35th Annual Student Research Conference
Alterations of the Glutamate Signaling in the Hippocampus of Alzheimer’s Disease-Induced Rats
Brooke L. Diehl
Dr. Daniela Ostrowski and Dr. Tim Ostrowski (ATSU), Faculty Mentors
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Memory loss and cognitive decline in AD is due to cell death in the hippocampal brain region, which has a key role in long term memory storage, memory formation, and spatial recognition. The mechanisms behind this cell death are not fully understood. Prior to cell death, hyperexcitability (an increase in cell activity) is observed in hippocampal cells and may cause early alterations in brain function. Glutamate is the main excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system and alterations within glutamate signaling may cause this hyperexcitability and some of the early symptoms in AD patients. This study analyzes the synaptic changes in glutamate signaling that may play a role in the hyperexcitability of the hippocampus of an established rodent AD model. I quantified changes in glutamate transmitter, glutamate receptors, and glutamate recycling using the method of immunohistochemistry.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Hippocampus, Glutamate, Immunohistochemistry, Cell signaling, Dementia
Topic(s):Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Session: 2-15
Location: SUB Activities Room
Time: 3:00