32nd Annual Student Research Conference
Morphology of the nucleus tractus solitarii in the STZ-induced Alzheimer’s disease model
Maya Nolin-Clark* and Chuma Humphrey
Dr. Timothy D. Walston and Dr. Tim Ostrowski, Faculty Mentors
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive impairment and deterioration of forebrain regions in humans and animal models. We previously showed memory impairment and associated decline in hippocampal brain tissue in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of AD. This model also exhibits respiratory and cardiovascular dysfunction, which is similarly found in AD patients. Here we analyzed different doses of STZ (1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg STZ) and their impact on brainstem morphology. Specifically, we analyzed the extent of the nucleus tractus solitarii (nTS), a region known to play a critical role in the regulation of cardiovascular and respiratory reflexes. Despite the observed dysfunction in cardiorespiratory function and decline of forebrain tissue, analysis of nTS morphology showed no significant difference in area size between the different dosages of STZ and control animals. Future analysis will focus on sub-cellular analysis within the nTS that may explain the observed functional changes.
Keywords: Alzheimer's, Morphology, NTS
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 8-2
Location: SUB GEO
Time: 3:00