Orientador: Jose Camillo Novello / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T10:05:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Horiuchi_RicardoShinitiOka_M.pdf: 1202422 bytes, checksum: 1a5e31f31a1ac8f070f82356fa364475 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Conhecer os mecanismos que regem a embriogenese e a maturacao do sistema nervoso e de grande interesse para todos os diferentes ramos da neurociencia. Durante o desenvolvimento dos mamiferos sabe-se que ocorrem fenomenos que levam a definicao do numero de neuronios e refinamento das conexoes sinapticas, que tem caracteristicas proprias nas diferentes regioes do sistema nervoso e podem diferir tambem quanto a sua duracao. Apos o nascimento, diversos sinais neurais e bioquimicos podem modificar significativamente a organizacao morfologica e funcional dos circuitos da medula espinhal, periodo que podemos considerar como critico. Tendo em vista esses fatores, o trabalho visou analisar o proteoma, complemento proteico completo do genoma, da regiao lombar da medula espinhal de rato em busca de proteinas envolvidas com o processo de neurodesenvolvimento. Amostras de medula de rato foram coletadas em diferentes tempos de vida, abrangendo o dia do nascimento (P0), com dois (P2), quatro (P4), sete (P7) e vinte e um (P21) dias de vida e comparadas utilizando-se a eletroforese de duas dimensoes em gel de poliacrilamida e identificacao por espectrometrias de massas. Os perfis proteomicos obtidos permitiram identificar proteinas diferencialmente expressas entre as amostras de P4 e P21. Destas, cinco foram mais expressas em amostras de P4: XLas, fragmento da cadeia beta da ATP sintase trasnportadora de H+, a cadeia 2B da tubulina beta e a neuromodulina; e tres foram mais expressas nas amostras de P21: GFAP, neurofilamento de cadeias polipeptidicas leve e reguladora da proteina G. Estes resultados indicam que ha uma expressao proteica diferencial e que sao as provaveis proteinas envolvidas no processo de desenvolvimento pos-natal da medula espinhal. / Abstract: To know the mechanisms that govern the embryogenesis and the maturing of the nervous system is of great interest for all the different branches of the neuroscience. During the development of the mammals one is known to take place phenomena that lead to the definition of the number of neurons and refinement of the synaptic connections, which has characteristics own in the different regions of the nervous system and which duration can also differ as for his duration. After the birth, several neurons signs and biochemical can modify significantly the morphological and functional organization of the circuits of the spinal cord, period that we can consider like critic. In mind these factors, the work aimed to analyses the proteome, the genome complete protein complement, of the lumbar region of the spinal cord of rat in search of proteins wrapped with the process of neurodevelopment. Samples of rat's spinal cord were collected in different times of life, including the day of the birth (P0), with two (P2), four (P4), seven (P7) and twenty one (P21) days of life and compared by two dimensional gel electrophoresis and identification by mass spectrometry. The proteomics profiles obtained allowed to identify proteins differently expressed between the samples of P4 and P21. Of this, five were more expressed in samples of P4: XLas, H+ transporting ATP synthase beta chain (fragment), Tubulin beta-2B chain and the neuromodulin; and three were more expressed in the samples of P21: GFAP, Neurofilament light polypeptide and Regulator of G-protein signaling 14. These results indicate that there is a differential protein expression and which are the probable proteins wrapped in the process of native-powders development of the spinal cord. / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

A estimulação química das fibras aferentes nociceptivas através da injeção de diferentes substâncias álgicas vem sendo estudada em modelos de dor muscular em animais. A carragenina é um dos agentes que produz inflamação aguda e é freqüentemente utilizada em modelos de dor muscular. O nosso objetivo é aprofundar nossa compreensão e explorar em maior detalhe a participação das células gliais (astrócitos e microglia), de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, prostanóides e do óxido nítrico, após a indução de miosite aguda, correlacionando com modelos comportamentais nociceptivos. Para tanto, serão avaliadas as atividades dos mediadores, previamente descritos, na medula espinal dos ratos com e/ ou sem indução de miosite, através do método de Western blotting. Tais investigações poderão vir a ser uma abordagem totalmente inovadora para tentar entender quais são alguns dos mediadores envolvidos neste modelo de dor. Assim, os dados obtidos neste projeto poderão elucidar os mecanismos envolvidos na dor músculo-esquelética, a qual se enquadra nas patologias de difíceis tratamentos e de grande relevância clínica. / Chemical stimulation of nociceptive afferent fibers through the injection of different substances has been studied in different models of muscle pain in animals. Carrageenan is one of the agents that produce inflammation and is often used in models of muscle pain. Our goal is to explore in greater detail the involvement of glial cells (astrocytes and microglia), pro-inflammatory cytokines, prostanoids and nitric oxide after induction of acute myositis and correlate it with nociceptive behavioral models. It will be assessed the activity of these mediators in the spinal cord after induction of myositis in rats, using Western blotting assay. Such investigations may be a totally new approach to try to understand how some mediators are involved in this kind of pain. Thus, the data obtained in this project will elucidate the mechanisms involved in musculoskeletal pain, which are of difficult treatment and of great clinical relevance.

Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa descrever a topografia vértebro-medular do jabuti de patas vermelhas, com o intuito de assentar bases morfológicas que possam ser utilizadas em pesquisas aplicadas como a anestesiologia, assim como, desenvolver técnica de anestesia espinhal que possa ser utilizada na rotina clínico-cirúrgica veterinária. Para tanto, este trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas. A primeira etapa, correspondeu aos estudos morfológicos (anatomia), e a segunda, ao desenvolvimento/avaliação da técnica de anestesia espinhal. Para os estudos morfológicos utilizaram-se seis animais adultos provenientes do estado do Maranhão, os quais vieram a óbito por causas naturais. Canulou-se a artéria carótida comum, fazendo-se a perfusão do sistema arterial com solução salina aquecida a 37ºC, procedendo-se então com a fixação do material com solução de formaldeído a 20%. As peças então foram submetidas à ação de solução descalcificadora modificada, por um período de 72 horas, e em seguida, iniciou-se a dissecção com a abertura dorsal da carapaça mediante auxílio de cizel e martelo ortopédico, e posteriormente a musculatura dorsal era dissecada e os arcos vertebrais seccionados, para acesso à medula espinhal. A segunda etapa que consistiu no desenvolvimento/avaliação da técnica de anestesia espinhal, foi realizada no Orquidário Municipal de Santos - São Paulo, onde foram utilizados oito animais, os quais foram submetidos ao emprego da técnica de anestesia espinhal, que consistiu na administração de lidocaína (2%) no volume de 0,2mL/10cm de carapaça, em um dos espaços articulares compreendidos entre a 15ª a 22ª vértebras coccígeas. Os parâmetros avaliados foram o período de latência, o relaxamento muscular e analgesia das regiões de membro pélvico, cauda e cloaca. Os resultados evidenciam que a medula espinhal do G.carbonaria, apresentou-se como uma massa alongada, de coloração esbranquiçada, situada dentro do canal vertebral, preenchedo-o até a articulação entre a penúltima e a última vértebra caudal. A intumescência cérvico-torácica apresentou-se localizada entre os segmentos medulares de C5-T1, enquanto a intumescência tóraco-sacral pelos segmentos medulares de T6-Ca1. A técnica de anestesia espinhal, apresentou-se como técnica segura e eficaz, promovendo relaxamento muscular e analgesia satisfatória para as regiões de membro pélvico e cauda/cloaca, podendo ser utilizada como alternativa anestésica bastante eficiente para procedimentos cirúrgicos nestas regiões. / The objective of this study was to describe the topographic anatomy of spinal cord of the Red Footed Tortoise in order to obtain morphologic bases that can be used in an applied researches as anesthesiology as well as to develop spinal anesthesia techniques that can be used in a clinic and surgery veterinary routine. The first part was the anatomy morphologic study and the second was the evaluation development of the technique spinal anesthesia. It was used six adult animals that died for natural causes, for the morphologic studies from Maranhão State. It was dissected the common carotid artery and the arterial system was perfusion with warm saline solution at 37ºC. The material was fixed with formaldenyde solution at 20%. Then the pieces were submitted by modify decalcified solution action, for 72 hours. The dissection started by the dorsal shell opening with help of a chizel and an orthopedic hammer. The dorsal muscle was dissected and the vertebral arch was sectioned for the spinal cord access. The second part, consisting in a development / valuation of the spinal anesthetic technique, was realized at Orquidário Municipal in Santos - SP where it was used eight animals submitted at this technique. The evaluation parameters were the latent period, the muscle relaxation and the analgesia of the pelvic member region, tail and cloaca. The results proved that the G. carbonaria spinal cord showed as an elongated mass with whitish color, situated in the vertebral duct, between the penultimate and the last caudal vertebrae. The cervical swelling was localizated between the medular segment (C5 to T1) while the sacral swelling was placed between the T6 to Ca1 medular segments. The spinal anesthetic technique showed to be a safe and effective technique, promoting muscular relaxation and satisfactory analgesia for the pelvic member, tail and cloaca regions, being suitable to use as an anesthetic alternative quite efficient for the surgical procedures in this regions.