Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Air Pollution & The Brain: Subchronic Diesel Exhaust Exposure Causes Neuroinflammation And Elevates Early Markers Of Neurodegenerative Disease, Shannon Levesque, Michael J. Surace, Jacob Mcdonald, Michelle L. Block

Anatomy and Neurobiology Publications

Background

Increasing evidence links diverse forms of air pollution to neuroinflammation and neuropathology in both human and animal models, but the effects of long-term exposures are poorly understood.

Objective

We explored the central nervous system consequences of subchronic exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) and addressed the minimum levels necessary to elicit neuroinflammation and markers of early neuropathology.

Methods

Male Fischer 344 rats were exposed to DE (992, 311, 100, 35 and 0 μg PM/m³) by inhalation over 6 months.

Results

DE exposure resulted in elevated levels of TNFα at high concentrations in all regions tested, with the exception …

Chronic Apocynin Treatment Attenuates Beta Amyloid Plaque Size And Microglial Number In Happ(751)Sl Mice, Melinda E. Lull, Shannon Levesque, Michael J. Surace, Michelle L. Block

Anatomy and Neurobiology Publications

Background

NADPH oxidase is implicated in neurotoxic microglial activation and the progressive nature of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Here, we test the ability of two NADPH oxidase inhibitors, apocynin and dextromethorphan (DM), to reduce learning deficits and neuropathology in transgenic mice overexpressing human amyloid precursor protein with the Swedish and London mutations (hAPP(751)SL).

Methods

Four month old hAPP(751)SL mice were treated daily with saline, 15 mg/kg DM, 7.5 mg/kg DM, or 10 mg/kg apocynin by gavage for four months.

Results

Only hAPP(751)SL mice treated with apocynin showed reduced plaque size and a reduction in the number of cortical microglia, when compared …

Development Of Melanopsin-Based Irradiance Detecting Circuitry, David S. Mcneill, Catherine J. Sheely, Jennifer L. Ecker, Tudor C. Badea, Duncan Morhardt, William Guido, Samer Hattar

Anatomy and Neurobiology Publications

Background

Most retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) convey contrast and motion information to visual brain centers. Approximately 2% of RGCs are intrinsically photosensitive (ipRGCs), express melanopsin and are necessary for light to modulate specific physiological processes in mice. The ipRGCs directly target the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) to photoentrain circadian rhythms, and the olivary pretectal nucleus (OPN) to mediate the pupillary light response. How and when this ipRGC circuitry develops is unknown.

Results

Here, we show that some ipRGCs follow a delayed developmental time course relative to other image-forming RGCs. Specifically, ipRGC neurogenesis extends beyond that of other RGCs, and ipRGCs begin …