involved in lipid peroxidative as …

The Effect Of Pparγ Activation By Pioglitazone On The Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Pge2 And No Production: Potentialunderlying Alteration Of Signaling Transduction, Bin Xing

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Uncontrolled microglia activation produces major proinflammatory factors including cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) that may cause dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist pioglitazone has potent antiinflammatory property. We hypothesize pioglitazone protects dopaminergic neuron from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neurotoxicity by interacting with relevant signal pathways, inhibiting microglial activation and decreasing inflammatory mediators.

First, the neuroprotection of pioglitazone was explored. Second, the signaling transductions such as jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the interference with these pathways by pioglitazone were investigated. Third, the effect of …

Transgenic Mice Which Overexpress Neurotrophin-3 (Nt-3) And Method Of Use, Kathryn M. Albers, Brian M. Davis

Neuroscience Faculty Patents

Transgenic mice express increased levels of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in epithelium when their ancestors are microinjected with the NT-3 gene. The NT-3 growth factor expressing transgenic mice are useful in the study of neurodegenerative disorders of the brain such as Parkinson's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, of the spinal cord motor neurons such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and for testing drug candidates for the treatment of these diseases.

Transgenic Mice Which Overexpress Nerve Growth Factor, Kathryn M. Albers, Brian M. Davis

Neuroscience Faculty Patents

Transgenic mice that express increased levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the epidermis and other stratified, keratinized epithelium. The nerve growth factor expressing transgenic mice are useful in the study of neurodegenerative disorders of the brain such as Parkinson's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease and for testing for drug candidates for the treatment of these diseases.