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Spematic cord torsion is one of the more common surgical urological emergencies in childhood. An experimental study has been conducted to investigate acute changes in testicular concentrations of ATP and glucose following one-hour unilateral 720 testicular torsion. Sixty prepubertal male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: Group 2(Ischemia) and Group 1(Sham operated). Each group(n=30) was divided into 5 subgroups (n=6). All animals were subjected to right testicular torsion of 720Â. The testicular torsion of animals from Group 1 was immediately corrected. Group 2 animals had their testicular torsion lasting one hour followed by detorsion. Testicles were collected and arterial blood samples taken from abdominal aorta of each animal subgroup at the and of ischemic period or one hour after sham operation and 0.5, 1,6 and 24 hours later. ATP and glucose concentrations were significantly decreased (p<0,05) in ischemia group as compared to sham group at the end of ischemic period. There was no difference in glycemia when comparing ischemic versus sham-operated rats. Glucose concentrations were significantly increase (p<0,05) in ipsilateral testis of sham-operated rats No significant change in ATP and glucose concentrations were found in the left testicle in comparasion to the ones measured in the rigth testicle of the same animal. The decrease in ATP and glucose concentrations may be explained by the reduction in blood flow to the torted testis imposed by torsion. The absence of significant contralateral alterations in the concentrations of ATP and glucose could be related to the limited time of isquemia imposed to the right testis. It is concluded that unilateral one-hour testicular torsion causes a decrease in ipsilateral testicular perfusion resulting in decresead testicular concentrations of glucose and ATP in the ipstelial (right) testicles and no alterations in the concentrations of glucose and ATP in the contraleral testicles. Simple testicle manipulation (Sham Operation) causes a signficant increase in glucose concentrations in the ipsilateral(right)testis. / A torÃÃo do cordÃo espermÃtico à a emergÃncia geniturinÃria mais comum na idade pediÃtrica. Foram estudadas as alteraÃÃes metabÃlicas agudas nas concentraÃÃes testiculares de ATP e glicose apÃs uma hora de isquemia induzida por torÃÃo do cordÃo espermÃtico. Sessenta ratos wistar machos prÃ-pÃberes, foram distribuÃdos em 2 grupos de 30 animais cada e cada grupo em 5 subgrupos de 6 ratos. Os ratos do grupo 1 foram submetidos à torÃÃo seguida por distorÃÃo imediata (cirurgia simulada) do testÃculo direito. Os animais do grupo 2 foram submetidos à torÃÃo do testÃculo direito (720o) durante uma hora. Os animais dos diferentes subgrupos foram sacrificados 30 minutos, 1 hora, 6 horas e 24 horas apÃs a distorÃÃo ou realizaÃÃo da cirurgia simulada para a remoÃÃo dos testÃculos e coleta de amostra de sangue arterial. As alteraÃÃes das concentraÃÃes de glicose e ATP foram determinadas por mÃtodos enzimÃticos. Ocorreu queda significante (p<0,05) da concentraÃÃo de glicose e ATP no tempo 0 h, nos testiculos isquemiados. NÃo ocorreram alteraÃÃes na glicemia nem nas concentraÃÃes de glicose e ATP nos testÃculos contralaterais. Os animais submetidos à cirurgia simulada apresentaram aumento significante (p< 0,05) da concentraÃÃo de glicose no testÃculo ipsilateral quando comparada à concentraÃÃo de glicose no testÃculo esquerdo dos mesmos animais nos tempos 0 h e 24h. A diminuiÃÃo do fluxo sangÃÃneo em decorrÃncia da torÃÃo explica a reduÃÃo das concentraÃÃes de ATP e glicose nos testÃculos isquemiados. A ausÃncia de alteraÃÃes nas concentraÃÃes de ATP e glicose nos testÃculos contralaterais (esquerdos) poderia ser uma decorrÃncia do reduzido tempo de isquemia imposto ao testÃculo ipsilateral (direito). Concluiu-se que a torÃÃo testicular unilateral de 720o, por uma hora, induz uma reduÃÃo significante (p < 0,05) das concentraÃÃes testiculares de ATP e de glicose no testÃculo isquemiado sem alteraÃÃes correspondentes da glicemia. A simples manipulaÃÃo do testÃculo direito (cirurgia simulada) induz um aumento da concentraÃÃo de glicose testicular.

