Neurosciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Oxygen On The Electrophysiology Of Co2/H+-Chemosensitive And -Insensitive Neurons Of The Solitary Complex Of The Rat, Michael Patrick Matott

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study tested the hypothesis that decreasing the control O₂ level from 95% to 40% (5% CO₂ + 55% N₂) maintains viability in caudal solitary complex (cSC) neurons in transverse slices (~300-400ꝳ) prepared from neonatal rat (P2-22) maintained at 32-34°C. The underlying rationale is to reduce exposure to redox and nitrosative stimuli generated during several hours of exposure to 95% O₂ that produces a tissue O₂ tension throughout the slice which is in excess of 203 kPa (2.0 atmospheres absolute,ATA) oxygen. Whole cell recordings of cSC neurons maintained in 40% O₂ exhibited spontaneous …

Nanomaterials And Cellular Interaction In The Nervous System, Caleb Joseph Pingel

Student Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles (NPs), materials fabricated in nanosize, are being increasingly used due to their unique applications. The potential risks from inhaling NPs and the interaction of inhaled NPs with the peripheral nervous system in rat were determined in this study by investigating 1) retrograde transport of inhaled NP's to the Nodose Ganglion (NDG) neurons, 2) NDG neuronal interaction with NPs in vitro, and 3) the fluid kinetics of NPs in cell sustaining media. Intratracheal intubation and instilling fluorescent NPs with and without a tracer dye (SP-DiOC) showed that NPS were transported from nerve endings in airway to neurons. Exposing NDG neurons …

Hiv-1 Tat Triggers Nuclear Localization Of Zo-1 Via Rho Signaling And Camp Response Element-Binding Protein Activation, Yu Zhong, Bei Zhang, Sung Yong Eum, Michal Toborek

Neurosurgery Faculty Publications

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific protein trans-activator of transcription (Tat) can contribute to the dysfunction of brain endothelial cells and HIV trafficking into the brain by disrupting tight junction (TJ) integrity at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) level. Specific TJ proteins, such as zonula occludens (ZO) proteins, localize not only at the cell–cell borders but are also present in the nuclei. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mechanisms and significance of Tat-induced nuclear localization of ZO-1. Treatment of a brain endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3 cells) with Tat resulted in a decrease in total levels of ZO-1 but …

Ensembles Of Human Mtl Neurons "Jump Back In Time" In Response To A Repeated Stimulus, M. W. Howard, Indre Viskontas, K. H. Shankar, I. Fried

Psychology

Episodic memory, which depends critically on the integrity of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), has been described as ‘‘mental time travel’’ in which the rememberer ‘‘jumps back in time.’’ The neural mechanism underlying this ability remains elusive. Mathematical and computational models of performance in episodic memory tasks provide a specific hypothesis regarding the computation that supports such a jump back in time. The models suggest that a representation of temporal context, a representation that changes gradually over macroscopic periods of time, is the cue for episodic recall. According to these models, a jump back in time corresponds to a stimulus …

Loss Of Renal Allografts Secondary To Candida Vascular Complications In Two Recipients From The Same Donor, Govardhana R. Yannam, Lucile E. Wrenshall, R. Brian Stevens

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients. Organ recipients are also susceptible to donor-derived pathogens and the majority of donor infections are easily treatable. Rarely, some pathogens have produced life-threatening complications by compromising the vascular anastomosis. In this case series we report loss of two kidney allografts secondary to vascular complications due to Candida albicans. Both recipients received grafts from a common donor, in whom Candida bacteremia in the donor was not apparent at the time of organ acceptance but became apparent on delayed cultures.

Discriminating Famous From Fictional Names Based On Lifetime Experience: Evidence In Support Of A Signal-Detection Model Based On Finite Mixture Distributions., Ben Bowles, Iain M Harlow, Melissa M Meeking, Stefan Köhler

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

It is widely accepted that signal-detection mechanisms contribute to item-recognition memory decisions that involve discriminations between targets and lures based on a controlled laboratory study episode. Here, the authors employed mathematical modeling of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to determine whether and how a signal-detection mechanism contributes to discriminations between moderately famous and fictional names based on lifetime experience. Unique to fame judgments is a lack of control over participants' previous exposure to the stimuli deemed "targets" by the experimenter; specifically, if they pertain to moderately famous individuals, participants may have had no prior exposure to a substantial proportion of the …

Distinct Patterns Of Functional And Effective Connectivity Between Perirhinal Cortex And Other Cortical Regions In Recognition Memory And Perceptual Discrimination., Edward B O'Neil, Andrea B Protzner, Cornelia Mccormick, D Adam Mclean, Jordan Poppenk, Anthony D Cate, Stefan Köhler

