Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

The Mitochondrial Membrane Potential As A Screening Tool For Immunostimulation, Kendra Mcglothen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The rise of neuroinflammatory disorders highlights the importance of early detection and intervention for more effective treatment options. Neuroinflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders, including Major Depressive Disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis. There has been a focus on neurons to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of neuroinflammation and its role in neurodegeneration. However, recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of glial cells, particularly microglia, in neuroinflammation due to their active participation in the immune response. This study investigates glial-specific indicators of morphology, metabolic changes, and drug efficacy in neuroinflammatory conditions. By analyzing …

Investigations Into The Relationship Between Menopause And Alzheimer’S Disease Pathology In A Mouse Model With Ovarian Follicle Depletion, Amanda M. Leisgang Osse

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) currently affects about 6.9 million Americans, with over two-thirds of those individuals being women. Interestingly, changes in the brain indicative of AD coincide with the onset of menopause. Post-menopausal women have significantly higher levels of AD pathologies, including amyloid beta and hyperphosphorylated tau, than pre-menopausal women. To investigate the relationship between AD pathologies and menopause, we induced menopause-like state in an AD mouse model, APP/PS1, by treatment with 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) to accelerate ovarian follicle depletion. To monitor the transition to menopause, vaginal lavages and cytology was performed to determine if mice reached anestrous. Both female APP/PS1 …

What Is Trauma?: From Science To Social Justice, Judith Fleetwood Carlisle

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the term “trauma” has become increasingly controversial. Many of these controversies revolve around the definition of trauma, and the way that this definition varies across contexts. What kinds of experience can plausibly be considered “traumatic”? In some contexts, the standards are incredibly permissive, while others are much more restrictive. These different ways of understanding “trauma” prompts an important question: Who has the authority to define trauma? In other words, who decides which conception of trauma is the most “legitimate” – who decides when an experience is or is not traumatic? My project attempts to answer these questions …

​Behavioral, Physiological, And Circadian Effects Of Constant Light On Bling C3h/Hen And C3h/Hej, Samantha G. Burke

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Circadian disruptions are quite detrimental to one’s health- leading to many different diseases. The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) (center of regulation of the circadian clock) can perceive light from the retina, allowing the SCN to register cues such as light to aid in regulating the biological clock. Due to this connection constant light is a common disruption, which can cause increased hyperactivity, anxiety, and altered circadian rhythm in mice. This study’s purpose is to determine how two rhodopsin lacking blind sub-strains of C3H mice respond to constant light regarding their behavior, physiology, and their circadian clock, as well as investigating any …

Biosensor-Enhanced Organ-On-A-Chip Models For Investigating Glioblastoma Tumor Microenvironment Dynamics, Gayathree Thenuwara, Bilal Javed, Baljit Singh, Furong Tian

Articles

Glioblastoma, an aggressive primary brain tumor, poses a significant challenge owing to its dynamic and intricate tumor microenvironment. This review investigates the innovative integration of biosensor-enhanced organ-on-a-chip (OOC) models as a novel strategy for an in-depth exploration of glioblastoma tumor microenvironment dynamics. In recent years, the transformative approach of incorporating biosensors into OOC platforms has enabled real-time monitoring and analysis of cellular behaviors within a controlled microenvironment. Conventional in vitro and in vivo models exhibit inherent limitations in accurately replicating the complex nature of glioblastoma progression. This review addresses the existing research gap by pioneering the integration of biosensor-enhanced OOC …

Sequence Learning In A 6-Ohda Mouse Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Ani Gribbin

Neuroscience Honors Projects

Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder originating in the dopaminergic cells of the basal ganglia, is characterized by severe motor impairments such as tremors, bradykinesia, and postural instability. However, non-motor symptoms impacting sensory systems and cognition are consistently pointed to as more greatly affecting quality of life for PD patients. Cognitive impairments in PD can include changes in reward processing, depression, apathy, and increases in risk-taking behavior. Additionally, learning and memory deficits are seen in PD, specifically in motor sequence learning. Often, the neural correlates of sequence learning impairments are traced to the substantia nigra. However, there is some evidence …