Orientador: Helder Tedeschi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T14:04:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_MarcosJulianodos_M.pdf: 1157265 bytes, checksum: d4e3bca14a9db06599e52397627cd980 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Os ependimomas intramedulares são tumores de crescimento lento que acarretam déficits neurológicos progressivos e pode levar os pacientes a dependência funcional. Embora a remoção microcirúrgica seja o tratamento de escolha para a lesão, questionamento existe sobre se pacientes com apenas sinais clínicos leves devem ser submetidos a ressecções cirúrgicas radicais. Este estudo avaliou, segundo a escala funcional de McCormick, a evolução pós-operatória de uma série de vinte pacientes submetidos à ressecção microcirúrgica total para ependimomas intramedulares. A ressecção completa foi atingida em 19 dos 20 pacientes (95%), somente 1 paciente apresentou piora clínica (5%). Nos pacientes com independência funcional pré-operatória, com McCormick grau I e II, não houve piora clínica e todos os tumores foram ressecados completamente. No subgrupo de pacientes grau II, a média do status funcional pós-operatória apresentou melhora estatisticamente significativa. Nenhum paciente com grau IV melhorou após o tratamento cirúrgico. O tratamento cirúrgico foi eficaz para ressecar completamente os tumores sem agregar déficits neurológicos na maioria dos pacientes. Nos pacientes com McCormick graus I e II pré-operatório a cirurgia deve ser indicada no momento do diagnóstico / Abstract: Intramedullary ependymomas are slow-growing lesions that progressively lead to neurological compromise and functional dependence. Although surgical excision is the treatment of choice for such lesions, there is questioning as to whether patients with only subtle clinical findings should be subjected to radical surgical resections. This study has evaluated according to the McCormick functional scale the surgical outcome of a series of twenty patients with intramedullary ependymomas submitted to microsurgical resection. Total surgical resection was achieved in 19 of the 20 patients (95%). Only one patient experienced clinical worsening (5%). Patients classified as McCormick grade I and II who were independent pre-operatively remained so in the post-operative period and had their tumors completely removed. In grade II patients there was a significant improvement in their post-operative status. None of the grade IV patients improved after surgical treatment. Surgical treatment has proven to be efficient in completely removing tumors without adding neurological deficits in most patients. In patients McCormick grades I and II pre-operatively surgery should be indicated early in the diagnosis / Mestrado / Neurologia / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

As lesões medulares acometem anualmente milhares de pessoas e animais em todo o mundo, causando diversos prejuízos econômicos e psicológicos. As principais causas das lesões medulares são traumas automobilísticos e doenças do disco intervertebral. Muito embora a medicina esteja bastante avançada no campo da neurocirurgia, a cura para esse tipo de lesão ainda esta longe de ser obtida. O avanço das pesquisas no campo da terapia celular em lesões medulares surge como uma esperança para os pacientes crônicos. Neste trabalho buscamos avaliar a reposta do tratamento com células-tronco de medula óssea fetal canina em cães com lesão medular crônica toracolombar. Nosso trabalho se baseia em parâmetros clínicos, comportamentais, de imagem e fisioterápicos. Antes de adentrar no experimento, todos os cães foram submetidos a vários exames pré-operatórios (hemograma, exames bioquímicos, eletrocardiograma) para então serem encaminhados para o exame de ressonância nuclear magnética visando um diagnostico mais preciso da lesão. Após esse exame, os cães foram avaliados por fisioterapeutas veterinários que não pertenciam ao nosso grupo de pesquisa para se estabelecer uma pontuação no teste comportamental de Olby. Os animais também tiveram alguns outros reflexos testados (dor profunda, reflexo de panículo). Após a primeira avaliação, os animais foram submetidos à procedimento cirúrgico de descompressão da medula espinhal e aplicação de células-tronco da medula óssea fetal canina. Durante o procedimento foram injetados 1x106 células diretamente em 3 pontos distintos da medula espinhal. Após o procedimento os cães foram encaminhados para a fisioterapia, e por 3 meses, foram submetidos a diversos exercícios de reabilitação com o intuito de potencializar