Event Title
Neuroprotective Role of Oxytocin Receptor Signaling in Vascular Dementia
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether oxytocin receptor (OXTR) upregulation in vascular dementia (VaD) represents a neuroprotective signaling response with therapeutic potential. VaD is cognitive impairment caused by a stroke leading to neuronal cell death through oxygen and glucose deprivation. The disease is debilitating and the costs of care are high, so an effective therapy for treatment is a critical need. In this regard, OXTR signaling has been shown to confer protection in myocardial infarction by reducing oxidative damage. This research project exposes students to the VaD field, conceptual advances in cell and molecular biology and a wide of variety of laboratory techniques. CHALLENGE: There is a lack of published resources on OXTR immunohistochemistry (IHC) in paraffin embedded human tissues. OXTR IHC will be important for studying the relationship between OXTR expression and cerebrovascular pathology. Therefore, developing an effective OXTR IHC protocol including antigen retrieval, time & temperature, and primary & secondary antibody concentration is the main challenge. EXPERIENCE: We used postmortem frontal cortex samples from individuals who died with Alzheimer’s disease, VaD, or without dementia. OXTR IHC tissue sections allowed us to localize the cellular origin of this response. Hematoxylin & Eosin staining helped to visualize cerebro-vascular pathology. OUTCOME: Our results will reveal the cellular origin of OXTR upreglation in VaD, its proximity to cerebrovascular pathology and whether diagnosis-specific upregulation can be validated. IMPACT: This internship experience gives me professional training as well as a chance to participate in independent research.
Neuroprotective Role of Oxytocin Receptor Signaling in Vascular Dementia
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether oxytocin receptor (OXTR) upregulation in vascular dementia (VaD) represents a neuroprotective signaling response with therapeutic potential. VaD is cognitive impairment caused by a stroke leading to neuronal cell death through oxygen and glucose deprivation. The disease is debilitating and the costs of care are high, so an effective therapy for treatment is a critical need. In this regard, OXTR signaling has been shown to confer protection in myocardial infarction by reducing oxidative damage. This research project exposes students to the VaD field, conceptual advances in cell and molecular biology and a wide of variety of laboratory techniques. CHALLENGE: There is a lack of published resources on OXTR immunohistochemistry (IHC) in paraffin embedded human tissues. OXTR IHC will be important for studying the relationship between OXTR expression and cerebrovascular pathology. Therefore, developing an effective OXTR IHC protocol including antigen retrieval, time & temperature, and primary & secondary antibody concentration is the main challenge. EXPERIENCE: We used postmortem frontal cortex samples from individuals who died with Alzheimer’s disease, VaD, or without dementia. OXTR IHC tissue sections allowed us to localize the cellular origin of this response. Hematoxylin & Eosin staining helped to visualize cerebro-vascular pathology. OUTCOME: Our results will reveal the cellular origin of OXTR upreglation in VaD, its proximity to cerebrovascular pathology and whether diagnosis-specific upregulation can be validated. IMPACT: This internship experience gives me professional training as well as a chance to participate in independent research.