Are Objects Oriented Towards Your Dominant Hand Easier To Recognize?, Lauren A. Miller

Honors Scholar Theses

Previous research demonstrated that conceptual knowledge of manipulable objects is partially grounded in the motor system. For instance, explicitly retrieving knowledge about how a manipulable object is interacted with (e.g. pinched or clenched?) is easier for right handed people if the object is oriented so that it more easily affords grasping with the right hand (Chrysikou et al., 2017). We tested if motor experience through handedness also influences participants’ abilities to name objects that are commonly grasped with their dominant hand. Participants were asked to name images of graspable objects whose handles were oriented toward either their left or right …

Development Of Vasculature Patterns In A Mouse Model Of Supratentorial Ependymoma, Jackson Ayers

Honors Scholar Theses

Supratentorial Ependymoma (ST-EPN) is a subtype of ependymoma, a primary solid tumor found throughout the nervous system. ST-EPN are most commonly caused by an oncogenic fusion between the zinc finger gene ZFTA and the RELA, and this distinct ependymoma subtype is readily modeled in mice by conditional expression of ZFTA-RELA in radial glial cells. ST-EPN are known to have a distinctive arrangement of tumor cells and vasculature forming pseudo-rosettes in which polarized tumor cells surround blood vessels within the tumors. It is not known how these pseudo-rosettes or the tumor vasculature form and develop in ST-EPN, so in this study …

Interactions Between Adolescent Alcohol Consumption, Corticosterone, And Later Stress Sensitivity, Ariana L. Velazquez

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Adolescence is characterized by many socio-emotional and neurobiological changes that often coincide with increased amounts of stress and the onset of alcohol use. Stress has been known to modulate alcohol intake, although the literature regarding this directionality is mixed. Both alcohol and stress can have lasting impacts on HPA axis activation (alterations in stress reactivity) and neuroimmune function (microglial sensitization). It has yet to be evaluated how concurrent ethanol and stress (recapitulated through oral corticosterone (CORT) administration) modulates alcohol intake and impacts later stress sensitivity and microglial sensitization. It was hypothesized that chronic concurrent ethanol and CORT drinking would (1) …

Effects Of The Sudden Reduction Of Social Enrichment On A Novel Rat Model Of Approach Orientation, Emily Feldman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a reduction in social enrichment by measuring behavioral changes in the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) in male and female rats of High Approach (HAO) and Low Approach Orientation (LAO). The results indicated that at baseline, both total arm entries and open arm entries were affected by Approach Orientation and Sex. The percent change in closed arm entries in female LAO was sensitive to a sudden transition from high to standard social enrichment, whereas those in the female HAO and both male groups were behaviorally unaffected. The female LAO …

Transitive Inference In Rats, Jose Pena '25, Laura Betances '25, Yamilet Nieves Vega '26, Tess Cody '25, Conor Ollendike '26, Ashley Sawtelle '26, Margaret Low '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Jose Pena ’25 Neuroscience major
Laura Betances ’25 Biology major, community health minor
Yamilet Nieves ’26, Neuroscience and Health Policy and Management major
Tess Cody ’25, Neuroscience major
Conor Ollendike ’26, Psychology and Biology major
Ashley Sawtelle ’26, Psychology major
Margaret Low ’24, Psychology and Health Policy and Management major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victoria Templer, Neuroscience

Exploring Neural Patterns: Rat Brain Activation During A Transitive Inference Task, Yamilet Nieves Vega '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Yamilet Nieves ’26, Neuroscience and Health Policy and Management major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victoria Templer, Neuroscience

The Genomics Of Champ1: Insights Into Their Cell-Type Specificity And Developmental Trajectories, Zoe Marie Van Caugherty

