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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Autotaxin In Central Nervous System Development And Disease, Natalie A. Wheeler
Autotaxin In Central Nervous System Development And Disease, Natalie A. Wheeler
Theses and Dissertations
During development, oligodendrocytes (OLGs), the myelinating cells of the central nervous system (CNS), undergo a stepwise progression during which OLG progenitors, specified from neural stem/progenitor cells, differentiate into fully mature myelinating OLGs. This progression along the OLG lineage is characterized by well-synchronized changes in morphology and gene expression patterns. The studies presented in this dissertation identified the extracellular factor Autotaxin (ATX) as a novel upstream signal modulating HDAC1/2 activity and gene expression in cells of the OLG lineage. Using the zebrafish as an in vivo model system, as well as rodent primary OLG cultures, this functional property of ATX was …
Axon Initial Segment Stability In Multiple Sclerosis, Suneel K. Thummala
Axon Initial Segment Stability In Multiple Sclerosis, Suneel K. Thummala
Theses and Dissertations
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation and demyelination. In addition to these hallmark features, MS also presents with axonal pathology, which is likely responsible for the signs and symptoms of the disease. Although prominent in MS, axonal pathology is frequently considered a consequence of demyelination and not a primary event. This conclusion is consistent with demyelination inducing the loss of specific axonal domains, known as the nodes of Ranvier that are responsible for the propagation of action potentials along the axon. In contrast, we propose that axonal pathology associated with MS …
Myelin Gene Expression: Implications For Alcohol Abuse And Dependence, Sean Farris
Myelin Gene Expression: Implications For Alcohol Abuse And Dependence, Sean Farris
Theses and Dissertations
Acute behavioral responses to ethanol have predictive value for determining an individual's risk of long-term drinking behavior. Although the neurobiology of alcohol abuse is complex, prior studies from our laboratory demonstrated differential myelin-associated gene expression (MAGE) in medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) as one potential mechanism influencing acute ethanol behaviors between C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice. Our laboratory and others have also shown MAGE is reduced in PFC of alcoholics. Herein, I have extended these findings through expression profiling of PFC into chronic models of ethanol self-administration from non-human primates and mice. Together, these results suggest that regulation of MAGE …
Sulfatide Is Required For Organization Of The Paranode In The Myelinated Axon In The Peripheral Nervous System, Eva Kwong
Theses and Dissertations
Myelin facilitates the timely, efficient conduction of action potentials along axons. Made by Schwann cells (SCs) in the PNS, myelin is unique in that it is composed of a high percentage of lipids, particularly galactolipids. Sulfatide, one such galactolipid, is made by cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) and has been shown to play a role in organizing paranodal domains in myelinated axons. However less is known regarding the involvement of sulfatide in the establishment and maintenance of the node, of particular interest as it is responsible for the potentiation of action potentials along the axon. Using immunohistochemical and, to a lesser extent, …
Discovery And Initial Characterizations Of Neurofascin 155 High And Neurofascin 155 Low, Anthony Pomicter
Discovery And Initial Characterizations Of Neurofascin 155 High And Neurofascin 155 Low, Anthony Pomicter
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis contains the findings from four years of research regarding an oligodendrocyte protein named neurofascin 155. The role of this protein in maintaining adhesion between the myelin sheath of oligodendrocytes and the axons of neurons has become well established in recent years and the research presented here has revealed that while western blots have previously shown one protein/band representing neurofascin 155, there are two proteins/bands. These two proteins have been named neurofascin 155 high and neurofascin 155 low due to their previous inclusion in the single band. The work leading up to their discovery, findings, and the relevance of …