um possível efeito benéfico da terapia celular. Durante a fisioterapia, os animais foram filmados com o intuito de acompanhar a sua evolução, e após o termino da fisioterapia foram novamente avaliados pelos fisioterapeutas. Ao final do experimento 7 animais foram operados e os resultados obtidos demonstraram um aumento do reflexo de marcha em 6 deles. O único animal que não apresentou essa melhora da marcha foi aquele acometido por outra patologia associada à compressão medular. Esses resultados nos levam a sugerir uma ação benéfica da terapia celular em cães portadores de lesão medular crônica. Por outro lado sugere continuar recrutando animais com o objetivo de aprimorar as técnicas utilizadas, para conseguir resultados cada vez melhores. / Spinal cord injuries annually involve thousands of people and animals worldwide, causing economic and psychological damages. The main causes of spinal cord injuries are vehicular traumas and intervertebral disc diseases. Although medicine is very advanced in neurosurgery field, the cure for this type of injury is still far from being achieved. Research progresses in cell therapy for spinal cord injuries appear to be a hope for chronic patients. In this article we aimed to evaluate clinical responses to the treatment using canine fetal bone marrow stem cells in dogs with thoracolumbar chronic spinal cord injury. Our study was based on the evaluation of clinical signs, animal behavior, imaging and physiotherapy aspects. Before clinical-surgery trial, all dogs underwent to preoperative tests as hemogram, blood chemistry, electrocardiogram and to nuclear magnetic resonance exam, in order to stablish more accurate diagnosis of the injury. Following clinical exams, Olby score was determined by evaluating animal behavior. Olby tests were performed by external scientific research group, composed by veterinary phisiotherapists, in order to guarantee blind evaluation. Animals were also tested to deep pain and panniculus reflexes. s, After being evaluated, animals underwent surgical spinal cord decompression and to a 1x106 stem cells injection in three different sites of the spinal cord. After the procedure, dogs were referred to physiotherapy for three months, undergoing to a variety of rehabilitation exercises in order to improve cell therapy hypothetical benefic effect. During therapy, animals were filmed in order to monitor their evolution, and after the end of physiotherapy they were re-evaluated by physiotherapists. At the end of the experiment, 7 animals were operated and had resulted in an increase of reflex motion in 6 of them. The only animal that showed no such improvement was the one whos had other pathology associated with the spinal cord compression, these results lead us to believe in a beneficial action of cell therapy in dogs with chronic spinal cord injury and suggests continue recruiting animas with the aim of improving the techniques used to achieve better results.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Anatomy and Physiology / Mark L. Weiss / Umbilical cord matrix or Wharton’s Jelly is a mucous connective tissue ensheathing the cord blood vessels and contains mesenchymal-like stem cells. Previously, we have shown that pig umbilical cord matrix stem (pUCMS) cells transplanted into normal rat brain were recovered up to 6 weeks post-transplantation, where a sub-population of pUCMS cells exhibited neuronal morphology and expressed a variety of neuronal markers. Here, approximately 150 pUCMS cells were transplanted into non-immunesuppressed rats that previously received a brain lesion by neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which specifically affects midbrain dopaminergic neurons, leading to pathologic findings similar to that of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The pUCMS cells proliferated up to 8 weeks post-transplantation and there was a significant increase in the percentage and number of pUCMS cells expressing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which is a marker for dopaminergic cells. We conclude that 1. Xenotransplants of pig UCMS cells are not rejected by rats at least up to 8 weeks after transplantation and 2. The pig UCMS cells proliferate and differentiate after transplantation into PD model rats. The surface antigen and gene expression profile of human umbilical cord matrix stem (hUCMS) cells resemble that of mesenchymal stem cells. Apomorphine-induced rotatory behavior was used to analyze the motor deficits of the PD model rats. In different experiments 1000, 2500 and 25000 hUCMS cells were