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Chromosome alignment maintaining phosphoprotein 1(CHAMP1) is a gene that encodes a zinc finger protein that is involved in in the maintenance of kinetochore-microtubule attachment and regulating chromosome segregation in mitosis. (Itoh et al., 2011) CHAMP1 mutations have been shown to be major risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).(Asakura et al., 2021; Isidor et al., 2016; Levy et al., 2022) Although there is information on the link between CHAMP1 mutations and NDD, the role of CHAMP1 in regulating processes of human cortical development, namely, neurogenesis, proliferation, and electrophysiological properties of newly born neurons, is unknown. This …

Cultivating Excellence: A Literature Review On Harnessing The Power Of The Gut Microbiome For Athletic Performance, Maya Katharine Dean

Honors Projects

The interplay between our gut microbiome and health is immense. This literature review analyzes the current research assessing the interplay between gut microbiome and athletic performance. Knowing how to improve gut microbial diversity via nutrition and supplementation can take athletic performance to the next level; namely improvements in immune, mental, and physical health.

The Anatomical Embodiment Of Morning Routines In The Reduction Of Anxiety: An Intervention, Natalie Wright

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The topic under investigation is whether physically embodying a morning routine that was designed through the lens of Laban Bartenieff Movement Analysis (LBMA) will reduce daily symptoms of individuals diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Since morning routines play a significant part in one’s preparation for the day, I created an individualized LBMA morning routine for a specific client to embody. In addition to the routine, the client documented the process of their anxiety levels on a weekly basis. This client was a white, female, 19-year-old, lesbian college student who was previously diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The movement analysis …

Faa Medical Reform, Dana Rose

Honors Projects

This project investigates the challenges and implications of obtaining medical certification for pilots with a history of childhood misdiagnoses, focusing on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Misdiagnoses in childhood can lead to significant obstacles in the aviation industry's medical certification process, posing unique hurdles for aspiring pilots. The study examines the current FAA guidelines and procedures for medical certification, particularly the evaluation requirements for individuals with ADHD. It also explores common challenges faced by pilots, the effects of childhood misdiagnoses on their eligibility, and the impact of the FAA's ADHD evaluation process.

Through interviews with Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs), this project identifies …

Exposure To The Trier Social Stress Test Enhances Central Detail Memory, Reduces False Memory, And Results In Intrusive Memories That Last For Days, Mercedes L. Stanek, Kayla Boaz, Taylor D. Niese, Kristen E. Long, Matthew S. Risner, John G. Blasco, Koen N. Suzelis, Kelsey M. Siereveld, Boyd R. Rorabaugh, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Recent work has used a modified version of the well-known laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), to study participant memory for a stressful experience. The paradigm is useful because, unlike most studies examining stress effects on memory, it allows investigators to measure what participants remember about the stressor, not unrelated information. It also presents an opportunity to model other stress-related symptoms, such as intrusive memories, but these have yet to be assessed with this paradigm. Intrusive memories have been notoriously difficult to measure in laboratory settings; most of this research involves participants watching arousing videos and subsequently reporting …

Differential Behavioral Responses In Male And Female Mice Lacking Either Rgs2 Or Rgs4 Proteins After Acute Administration Of Antidepressants And Anxiolytics, Hiroyoshi Matsui, Sarah Seeley, Manoranjan S. D'Souza

ONU Student Research Colloquium

The overall objective of the study was to assess the acute behavioral effects of currently used antidepressants and anxiolytics in male and female mice lacking regulator of G protein-signaling (RGS) proteins 2 and 4 and their wild-type counterparts. RGS 2 and 4 proteins negatively modulate signaling pathways of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which play an important role in mediating the effects of monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. These neurotransmitters in turn play an important role in the action of antidepressant and anxiolytic medications. The study was undertaken because no studies till date have systematically assessed the behavioral …

Effects Of Kappa Opioid Receptor Manipulation On Methamphetamine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization In Adolescent Male And Female Rats, Hiroyoshi Matsui Mr, Sarah Seeley, Manoranjan S. D'Souza

