Neurosciences Commons^™

Perinatal Or Adult Nf1 Inactivation Using Tamoxifen-Inducible Plpcre Each Cause Neurofibroma Formation, Debra A. Mayes, Tilat A. Rizvi, Jose A. Cancelas, Nathan T. Kolasinski, Georgianne M. Ciraolo, Anat O. Stemmer-Rachamimov, Nancy Ratner

Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Physiology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES

Neurofibromas are tumors initiated by biallelic mutation of the NF1 tumor suppressor gene in the Schwann cell lineage. One idea within the field suggests that Nf1loss must occur within progenitor cells present within a critical window during Schwann cell development in order for neurofibromas to form. To test this hypothesis and to examine whethermyelinating Schwann cells can serve as aneurofibroma cell of origin, Nf1 loss was induced at perinatal or adult timepoints using a tamoxifen-inducible Plp-CreERT driver.

RESULTS

Perinatal loss of Nf1 resulted in small neurofibromas late in life, while adult loss caused large neurofibromas and morbidity beginning …

Negative Associations Between Corpus Callosum Midsagittal Area And Iq In A Representative Sample Of Healthy Children And Adolescents., Hooman Ganjavi, John D Lewis, Pierre Bellec, Penny A Macdonald, Deborah P Waber, Alan C Evans, Sherif Karama, The Brain Development Cooperative Group

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Documented associations between corpus callosum size and cognitive ability have heretofore been inconsistent potentially owing to differences in sample characteristics, differing methodologies in measuring CC size, or the use of absolute versus relative measures. We investigated the relationship between CC size and intelligence quotient (IQ) in the NIH MRI Study of Normal Brain Development sample, a large cohort of healthy children and adolescents (aged six to 18, n = 198) recruited to be representative of the US population. CC midsagittal area was measured using an automated system that partitioned the CC into 25 subregions. IQ was measured using the Wechsler …

Secreted Factors From Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Protect Oligodendrocytes From Ischemic Insult, Derrick Rowe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Oligodendrocytes (OL)s are the dominant cell type in the white matter and are integral for synaptic transmission essential for proper neuronal communication between brain areas. Previous studies have shown that intravenous administration of the mononuclear fraction of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells in rat models of stroke reduced white matter injury, gray matter injury and behavioral deficits. Yet the mechanisms used by HUCB cells remain unknown in ischemic injury. These studies will investigate both in vitro and in vivo approaches to elucidate this mechanism in OLs. When mature primary OLs were coincubated with HUCB cells, HUCB cells secreted soluble …

Multivariate Anti-Inflammatory Approaches To Rescue Neurogenesis And Cognitive Function In Aged Animals, Sandra Antonieta Acosta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Aging is considered the number one risk factor to develop neuropathologies such as memory loss, senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease. Neurodegenerative diseases tend to start during adulthood, and aggravate over time, making them difficult to prevent and to treat. In the Unites States, demographic studies by U.S. Bureau of the Census have determined that our aging population of >65 years is expected to increase from the present 35 million to 78 million in 2030. This would result, not only to an increase of …

Repeated Binge Pattern Ethanol Administration During Adolescence Or Adulthood: Long-Term Changes In Voluntary Ethanol Intake And Mesolimbic Dopamine Functionality In Male Rats, Antoniette Michelle Maldonado-Devincci

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Binge alcohol consumption is a rising concern in the United States, especially among adolescents as during this developmental period alcohol use is usually initiated and has been shown to cause detrimental effects on brain structure and function. These findings have been established through the use of binge models in animals, where animals are repeatedly administered high doses of ethanol typically over a period of three or four days. While such work has examined the effects of a four-day and repeated three-day binge, there has been almost no work conducted aimed at investigating the long-term behavioral and neurochemical and/or functional consequences …

Differential Effects Of Isoflurane And Propofol Anesthesia On Neurogenesis In Young And Aged Rats, Diana Marcela Erasso

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide, millions of young and elderly patients receive procedures that could not be performed without the use of anesthetics. Unfortunately, emerging animal and human data suggest an association between exposure to general anesthesia and impairment of cognitive function in pediatric and geriatric patients. Recent laboratory data have shown that general anesthetics are potentially damaging to the developing and aging brain. However, the mechanism by which this happens is still unknown. General anesthetics affect learning and memory, a brain function involving neural plasticity. An important form of neural plasticity receiving attention is postnatal neurogenesis. This process is highly regulated and involved …