transplanted into the brain of non-immunesuppressed PD model rats. There was a dose-dependent decrease in apomorphine-induced rotations; the maximum benefit was found in the rats that received 1000 hUCMS cells. The graft cells were recovered at 2 days and 1 week, but not at 6, 10 or 12 weeks post-transplantation. Quantitative assessment of host TH-positive midbrain dopaminergic neurons revealed a positive correlation between the behavioral improvement and TH-positive cell number in the low-density (1000 cells) transplant group, showing that the hUCMS cells may play a role in rescuing damaged host dopaminergic neurons and promote improvement of motor deficits in PD-model rats. In summary, hUCMS cells appear to be mesenchymal stem cells that can be harvested in great numbers from a non-controversial, inexhaustible source. Human UCMS cells show therapeutic benefit in PD model rats, but the mechanism by which they promote improvement is presently unknown.

The Internet and cyberspace are still relatively new occurrences in our lives, yet they already exert powerful influences over us. Research in South Africa is still limited and this is an attempt to begin correcting our lack of knowledge in the field. The study was conducted entirely in cyberspace. E-mail was used to gather information from six participants, who where recruited from the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa website. It is a qualitative examination of the unique experiences of spinal cord injured people, who are regularly interacting in cyber-communities with other injured people and people without injuries. The study attempts to describe the role that computer-mediated communication and cyber-communities play in the spinal cord injured person's self-concept. The information was collected in unstructured, asynchronous interviews, which were e-mailed on a regular basis. The participants included one woman and five men, with a mix of quadriplegic and paraplegic injuries. The questions revolved around two central themes: 1) the participant's experiences of other people offline and 2) their experiences of people online. These experiences were identified and grouped into 14 different categories. The categories were then integrated with the literature on cyberspace and self-concept theory. Although the participant group was small, their experiences were richly illustrated and often confirmed previous results by other cyberspace researchers. Essential to this study was the embodied isolation that participants experienced offline, which evoked a number of negative emotions and consequently affected the self-concept and self-esteem. Online the participants were often able to experience a release from isolation and felt empowered by the expansion in their social support Networks and the practical information they gained. In some cases self-esteem improved. In general, more skills and concepts were integrated, increasing the complexity of the self-concept. Applications of this study's results include greater rehabilitative speed and increased continued support for the spinal cord injured. The online spinal cord injured person can moderate her/his reintroduction to uninjured social circles. In certain situations, adapting to the new injured self-concept may become easier. / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

It was hypothesized that superparamagnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in a silica shell with a fluorescent dye could be functionalized with axonal tracers and could be used for serial, non-invasive imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for axon tract tracing. Nanoparticles functionalized with amine, octadecyl, silica, and biotinylated dextran amine were manufactured and characterized with MRI, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible, infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Nanoparticle concentrations of 10 mM were not toxic to adult rat neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and labeled approximately 90% of cells. Nanoparticles were assessed for anterograde and retrograde tract tracing in adult rat models. With MRI and microscopy, the nanoparticles did not appear to trace axons but did provide an MRI signal for up to 3 weeks post implantation. While functionalized nanoparticles did not appear to trace axons, they are not toxic to NPCs and may be used as a MRI contrast agent in the neural axis.

At the author’s request, the abstract has been removed due to the confidential nature of the thesis. It will be added once the embargo period has passed.