38th Annual Student Research Conference
ROS Producers and Antioxidants in an Alzheimer’s disease-induced rat model
Adison P. Mosher
Dr. Daniela Ostrowski (KCOM, A.T. Still University), Dr. Tim Ostrowski (ATSU), and Dr. Stephen Hudman, Faculty Mentors
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is predominantly characterized by memory loss, but it also negatively affects breathing control. Injections of streptozotocin (STZ) into the lateral ventricles of rat brains result in AD-like phenotypes, including respiratory dysfunction. Our studies focus on the nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS), a brainstem area that integrates signals from chemoreceptors to detect changes in blood oxygen levels. Previous studies showed activated astrocytes and microglia, and lower synaptic density within the nTS in STZ-AD. These cellular changes may be due to increased oxidative stress. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are controlled by the amount and activity of ROS producers and antioxidants. This study aimed to quantify enzymes that play a role in ROS metabolism; the major ROS producer NADPH Oxidase 2 (NOX2) and the antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2). An increase of NOX2 and/or the lack of SOD2 could result in increased ROS in STZ-AD.
Keywords: Western Blot, Alzheimer's Disease, Oxidative Stress, Reactive Oxygen Species, streptozotocin , nucleus tractus solitarii
Topic(s):Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Chemistry
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 208-2
Location: MG 1000
Time: 10:30