Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) is a rare and poorly understood autosomal recessive disease caused by a pathological deficiency of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. Patients suffer neurodegeneration, ataxia, diabetes, and heart failure. In an effort to understand the mechanisms of heart failure in FRDA, we investigated the role of the protein modification acetylation, which is highly abundant on mitochondrial proteins and has been implicated in regulating intermediary metabolism. Using mouse models of FRDA, we found that cardiac frataxin deficiency causes progressive hyperacetylation of mitochondrial proteins which is correlated with loss of respiratory chain subunits and an altered mitochondrial redox state. Mitochondrial protein hyperacetylation could be reversed by the mitochondria-localized deacetylase SIRT3 in vitro, suggesting a defect in endogenous SIRT3 activity. Consistently, frataxin-deficient cardiac mitochondria showed significantly decreased rates of fatty acid oxidation and complete oxidation to carbon dioxide. However, the degree of protein hyperacetylation in FRDA could not be fully explained by SIRT3 loss. Our data suggested that intermediary metabolites and perhaps acetyl-CoA, which is required for protein acetylation, are accumulating in frataxin-deficient mitochondria. Upon testing the hypothesis that mitochondrial protein acetylation is non-enzymatic, we found that the minimal chemical conditions of the mitochondrial matrix are sufficient to cause widespread non-enzymatic protein acetylation in vitro. These data suggest that mitochondrial protein hyperacetylation in FRDA cardiomyopathy mediates progressive post-translational suppression of mitochondrial oxidative pathways which is caused by a combination of SIRT3 deficiency and, likely, an accumulation of unoxidized acetyl-CoA capable of initiating non-enzymatic protein acetylation. These findings provide novel insight into the mechanisms underlying a poorly understood and fatal cardiomyopathy and highlight a fundamental biochemical mechanism that had been previously overlooked in biological systems.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Huntington’s Disease (HD) is an inherited, autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disorder. There is no cure for HD and the existing therapies only alleviate HD symptoms without eliminating the cause of this neuropathology. HD is linked to a mutation in the huntingtin gene, which results in an elongation of the poly-glutamine stretch in the huntingtin protein (Htt). A major hypothesis is that mutant Htt (mHtt) leads to aberrant Ca2+ homeostasis in affected neurons. This may be caused by increased Ca2+ influx into the cell via the N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA)-subtype of glutamate receptors. The contribution of two major Ca2+ removal mechanisms, mitochondria and plasmalemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCX), in neuronal injury in HD remains unclear. We investigated Ca2+ uptake capacity in isolated synaptic (neuronal) and nonsynaptic mitochondria from the YAC128 mouse model of HD. We found that both Htt and mHtt bind to brain mitochondria and the amount of mitochondriabound mHtt correlates with increased mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake capacity. Mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation was not impaired in striatal neurons from YAC128 mice. We also found that expression of the NCX1 isoform is increased with age in striatum from YAC128 mice compared to striatum from wild-type mice. Interestingly, mHtt and Htt bind to the NCX3 isoform but not to NCX1. NCX3 expression remains unchanged. To further investigate Ca2+ homeostasis modulation, we examined the role of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) in wild-type neurons. CRMP2 is viewed as an axon guidance protein, but has been found to be involved in Ca2+ signaling. We found that CRMP2 interacts with NMDA receptors (NMDAR) and disrupting this interaction decreases NMDAR activity. CRMP2 also interacts with and regulates NCX3, resulting in NCX3 internalization and decreased activity. Augmented mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake capacity and an increased expression of NCX1 in the presence of mHtt suggest a compensatory reaction in response to increased Ca2+ influx into the cell. The role of NCX warrants further investigation in HD. The novel interactions of CRMP2 with NMDAR and NCX3 provide additional insight into the complexity of Ca2+ homeostasis regulation in neurons and may also be important in HD neuropathology.