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Methamphetamine abuse amongst adolescents has been on the rise in the United States. In this study, we assessed the effects of manipulation of KORs on methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization in adolescent male and female rats. Methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization is an animal model to study methamphetamine addiction. Behavioral sensitization usually occurs in animals who have been treated with methamphetamine followed by a period of withdrawal. It is hypothesized that brain circuits are altered during the period of withdrawal after methamphetamine exposure resulting in sensitized (increased) responses to methamphetamine at the end of the withdrawal period. The experiment was conducted over 28 days. …

Ethanol-Induced Alterations To Astrocytic Glutamate Transporter Mrna Expression In The Mpfc Of Adult Mice, Zachary Evans

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is one of several brain structures that is contained in the mesolimbocortical pathway and controls many processes involved in alcohol use disorder (AUD). There is vast glutamatergic output from the mPFC to other mesolimbocortical regions; neuroplastic changes to this system are believed to be closely tied to the development and maintenance of AUD. Astrocytes are key regulators of glutamatergic transmission through their uptake of excess glutamate from the synapse and recycling back into neurons. Ethanol (EtOH) alters the expression of astrocytic genes that encode for transporters that control glutamate homeostasis; these include the glutamate transporter-1 …

Addicted To The Beloved? A Comparison Of Craving For And Attention To Beloved And Vape Stimuli, Caitlyn Harriman

Theses

People who are in love seem to be addicted to their beloved. People who are in love have attentional biases for the beloved and people who are addicted have attentional biases for the substance they are using. This raises the question of how similar craving and attention are for the beloved and an addictive substance. However, there are no studies that directly compared craving and attention to the beloved and addictive stimuli. The aims of the current research were to directly compare subjective emotional experiences, sustained motivated attention, and early automatic attention for the beloved and vape stimuli, in people …

Gucy2c Signaling Limits Dopaminergic Neuron Vulnerability To Toxic Insults, Lara Cheslow, Matthew Byrne, Jessica Kopenhaver, Lorraine Iacovitti, Richard Smeyne, Adam Snook, Scott Waldman

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are central drivers of dopaminergic (DA) neuron death in Parkinson's disease (PD). Guanylyl cyclases and their second messenger cyclic (c)GMP support mitochondrial function, protecting against ROS and promoting cell survival in several tissues. However, the role of the guanylyl cyclase-cGMP axis in defining the vulnerability of DA neurons in the SNpc in PD remains unclear, in part due to the challenge of manipulating cGMP levels selectively in midbrain DA neurons. In that context, guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C), a receptor primarily expressed by intestinal epithelial cells, …

The Role Of Brain Injury In Neural Proliferation And Neuronal Migration In Adult Zebrafish, Matthew Czmer, Ashley Trainor, Carmen Casper

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasing in prevalence, with around 1.5 million people in the United States sustaining a head injury every year. Neural death following TBI contributes significantly to neurological dysfunction and, in extreme cases, death. Adult zebrafish prove a unique and advantageous model of study as they are capable of de novo neural regeneration (i.e., neurogenesis) following brain injury. While it is known that robust cell proliferation occurs in the ventricular zone (VZ) of the telencephalon of adult zebrafish, it is unknown whether these newly-generated cells and their migration aid in the process of neural repair after TBI. …

Modeling Dopaminergic Loss In The Zebrafish Olfactory System, Lexus Putt, Samantha Groenwold, Ted Lockett, Nathaniel Vorhees

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Zebrafish provide an ideal model to study neurodegenerative diseases and regenerative processes as they present neurogenesis and a high degree of neuroplasticity throughout their lifespan. It has been suggested that dopamine has an important role in regulating olfaction. We aimed to study the structural and functional effects of dopaminergic loss in the olfactory system. We injected 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) int the ventricular zone of adult zebrafish at the interphase between the olfactory bulbs and the telencephalon to target dopaminergic neurons in the olfactory bulb.Then, we assessed dopaminergic neural loss, markers of inflammation, morphological changes of olfactory axons, and synaptic connections. Olfactory …

