The Effects Of Bfgf Treatment In The Aged Brain Following Traumatic Brain Injury,
2010
Virginia Commonwealth University
The Effects Of Bfgf Treatment In The Aged Brain Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Michael Zeigler
Theses and Dissertations
The mature mammalian brain continually generates new neurons in the subventricular zone and hippocampus throughout life. Adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus is associated with hippocampal-dependent learning and memory function. During aging, this endogenous neurogenic potential is reduced which is accompanied by decreased cognitive function seen in the aging population. We have previously found that the injured adult brain shows heightened levels of endogenous neurogenesis and this response is associated with innate cognitive recovery. We have also found that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a potent neurotrophic polypeptide, can enhance injury-induced hippocampal neurogenesis and improve cognitive recovery following TBI. In this …
Spinal Cord Injury: Exploring The Histology Of Electrospun Implants In Vivo,
2010
Virginia Commonwealth University
Spinal Cord Injury: Exploring The Histology Of Electrospun Implants In Vivo, Charles Lin
Theses and Dissertations
Spinal cord injury results in loss of motor function and sensory perception. A myriad of obstacles prevent axonal regeneration and ultimately functional recovery in those afflicted with spinal cord injury. Combinatorial strategies addressing many of these obstacles simultaneously have shown promising results. Laboratories investigating contusional spinal cord injuries must overcome the formation of a fluid filled cyst, a physical gap that axons must traverse, at the injury epicenter. To fill the cyst, our lab has generated a 3-D electrospun matrix that is capable of directing neurite outgrowth, delivering neurotrophic support, and reducing the activity of neuroinhibitory compounds. These electrospun matrices …
Characterizing Purkinje Cell Responses And Cerebellar Influence On Fluid Licking In The Mouse,
2010
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Characterizing Purkinje Cell Responses And Cerebellar Influence On Fluid Licking In The Mouse, Jeri Lonece Bryant
Theses and Dissertations (ETD)
Rodents consume water by performing stereotypical, rhythmic licking movements which are believed to be driven by central pattern generating circuits located in the brainstem. Temporal aspects of rhythmic licking behavior have been shown to be represented in the olivo-cerebellar system in the form of population complex spike activity. These findings suggest that the olivo-cerebellar system is involved in the generating circuitry responsible for licking rhythm in rodents. However, the representation of licking in the simple spike activity of Purkinje cells and the consequences of loss of cerebellar function on licking behavior has not been quantified. I investigated the influence of …
Focal Adhesion Kinase, A Major Regulator Of Oligodendrocyte Morphological Maturation And Myelination,
2010
Virginia Commonwealth University
Focal Adhesion Kinase, A Major Regulator Of Oligodendrocyte Morphological Maturation And Myelination, Audrey Lafrenaye
Theses and Dissertations
The formation of the myelin sheath is a crucial step during development because it enables fast and efficient propagation of signals within the limited space of the mammalian central nervous system. During the process of myelination, oligodendrocytes actively interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM). These interactions are considered crucial for proper and timely completion of the myelin sheath. However, the exact regulatory circuits involved in the signaling events that occur between the ECM and oligodendrocytes are currently not fully understood. Therefore, in this dissertation we investigated the role of a known integrator of cell-ECM signaling, namely, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), …
Perifosine, A Novel Akt Inhibitor Induces Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Arrest And Has A Chemo-Sensitizing Effect In Medulloblastoma Cell Lines,
2010
Virginia Commonwealth University
Perifosine, A Novel Akt Inhibitor Induces Apoptosis, Cell Cycle Arrest And Has A Chemo-Sensitizing Effect In Medulloblastoma Cell Lines, Anil Kumar
Theses and Dissertations
Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common solid tumors found in children. While surgery and radiotherapy still remain the standard treatment modalities in pediatric brain tumors, chemotherapy also has an important part in the management of these tumors. However, most of the available chemotherapeutic drugs have suboptimal effectiveness. Deregulation of various pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic pathways has been cited as a major mechanism underlying this drug resistance. The role of various serine threonine kinases, including Akt kinases, in promoting drug resistance is being extensively studied in various cancers. A complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie drug …
The Influences Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Expression On Glioblastoma Pathology,
2010
Virginia Commonwealth University
The Influences Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Expression On Glioblastoma Pathology, Nicholas Pullen
Theses and Dissertations
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive central nervous system (CNS) cancer characterized by enhanced tumor cell motility, pernicious invasion into the normal brain, extensive tumor-induced angiogenesis, and adaptive resistance to current therapeutic paradigms. One of the difficulties associated with GBM is the ability of the tumor cells to infiltrate normal CNS tissue. Neurosurgeons can remove the primary tumor mass, but peripheral cells that are inaccessible will ultimately result in a secondary lesion that can lead to death. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are well known for their abilities to facilitate processes of cellular motility and invasion through their clearance of extracellular …
Progressive Changes In Microglia And Macrophages In Spinal Cord And Peripheral Nerve In The Transgenic Rat Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,
2010
Dartmouth College
Progressive Changes In Microglia And Macrophages In Spinal Cord And Peripheral Nerve In The Transgenic Rat Model Of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, David J. Graber, William F. Hickey, Brent T. Harris
Dartmouth Scholarship
The role of neuroinflammation in motor neuron death of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is unclear. The human mutant superoxide dismutase-1 (hmSOD1)-expressing murine transgenic model of ALS has provided some insight into changes in microglia activity during disease progression. The purpose of this study was to gain further knowledge by characterizing the immunological changes during disease progression in the spinal cord and peripheral nerve using the more recently developed hmSOD1 rat transgenic model of ALS. Using immunohistochemistry, the extent and intensity of tissue CD11b expression in spinal cord, lumbar nerve roots, and sciatic nerve were evaluated in hmSOD1 rats that were …
An Investigation Of The Prevalence Of Upper Limb Neuropathies In Different Types Of College Musicians By Use Of Neurometrix Device,
2010
Kennesaw State University
An Investigation Of The Prevalence Of Upper Limb Neuropathies In Different Types Of College Musicians By Use Of Neurometrix Device, Saunders Jones Jr., Christi Hernandez
Faculty Articles
In general, people who perform repetitive motions are often vulnerable to repetitive strain injuries. Because musicians must execute the same motion over and over again while practicing and performing their music, they are an example of a group that often develops these repetitive strain injuries. More specifically, musicians are known for developing neuropathies in their upper limbs, with carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome being most common. However, because of varying playing postures, all musicians may not be at equal risk for developing these two neuropathies, so the purpose of this study was to identify which musician group has …
Dendritic Spine Density Varies Between Unisensory And Multisensory Cortical Regions,
2010
Virginia Commonwealth University
Dendritic Spine Density Varies Between Unisensory And Multisensory Cortical Regions, Moazzum Bajwa
Theses and Dissertations
In the brain, the dendritic spine is a point of information exchange that extends the neuronal surface on which synapses occur, as well as facilitates and stabilizes those contacts. Furthermore, dendritic spines dynamically change in shape and number in response to a variety of factors. Dendritic spine numbers are reduced in mental retardation, enhanced during development, sensory enrichment or physical exercise, or fluctuate during the reproductive cycle. Thus, for a given neuron type, it might be expected that dendritic spine number might achieve a dynamic optimum. Indeed, many studies of spine density of pyramidal neurons in sensory cortex indicate that …