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Introduction: During glutamate excitotoxicity, overstimulation of glutamate receptors leads to sustained elevation in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]c), or delayed Ca2+ dysregulation (DCD), which is causally linked to cell death. There are two major hypothetical mechanisms for DCD: the continuous activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate-subtype of the ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDAR) and the reversal of the plasmalemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. However, the contribution of each of these mechanisms in DCD is not completely established. Major results: Neurons exposed to excitotoxic glutamate produced DCD, an increase in cytosolic Na+ ([Na+]c), and plasma membrane depolarization. MK801 and memantine, noncompetitive NMDAR inhibitors, added after glutamate, completely prevented DCD; however AP-5, a competitive NMDAR inhibitor, failed to do so. The NMDAR inhibitors had no effect on lowering elevated [Na+]c or on restoring plasma membrane potential, which are conditions suggesting NCXrev could be involved. In experiments inducing NCXrev, MK801 and memantine completely inhibited Ca2+ dysregulation after glutamate while AP-5 did not. Inhibition of NCXrev, either with KB-R7943 or by preventing the increase in [Na+]c, failed to avert DCD. However, NCXrev inhibition combined with NMDAR blocked by AP-5 completely prevented DCD. Overall, these data suggested that both NMDAR and NCXrev are essential for glutamate-induced DCD, and inhibition of only one mechanism is insufficient to prevent collapse of calcium homeostasis. Based on the data above, we investigated a NMDA receptor antagonist currently in clinical trials for reducing the effects of glutamate excitotoxicity, ifenprodil. Ifenprodil is an activity-dependent, NMDAR inhibitor selective for the NR2B subunit. We found that ifenprodil not only inhibited the NR2B-specific NMDAR, but also inhibited NCXrev. If ifenprodil is combined with PEAQX, a NMDAR inhibitor selective for the NR2A subunit, low concentrations of both inhibitors completely prevent DCD. Conclusion: The inhibition of a single Ca2+ influx mechanism is insufficient in preventing DCD, which requires simultaneous inhibition of both the NMDAR and NCXrev. These findings are critical for the correct interpretation of the experimental results obtained with these inhibitors and for better understanding of their neuroprotective actions.

T cells infiltrate the degenerating brain and influence central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and neuronal health. In mice, the choroid plexus and the meninges have been implicated in regulating T cell entry and egress from the CNS, respectively. Further, antigen presenting cells in the mouse meninges present CNS-derived antigens to T cells and may represent a method for the peripheral immune system to sense and respond to CNS immune triggers. However, whether these processes occur in the human choroid plexus and meninges has not been comprehensively studied. Further, the antigens towards which T cells in the degenerating human brain and its borders respond remain unknown. Therefore, I implemented a multi-omics approach using fresh postmortem tissue from patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and non-neurodegenerative controls to identify not only the T cell-associated changes that occur in the degenerating human CNS and surrounding tissues but also identified a library of putative antigen targets for disease-associated T cell populations. Specifically, using single cell RNA and TCR sequencing information from paired postmortem choroid plexus, leptomeninges, and brain I lineage traced T cells using their TCR information and found that T cell access to leptomeninges and brain is likely limited and controlled by anti-inflammatory macrophage activity at the blood/CSF barrier (BCSFB). Once past the BCSFB, I present evidence that T cells access the CNS where they interact with MHC expressed by microglia. T cells also accumulate in the leptomeninges where they become tissue resident memory T cells. These tissue resident memory T cells likely serve as a reservoir for a rapid antigen-driven immune response to future CNS inflammatory insults. Finally, by performing immunopeptidomics to identify peptides presented by MHC in the same patients’ CNS and border tissues, I identified a library of putative antigenic triggers that may drive high levels of T cell clonal expansion in the brain and surrounding tissues. Altogether, this thesis serves as a resource for understanding the trajectory of T cells as they travel into the degenerating human brain and as a foundation for the development of antigen-specific precision medicines to treat neurodegeneration.