Retrograde Degeneration Of The Olfactory Epithelium Following Neurotoxic Lesioning In Zebrafish, Sophia A. Farbarzhevich, Riley G. Checkley, Mackenzie T. Williams, Rachel J. Mast

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disease that deteriorates dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, is characterized by movement deficits, sleep disturbances, mental deficits, and hallucinations. About 95% of those with PD experience olfactory dysfunction or loss of the sense of smell. Prior research found evidence of retrograde degeneration in animal models of PD, which occurs when axons degenerate proximal to the neural injury itself, beginning in the axon terminals and proceeding to the cell body. Although dopaminergic retrograde degeneration has been observed in PD models, it is unknown if this contributes to some non-motor PD’s symptoms, such as olfactory loss. …

Fishing For Answers: Studying Hypoxia's Effects On The Zebrafish Olfactory Epithelium, Madelyn Yakes, Skylar Dewitt, Gracie Hill

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Hypoxia, i.e. low oxygen, is a physiologically damaging condition found in many health conditions such as ischemic stroke, sleep apnea, asthma, etc. Additionally, decreased dissolved oxygen levels in aquatic environments occur as a result of climate change. Zebrafish offer an excellent model to study hypoxia due to extensive neuroplasticity and injury-induced cell proliferation, which allows them to recover lost function in the central nervous system (CNS). We have shown that olfaction (i.e., the ability to smell), decreases in response to hypoxic exposure in adult zebrafish. Thus, it is important to study the structural abnormalities underlying this loss of smell. Olfactory …

Unveiling Sensory Gaps: A Study On Zebrafish Alanine Taste Blindness And The Consequential Neurotoxic Impact On Dopaminergic Neurons In Motor Regions, Samantha Groenwold, Mackenzie Korff

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deficits in motor functions including loss of coordination and hypertonia. Dopaminergic (DA) neuronal death is found in the substantia nigra and reward centers of the brain in PD patients. Smell loss is also associated with patients with PD as DA neurons are found in the Olfactory Bulb (OB), the brain structure that processes odor signals. We use zebrafish as a model to study neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, as they can regenerate neurons throughout their lifespan. We have established a model to study DA loss in the zebrafish olfactory system. To do …

The Effect Of The Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator, Safit, On Acute Stress Reactivity In A Rat Model Of Abusive Head Trauma, Brielle Coe

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Spreading Depolarizations In Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries, Natalie J. Pinkowski

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) often lead to acute symptoms like disorientation and discoordination, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Although most patients recover quickly from a single mTBI, repeated injuries can be debilitating. After an mTBI, a neurometabolic cascade produces metabolic burden and vulnerability. Spreading depolarizations (SDs) have been observed after mTBIs. Here we investigated SDs’ role in short-term motor behavioral deficits post-mTBI. We hypothesized that SDs contribute to the deficits, and exacerbated symptoms after repeated mTBIs. To test this, we used acute motor behavioral tests and long-term behavioral and cognitive tests after initiating SDs by mTBI, chemical, or …

Dysexecutive Difficulty And Subtle Everyday Functional Disabilities: The Digital Trail Making Test, David J Libon, Rod Swenson, Sean Tobyne, Ali Jannati, Daniel Schulman, Catherine C Price, Melissa Lamar, Alvaro Pascual-Leone

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Digital neuropsychological tests reliably capture real-time, process-based behavior that traditional paper/pencil tests cannot detect, enabling earlier detection of neurodegenerative illness. We assessed relations between informant-based subtle and mild functional decline and process-based features extracted from the digital Trail Making Test-Part B (dTMT-B).

METHODS: A total of 321 community-dwelling participants (56.0% female) were assessed with the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) and the dTMT-B. Three FAQ groups were constructed: FAQ = 0 (unimpaired); FAQ = 1-4 (subtle impairment); FAQ = 5-8 (mild impairment).

Results: Compared to the FAQ-unimpaired group, other groups required longer pauses inside target circles (p < 0.050) and produced more total pen strokes to complete the test (p < 0.016). FAQ-subtle participants required more time to complete the entire test (p …