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Traditionally, the medial temporal lobe (MTL) is thought to be dedicated to declarative memory. Recent evidence challenges this view, suggesting that perirhinal cortex (PrC), which interfaces the MTL with the ventral visual pathway, supports highly integrated object representations in recognition memory and perceptual discrimination. Even with comparable representational demands, perceptual and memory tasks differ in numerous task demands and the subjective experience they evoke. Here, we tested whether such differences are reflected in distinct patterns of connectivity between PrC and other cortical regions, including differential involvement of prefrontal control processes. We examined functional magnetic resonance imaging data for closely matched …

Deficits On The Clock Drawing Test In Parkinson’S Disease, Ashley Rober

Undergraduate Review

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1% of the world population over the age of 65—anywhere from four to six million people (National Parkinson Foundation, 2010). Although most people identify PD as a movement disorder, cognitive deficits are also present. Poor performance on tasks such as set shifting, internal control of attention, and sequencing is commonly reported by PD patients (Stout & Johnson, 2005), as are visual and verbal memory impairments (Moody, Bookheimer, Vanek, & Knowlton, 2004). Visuospatial skills are also problematic, including depth perception, spatial orientation, and spatial organization (Bowen, Burns, Brady, & Yahr, 1972).

Interferon-Α Regulates Glutaminase 1 Promoter Through Stat1 Phosphorylation: Relevance To Hiv-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders., Lixia Zhao, Yunlong Huang, Changhai Tian, Lynn Taylor, Norman Curthoys, Yi Wang, Hamilton Vernon, Jialin C. Zheng

Journal Articles: Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience

HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) develop during progressive HIV-1 infection and affect up to 50% of infected individuals. Activated microglia and macrophages are critical cell populations that are involved in the pathogenesis of HAND, which is specifically related to the production and release of various soluble neurotoxic factors including glutamate. In the central nervous system (CNS), glutamate is typically derived from glutamine by mitochondrial enzyme glutaminase. Our previous study has shown that glutaminase is upregulated in HIV-1 infected monocyte-derived-macrophages (MDM) and microglia. However, how HIV-1 leads to glutaminase upregulation, or how glutaminase expression is regulated in general, remains unclear. In …

Statin-Mediated Attenuation Of Chemokine Expression In Peripheral Nerve Vascular Endothelial Cells, Kelly Ann Langert

Dissertations

Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a debilitating autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. By up-regulating endothelial expression of chemokines and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), TNF-α facilitates the recruitment and trafficking of autoreactive leukocytes across the blood-nerve barrier and into peripheral nerves, an early pathological hallmark of GBS. Literature indicates that TNF-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) are locally increased in patients with GBS, correlating with disease severity. Similar findings have been demonstrated in an animal model of GBS, experimental autoimmune neuritis …

Forebrain Noradrenergic Alterations And Anxiety After Myocardial Infarction, Jaimee Glasgow

Dissertations

Thirty to 45% of patients who suffer a myocardial infarction (MI) develop anxiety disorders and/or depression, and the development of mood and anxiety disorders following MI is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Depressed post-MI patients have an increased risk of fatal arrhythmias, which are often precipitated by emotional stressors. However, the central nervous system mechanisms that contribute to post-MI anxiety and arrhythmia susceptibility are unknown. Therefore, the studies reported in this dissertation were designed to test the hypothesis that alterations in noradrenergic transmission in the forebrain contribute to the development of anxiety disorders and arrhythmia susceptibility …

Electronic Nose Based On Independent Component Analysis Combined With Partial Least Squares And Artificial Neural Networks For Wine Prediction, Teodoro Aguilera, Jesús Lozano, José A. Paredes, Francisco J. Alvarez, José I. Suárez

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

The aim of this work is to propose an alternative way for wine classification and prediction based on an electronic nose (e-nose) combined with Independent Component Analysis (ICA) as a dimensionality reduction technique, Partial Least Squares (PLS) to predict sensorial descriptors and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for classification purpose. A total of 26 wines from different regions, varieties and elaboration processes have been analyzed with an e-nose and tasted by a sensory panel. Successful results have been obtained in most cases for prediction and classification.

Electrophysiological Abnormalities In Sod1 Transgenic Models In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Commonalities And Differences, Sherif M. Elbasiouny, Katharina Quinlan, Tahra L. Eissa, Charles J. Heckman

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

Since its first description in 1874 by Charcot, the hallmark feature of ALS is the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motoneurons (Charcot, 1874). In the spinal cord, motoneuron degeneration starts long before symptom onset and advances in a size-related fashion, in which large-size alpha-motoneurons degenerate first followed by small-size alpha-motoneurons (Pun et al., 2006; Hegedus et al., 2007; Hegedus et al., 2008). There are conflicting reports regarding the survival of the smallest-sized spinal motoneurons, the gamma-motoneurons (Swash and Fox, 1974; Sobue et al., 1981). Despite its original description, the neuronal degeneration in ALS is not limited to motoneurons. Recent …

Seroprevalencia De Pestivirus De Rumiantes En Ovinos Reproductores De Una Empresa De La Sierra Central Del Perú, Nathalie A. Llancares, Hermelinda G. Rivera, Mariluz Araínga, Nestor Falcon P.