Neurological disorders present a significant challenge in global health. With the increasing availability of imaging datasets and the development of precise machine learning models, early and accurate diagnosis of neurological conditions is a promising and active area of research. However, several characteristic factors in neurology domains, such as heterogeneous imaging, inaccurate labels, or limited data, act as bottlenecks in using deep learning on clinical neuroimaging. Given these circumstances, this dissertation attempts to provide a guideline, proposing several methods and showcasing successful implementations in broad neurological conditions, including epilepsy and neurodegeneration. Methodologically, a particular focus is on comparing a two-dimensional approach as opposed to three-dimensional neural networks. In most clinical domains of neurological disorders, data are scarce and signals are weak, discouraging the use of 3D representation of raw scan data. This dissertation first demonstrates competitive performances with 2D models in tuber segmentation and AD comorbidity detection. Second, the potentials of ensemble learning are explored, further justifying the use of 2D models in the identification of neurodegeneration. Lastly, CleanNeuro is introduced in the context of 2D classification, a novel algorithm for denoising the datasets prior to training. CleanNeuro, on top of 2D classification and ensemble learning, demonstrates the feasibility of accurately classifying patients with comorbid AD and cerebral amyloid angiopathy from AD controls. Methods presented in this dissertation may serve as exemplars in the study of neurological disorders using deep learning and clinical neuroimaging. Clinically, this dissertation contributes to improving automated diagnosis and identification of regional vulnerabilities of several neurological disorders on clinical neuroimaging using deep learning. First, the classification of patients with Alzheimer’s disease from cognitively normal group demonstrates the potentials of using positron emission tomography with tau tracers as a competitive biomarker for precision medicine. Second, the segmentation of tubers in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex proves a successful 2D modeling approach in quantifying neurological burden of a rare yet deadly disease. Third, the detection of comorbid pathologies from patients with Alzheimer’s disease is analyzed and discussed in depth. Based on prior findings that comorbidities of Alzheimer’s disease affect the brain structure in a distinctive pattern, this dissertation proves for the first time the effectiveness of using deep learning on the accurate identification of comorbid pathology in vivo. Leveraging postmortem neuropathology as ground truth labels on top of the proposed methods records competitive performances in comorbidity prediction. Notably, this dissertation discovers that structural magnetic resonance imaging is a reliable biomarker in differentiating the comorbid cereberal amyloid angiopathy from Alzheimer’s disease patients. The dissertation discusses experimental findings on a wide range of neurological disorders, including tuberous sclerosis complex, dementia, and epilepsy. These results contribute to better decision-making on building neural network models for understanding and managing neurological diseases. With the thorough exploration, the dissertation may provide valuable insights that can push forward research in clinical neurology.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Alzheimer disease (AD) results, in part, from the excess accumulation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) as neuritic plaques in the brain. The short Aβ peptide is derived from a large transmembrane precursor protein, APP. Two different proteolytic enzymes, BACE1 and the gamma-secretase complex, are responsible for cleaving Aβ peptide from APP through an intricate processing pathway. Dysregulation of APP and BACE1 levels leading to excess Aβ deposition has been implicated in various forms of AD. Thus, a major goal in this dissertation was to discover novel regulatory pathways that control APP and BACE1 expression as a means to identify novel drug targets central to the Aβ-generating process. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short, non-coding RNAs that act as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression through specific interactions with target mRNAs. Global analyses predict that over sixty percent of human transcripts contain evolutionarily conserved miRNA target sites. Therefore, the specific hypothesis tested was that miRNA are relevant regulators of APP and BACE1 expression. In this work, several specific miRNA were identified that regulate APP protein expression (miR-101, miR-153 and miR-346) or BACE1 expression (miR-339-5p). These miRNAs mediated their post-transcriptional effects via interactions with specific target sites in the APP and BACE1 transcripts. Importantly, these miRNA also altered secretion of Aβ peptides in primary human fetal brain cultures. Surprisingly, miR-346 stimulated APP expression via target sites in the APP 5’-UTR. The mechanism of this effect appears to involve other RNA-binding proteins that bind to the APP 5’-UTR. Expression analyses demonstrated that these miRNAs are expressed to varying degrees in the human brain. Notably, miR-101, miR-153 and miR-339-5p are dysregulated in the AD brain at various stages of the disease. The work in this dissertation supports the hypothesis that miRNAs are important regulators of APP and BACE1 expression and are capable of altering Aβ homeostasis. Therefore, these miRNA may possibly serve as novel therapeutic targets for AD.