The Role Of Hiv-1 Proteins In Alzheimer's Disease Pathology, Brian Nelson Giunta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of HIV-associated cognitive impairment is rising, the worst form of which is HIV-associated dementia (HAD). The disease is fuiled by a chronic innate type pro-inflammatory response in the brain which is highly dependent upon the activation of microglia. We first created an in vitro model of HAD composed of cultured microglial cells synergistically activated by the addition of IFN-gamma and the HIV-1 coat glycoprotein, gp120. This activation, as measured by TNF-alpha and NO release, is synergistically attenuated through the alpha7nAChR and p44/42 MAPK system by pretreatment with nicotine, and the cholinesterase inhibitor, galantamine. As these medications have been FDA …

Analysis Of Gaba And Glutamate In The Mouse Dorsal Striatum, Stella Wisidagamage

Wayne State University Theses

ABSTRACT

ANALYSIS OF GABA AND GLUTAMATE IN MICE BRAIN

by

STELLA WISIDAGAMA

May 2011

Advisor: Dr. Tiffany Mathews

Major: Chemistry (Analytical)

Degree: Master of Science

GABA and glutamate are the predominant inhibitory and excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNS), respectively. However, their altered levels cause several neurological diseases including Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. It is important to measure their levels in the extra- and intracellular environments to better understand and develop improved therapeutics that will treat these neurological disorders. The principle aim of this study is to study the impacts of different endogenous …

The Effect Of High Dose Total Body Irradiation On Acth, Corticosterone, And Catecholamines In The Rat, Eric P. Cohen, Eric D. Bruder, William E. Cullinan, Dana R. Ziegler, Hershel Raff

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Total body irradiation (TBI) or partial body irradiation is a distinct risk of accidental, wartime, or terrorist events. Total body irradiation is also used as conditioning therapy before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This therapy can result in injury to multiple tissues and might result in death as a result of multiorgan failure. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis could play a causative role in those injuries, in addition to being activated under conditions of stress. In a rat model of TBI, we have established that radiation nephropathy is a significant lethal complication, which is caused by hypertension and uremia. The current study …

Getting To Know You: Key Clinical Concepts In Relationship-Based Interventions And Neurobehavioral Observations With Young Infants, Yvette Blanchard

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

The newborn infant is a social organism, pre-disposed to interact with his caregiver and able to elicit the kind of caregiving necessary for successful adaptation. The earliest developmental task of the newborn is to organize behavior to be able to play an active role in influencing the caregiving environment and eliciting the kind of support needed for development. This task is accomplished through the attainment of self-regulation or balanced neurobehavioral functioning of the infant's autonomic, motor, state, and responsivity behavioral dimensions as described by Als.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Cyclophilin D As A Therapeutic Target And The Neuropathology Caused By Blast, Ryan Douglas Readnower

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

With an estimated incidence of 1.5 million each year, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is a key event contributing to TBI pathology. Cyclophilin D (CypD), a matrix peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, is believed to be the regulating component of the mPTP. Cyclosporin A, an immunosuppressant drug, inhibits CypD and blocks mPTP formation and has been shown to be neuroprotective following TBI. However, it is unclear if CsA’s neuroprotective mechanism is due to inhibition of CypD and/or immuno-suppression. Therefore to directly assess the …

The Dynamics Of Integrate-And-Fire: Mean Vs. Variance Modulations And Dependence On Baseline Parameters, Joanna R. Wares, Todd W. Troyer

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

The leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) is the simplest neuron model that captures the essential properties of neuronal signaling. Yet common intuitions are inadequate to explain basic properties of LIF responses to sinusoidal modulations of the input. Here we examine responses to low - and moderate-frequency modulations of both the mean and variance of the input current and quantify how these responses depend on baseline parameters. Across parameters, responses to modulations in the mean current are low pass, approaching zero in the limit of high frequencies. For very low baseline firing rates, the response cutoff frequency matches that expected from membrane integration. …

Avian Cerebellum Specialization In Relation To Acrobatic Courtship Displays In Manakins (Pipridae), Steven Ray Wilkening

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The courtship displays of male manakins (Pipridae) involve an array of acrobatic and postural elements. Previously it was found that species with elaborate displays exhibit specializations in motor planning and coordination areas of the brain. Several studies have suggested a relationship between cerebellum (Cb) morphology and distinct motor-related functions for the anterior Cb (somatosensory, flying, hopping/walking), posterior Cb (vision, audition, flying, hopping/walking), and vestibular Cb (flying, hopping/walking, vestibular). The anterior, posterior and vestibular Cb as well as basic morphological features of the Cb were measured and tested for a relationship with courtship display complexity in manakins. I compared Cb morphology …

Associatioin Of Plasma Aβ Peptides With Blood Pressure In The Elderly, Jean-Charles Lambert, Jean Dallongeville, Kathryn A. Ellis, Susanna Schraen-Maschke, James Lui, Simon Laws, Julie Dumont, Florence Richard, Dominque Cottel, Claudine Berr, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Christopher C. Rowe, Cassandra Szoeke, Christophe Tzourio, Jean-Francois Dartigues, Luc Buee, Ralph Martins, Philippe Amouyel

