Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Erika Calvo-Ochoa, Biology and Neuroscience; Theodore Lockett, Neuroscience
Document Type
Poster
Event Date
4-12-2024
Abstract
Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disease that deteriorates dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, is characterized by movement deficits, sleep disturbances, mental deficits, and hallucinations. About 95% of those with PD experience olfactory dysfunction or loss of the sense of smell. Prior research found evidence of retrograde degeneration in animal models of PD, which occurs when axons degenerate proximal to the neural injury itself, beginning in the axon terminals and proceeding to the cell body. Although dopaminergic retrograde degeneration has been observed in PD models, it is unknown if this contributes to some non-motor PD’s symptoms, such as olfactory loss. To study this, we aimed to establish whether retrograde degeneration occurs between the olfactory bulb (OB) and the olfactory epithelium (OE), since the OB contains dopaminergic neurons, and this could be linked to olfactory loss. We use zebrafish due to the amenability of using this species, which produces many offspring, as well as the easily accessible olfactory system. We used 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a neurotoxin that targets dopaminergic neurons and injected it intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.; i.e., directly into the CSF.) To study the OE, we performed hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stainings on sectioned tissue. Light microscopy was used to take images of the stained samples. We predicted that degeneration in the OB will result in OE degeneration, manifesting as important tissue changes such as a reduction in epithelial thickness. This research aims to shed light on the pattern and extent of olfactory retrograde degeneration in the zebrafish PD model. It is essential to understand the complexity of the zebrafish model, in order to continue and refine research on the second most common neurodegenerative disease, in order to find real help, for real people.
Recommended Citation
Repository citation: Farbarzhevich, Sophia A.; Checkley, Riley G.; Williams, Mackenzie T.; and Mast, Rachel J., "Retrograde Degeneration of the Olfactory Epithelium Following Neurotoxic Lesioning in Zebrafish" (2024). 23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024). Paper 26.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/curca_23/26
April 12, 2024. Copyright © 2024 Hope College, Holland, Michigan.
Comments
This research was supported by Hope College’s Neuroscience program and Biology Department, and by the Kenneth Campbell Foundation.
Title on poster differs from abstract booklet. Poster title: Role of Retrograde Degeneration on the Olfactory Epithelium Following Neurotoxic Lesioning in Zebrafish