蠕動是一種能夠幫助食物通過胃腸道以及促進胃腸道產生能動性的類似波浪的收縮運動。它由一種叫做Cajal (ICC)間質細胞的起搏器細胞產生的慢波所控制。ICCs亦幫助由腸神經系統(ENS)到平滑肌的信息傳導。嚙齒動物和人類實驗表明，老化所導致的ICC細胞數量下降和腸神經退化與排便睏難和便秘有關。通過研究ICC和ENS在正常老化情況下和加速膽碱能神經元喪失的阿爾茲海默症(AD)老鼠模型(Tg2576)中的變化，我們對治療神經退化性疾病也許會有新的認識。本課題的目的在于，研究老化情況下正常老鼠模型及澱粉樣前體蛋白質(APP)過量表達下的AD老鼠模型的胃腸道在形態及功能上的變化。 / 六個月大的Tg2576和同齡野生型對照的全樣載片免疫組化實驗顯示， 十二指腸 (P < 0.05)和迴腸 (P < 0.01)中的腸神經細胞顯著降低，迴腸 (P < 0.001)中的GFAP陽性的腸神經膠質細胞也顯著消失。S100陽性的腸神經膠質細胞在胃竇（胃部中的起搏區域）(P < 0.05), 迴腸 (P < 0.05)和結腸 (P < 0.05)中顯著喪失。這些結果表明，在早期的AD階段，ENS已經出現變質。ICC細胞數量在六個月大的Tg2576和同齡野生型對照的所有腸胃部分並沒有顯著性差異 (P > 0.05)。同時，早期AD階段的基本蠕動節奏也並沒有發生改變。除此之外，結腸和十二指腸的GFAP/S100陽性的腸神經膠質細胞比例並沒有顯著增加，表明在早期AD階段，可能出現了炎症。 / 利用石蠟切片進行β澱粉樣蛋白免疫組化，天狼猩紅溶液化驗和硫代黃素T溶液化驗可以測試不溶的澱粉樣斑塊是否存在。結果指出在六個月大的Tg2576所有腸胃部分都觀察到澱粉樣斑塊聚集而在不同的腸胃部分聚集的程度都有所分別。除了結腸外，六個月大的野生型對照所有腸胃部分都觀察不到澱粉樣斑塊聚集。澱粉樣斑塊形成的增長可能和早期AD階段出現的腸神經細胞和腸神經膠質細胞喪失互相關聯。 / 應用電泳轉移酶標免疫印斑技術，測試六個月大的Tg2576和同齡野生型對照的迴腸和結腸中，膽碱乙酰轉移酶 (ChAT，出自興奮神經元)， 神經元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS，出自抑制神經元)， 膠質細胞源性神經營養因子 (GDNF， 出自腸神經膠質細胞)和可溶解的β澱粉樣蛋白寡聚體的表達是否改變。和野生型對照相比，Tg2576的nNOS的表達在迴腸 (P < 0.05) 而不是結腸 (P > 0.05) 中顯著增加。而ChAT，GDNF和各β澱粉樣蛋白寡聚體 (十二聚物，九聚物和六聚物)在六個月大的Tg2576和同齡野生型對照之間並沒有顯著改變 (P > 0.05)。綜上結果表明，在早期AD階段，腸胃道中的抑制信號有所增加，但是β澱粉樣蛋白寡聚體可能不是引致腸胃道中的腸神經細胞和腸神經膠質細胞喪失的原因。 / 在腸胃道的組織學和生化實驗之後，我們利用了微電極陣列 (MEA) 系統來量度出自胃竇和迴腸的慢波信號。量度出來的主導頻率(DF)和功率分佈可以成為測量在老化的ICR老鼠和早期AD階段下腸胃道的功能有沒有變化的參數。在硝苯地平存在下，尼古丁顯著地刺激三個月大 (P < 0.05) 和 六個月大 (P < 0.05) 的ICR老鼠中胃竇和迴腸的慢波活動但未能引起十二個月大 (P > 0.05) 的ICR老鼠中的慢波活動，說明神經退化可能在十二個月的年齡開始。附加了河豚毒素的情況下，尼古丁不能再刺激三個年齡組中胃竇和迴腸的慢波活動 (P > 0.05)，由此證明了尼古丁是對腸神經細胞起作用再去激發ICC的活動。六個月大的Tg2576和同齡野生型對照之間的胃竇和迴腸的基准讀數沒有顯著分別 (P > 0.05)。然而，尼古丁顯著地增加野生型對照中胃竇和迴腸的DF和胃電過速範圍 (P < 0.05) 但是不能刺激Tg2576中胃竇和迴腸的電流活動 (P > 0.05)，示意在早期AD階段腸胃道中已經出現了腸神經細胞和/或腸神經膠質細胞喪失。 / 綜上所言，研究結果提出AD老鼠模型有形態學，生物化學和功能上的轉變。本課題提供了在研究神經退化疾病上的基礎，也支持ENS是中樞神經系統早期病變前的關口這個假設。 / Peristalsis is the wave-like contraction that moves food along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and generates GI motility. Peristalsis is modulated by slow waves that originate from pacemaker cells called interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC). ICCs also modulate and transduce inputs from the enteric nervous system (ENS) to the smooth muscle. Recent studies in rodents and humans demonstrated that a decrease in ICC number and enteric neurodegeneration during ageing is associated with difficult bowel movements and constipation. By studying ICC and the ENS during normal aging and in a mouse model (Tg2576) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) where cholinergic loss may be exaggerated, we may gain new perspectives on the treatment of degenerative diseases. The aim of the present study therefore, was to investigate the morphological and functional changes of the GI tract of mice during ageing and in an AD mouse model over-expressing amyloid precursor protein (APP) using an isolated tissue approach. / Whole mount immunohistochemistry of 6-month-old Tg2576 mice and their age-matched wild type (WT) controls revealed that there were significant losses of enteric neurons in the duodenum (P < 0.05) and ileum (P < 0.001), and of GFAP-positive enteric glial cells in the ileum (P < 0.001). There was also a loss of S100-positive glial cells in the antrum (pacemaker region in the stomach) (P < 0.05), ileum (P < 0.05) and colon (P < 