Research outputs 2011

Background Aß peptides are often considered as catabolic by-products of the amyloid ß protein precursor (APP), with unknown physiological functions. However, several biological properties have been tentatively attributed to these peptides, including a role in vasomotion. We assess whether plasma Aß peptide levels might be associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure values (SBP and DBP, respectively). Methodology/Principal Findings Plasma Aß1-40 and Aß1-42 levels were measured using an xMAP-based assay in 1,972 individuals (none of whom were taking antihypertensive drugs) from 3 independent studies: the French population-based 3C and MONA-LISA (Lille) studies (n = 627 and n = 769, respectively) …

Yeast As A Model For Studying Aβ Aggregation, Toxicity And Clearance, Prashant R. Bharadwaj

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, characterised by acute memory loss and behavioural symptoms. The AD brain is characterized by the presence of senile amyloid plaques associated with degenerating neurites and inflammatory processes. The major protein component of these amyloid deposits is the amyloid beta (Aβ) protein. The Aβ protein is a 40 or 42 amino acid cleavage product of APP (Amyloid Precursor Protein) which is produced in low levels in the normal ageing brain. Although senile amyloid plaques is the major pathological hallmark of AD brains, accumulating evidence has been presented to …

Is Chronic Use Of Bacopa Monnieri An Effective Treatment To Improve Memory Performance In Healthy And Aging Adults?, Brian M. Kairalla

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the systematic review is to determine whether or not chronic use of Bacopa monnieri is an effective treatment to improve memory performance in healthy and aging adults.

Frazzled And Abelson Interact To Regulate The Actin Cytoskeleton In Drosophila, Bridget Elsa Varughese

Wayne State University Dissertations

Guidance receptors such as Frazzled affect cell shape and motility by directly or indirectly modulating the cytoskeleton. Fra is particularly needed for the formation of the posterior commissures in a developing Drosophila embryo. The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, Abelson Kinase (Abl) enhances the loss of commissures observed in fra mutant. Abl physically interacts with Frazzled to help guide commissural axons across the midline. Furthermore, the loss of commissural axons is only seen when the actin dynamics are perturbed. Abl is also known to regulate actin-dependent processes underlying formation of filopodia, microspikes and membrane ruffles. So, we established a Drosophila S2 cell …

Mechanisms Of Translation Arrest Following Focal Brain Ischemia, Monique K. Lewis

Wayne State University Dissertations

MECHANISMS OF TRANSLATION ARREST FOLLOWING FOCAL BRAIN

ISCHEMIA

by

MONIQUE K. LEWIS

August 2011

Advisor: Dr. Donald DeGracia

Major: Physiology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

The loss of blood flow to the brain is termed ischemia and the subsequent resumption of blood flow is termed reperfusion. Brain ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) occurs primarily following resuscitation from cardiac arrest and stroke and presents one of the most significant clinical challenges. At present, there are no clinically effective pharmacologic interventions to halt brain damage following I/R. The major Aim of this dissertation will be to investigate possible mechanisms involved in neuron death following …

Axogial Communication Mediated By Soluble Neuregulin-1 And Bdnf, Zhenzhong Ma

Wayne State University Dissertations

During peripheral nervous system development, successful communication between axons and glial cells including Schwann cells in peripheral nervous system and oligodendrocytes in central nervous system, is required for the proper functions of both neurons and glia. Three types of alternatively-spliced proteins belonging to the neuregulin1 (NRG1) gene family of growth and differentiation factors are essential for Schwann cell survival and peripheral nerve development. While membrane-bound NRG1 forms (type III) has been strongly implicated in the regulation of myelination process at late stage of Schwann cell development, little is known about the role of soluble, heparin-binding forms of NRG1 (type I/II) …

Expression Of Microbial Rhodopsins In Retinal Neurons With Subcellular Targeting Motifs: For The Study Of The Structure/Function Of Aii Amacrine Cells And For Vision Restoration, Chaowen Wu

Wayne State University Dissertations

Protein-targeting motifs serve as addresses for subcellular protein localization. This feature of targeting-motifs was used to study the retina. The first part of the dissertation reports in the axonless spiking AII amacrine cell of the mammalian retina a dendritic process sharing organizational and functional similarities with the axon initial segment, the typical site of action potential initiation. This process was revealed through viral-mediated expression of channelrhodopsin-2-GFP (ChR2-GFP) with the AIS-targeting motif of sodium channels (NavII-III) and was shown to be the site of spike initiation. The second part of the dissertation aimed to improve microbial rhodopsin-mediated gene therapy for vision …