Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Erika Calvo-Ochoa, Biology and Neuroscience

Document Type

Poster

Event Date

4-12-2024

Abstract

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deficits in motor functions including loss of coordination and hypertonia. Dopaminergic (DA) neuronal death is found in the substantia nigra and reward centers of the brain in PD patients. Smell loss is also associated with patients with PD as DA neurons are found in the Olfactory Bulb (OB), the brain structure that processes odor signals. We use zebrafish as a model to study neurodegenerative diseases, including PD, as they can regenerate neurons throughout their lifespan. We have established a model to study DA loss in the zebrafish olfactory system. To do this, a dopaminergic neurotoxin, 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is injected into the third ventricle. Using this model, we found no differences in the ability to detect alanine in 6-OHDA groups. This finding prompted the question of whether fish may taste the odorant, alanine that is used in the behavioral chamber to assess olfactory function. To test this, we rendered the fish anosmic by occluding the nostrils with adhesive to assess the gustatory response to alanine. We observed no significant response to alanine, implying that zebrafish behavioral responses to alanine are not dependent on taste. Notably, 6-OHDA-injected fish exhibited a substantial increase in swimming speed, prompting an investigation into potential damage to other brain structures. Counting DA neuronal populations in motor centers using immunohistochemistry on a confocal microscope revealed a trend in DA neuron damage after 6-OHDA lesion, which could explain swimming abnormalities. Future research should further explore the effects of neuronal degeneration to offer insights into therapeutic remedies for PD.

Comments

This research was supported by Hope College’s Neuroscience program and Biology Department, and by the Kenneth Campbell Foundation.

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