Journal Articles: Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and Border Disease virus (BDV) in breeding sheep from a large cooperative farm in the Central highlands of Peru. Blood samples from apparently healthy sheep of 4 years old, both sexes (female = 165; male = 165) were collected for antibodies detection against BVDV and BDV using the virus neutralization test. The 2.1 ± 1.5% (7/330) and 28.5 ± 4.9% (94/330) of breeding sheep had antibodies against BVDV and BDV respectively, with antibodies titers of 1:2 and 1:16. There was significant association between …

Determination Of The Molecular Mechanisms Of Hyperglycemia-Induced Changes In Cav3.2 Calcium Channel Properties, Ginny Marie Keeling

Master's Theses

Hyperglycemia can cause altered excitability due to increased CaV3.2 T-type calcium channel function, bestowing diabetics an increased neuropathy risk. The objective of this study was to understand the molecular mechanisms of increased CaV3.2 function during hyperglycemia in vitro, which leads to a 58% increase in current density and increased channel open probability (PO), among other changes. Two major findings are reported in this study:

1) The enzymatic elimination of extracellular N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) moieties reversed the increase in current density and the shift in PO, showing that hyper-glycosylation alters channel function in disease.

2) Treatment with GM1 (a ganglioside highly …

Sex Differences In The Dopaminergic Regulation Of Courtship, But Not Pairing Behaviors In Zebra Finches, Erin Marie Lowrey

Wayne State University Theses

Dopamine is one of the key ingredients in the glue that cements social bonds in vertebrates. The D2 dopamine receptor has been implicated in the regulation of monogamous pair bonding in the prairie vole. While dopamine affects courtship behaviors in the male zebra finch, the behavioral role of dopamine acting at D2 receptors in both males and females deserves further attention. We hypothesized that the D2 receptor would regulate courtship and pairing behaviors in the male and female zebra finch. Sixteen males and females were tested using a repeated measures design. On day 1, the zebra finches were injected with …

Blast-Induced Brain Injury: Influence Of Shockwave Components, Dexter V. Reneer

Theses and Dissertations--Neuroscience

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) has been described as the defining injury of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Previously, most blast injury research has focused on the effects of blast on internal, gas filled organs due to their increased susceptibility. However, due to a change in enemy tactics combined with better armor and front-line medical care, bTBI has become one of the most common injuries due to blast. Though there has been a significant amount of research characterizing the brain injury produced by blast, a sound understanding of the contribution of each component of the shockwave to the …

Development Of A Bi-Directional Electronics Platform For Advanced Neural Applications, Luca Abbati

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work presents a high-voltage, high-precision bi-directional multi-channel system capable of stimulating neural activity through bi-phasic pulses of amplitude up to ∓50 V while recording very low-voltage responses as low as tens of microvolts. Most of the systems reported from the scientific community possess at least one of the following common limitations: low stimulation voltages, low gain capabilities, or insufficient bandwidth to acquire a wide range of different neural activities.

While systems can be found that present remarkable capabilities in one or more specific areas, a versatile system that performs over all these aspects is missing. Moreover, as many novel …

Circuit Development In The Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (Dlgn) Of The Mouse., Tania Seabrook

Theses and Dissertations

The visual system is one of the most widely used and best understood sensory systems and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the mouse has emerged as a model for investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development and activity-dependent refinement of sensory connections. Thalamic organization is highly conserved throughout species and the dLGN of the mouse possesses many features common to higher mammals, such as carnivores and primates. Two general classes of neuron are present within the dLGN, thalamocortical relay cells and interneurons, both of which receive direct retinal input. Axons of relay cells exit dLGN and …

Stroke Rehabilitation, Length-Of-Stay, And Re-Admission Rates: A Literature Review, Morgen Hagedorn

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Stroke is shown to be a significant U.S. health problem with a profound impact on the nation’s rising healthcare costs (Hall, Levant, & DeFrances, 2012). Longer patient length-of-stay [LOS] and higher re-admission rates have brought consequences to healthcare systems as institutional budgets are unable to reconcile the additional services and the influx of healthcare demands. Through a comprehensive literature review, the author illustrates the general knowledge available on the stroke experience, on stroke care and rehabilitation, and on patient LOS and re-admission rates. The literature review is based on general medical research with a focus on the stroke population. The …