0.05). These results indicated the alteration of the ENS during the early stages of AD. There were no differences in ICC arears of all GI regions between 6-month-old Tg2576 mice and their age-matched WT controls (P > 0.05), and there was no alteration of basal peristaltic rhythm during the early stages of AD. The non-significant increase of GFAP to S100 enteric glial cell ratio in the duodenum and colon might indicate an ongoing inflammatory process in these two GI regions during the early stages of AD. / The presence of insoluble amyloid plaques was studied using Aβ immunohistochemistry, Sirius red assay and Thioflavin-T assay on paraffin wax sections. The aggregation of amyloid plaques was observed in all the GI regions of 6-month-old Tg2576 mice and the levels of amyloid plaque varied in different regions. No amyloid plaques were found in the GI tract of 6-month-old WT animals excepting the colon. The increase in formation of amyloid plaques might be correlated to the losses of enteric neurons and enteric glial cells during the early stages of AD. / Western blot analysis was performed on frozen sections of tissues from the ileum and colon to investigate whether there were changes in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT, from excitatory neurons), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS, from inhibitory neurons), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF, from enteric glia) and soluble Aβ oligomers between 6-month-old Tg2576 mice and WT controls. nNOS expression significantly increased in the ileum (P < 0.05) but not in the colon (P > 0.05) of Tg2576 mice compared with WT controls. There were no differences in the expressions of ChAT, GDNF and Aβ oligomers (docecamer, nonamer and hexamer) in the ileum and colon between Tg2576 mice and WT controls (P > 0.05). These results imply that there is an increase in the inhibitory signal in the GI tract during the early stages of AD but soluble Aβ oligomers might not be the cause of neuronal and glial losses in the GI tract. / Following histological and biochemical studies of different GI regions, slow wave signals from the antrum and ileum were measured using a microelectrode array (MEA) system. The dominant frequencies (DFs) and power distributions were measured and these served as parameters for measuring functional changes in the GI tract during ageing in ICR mice and the early stages of AD. In the presence of nifedipine, nicotine significantly stimulated the slow wave activities in the antrum and ileum of 3-month-old (P < 0.05) and 6-month-old (P < 0.05) ICR mice but failed to trigger the slow wave activities in 12-month-old (P > 0.05) ICR mice, suggesting the neurodegeneration might begin with the age between 6 and 12 months. With the addition of tetrodotoxin, nicotine failed to stimulate the slow wave activities in the antrum and ileum of three age groups (P > 0.05) and it showed that nicotine only acted on enteric neurons to trigger the ICC activities. There were no differences in the antral and ileal baseline recordings between 6-month-old Tg2576 mice and their age-matched WT controls (P > 0.05). However, nicotine significantly increased DFs and tachygastria ranges of the antrum and ileum in WT controls (P < 0.05) but failed to increase electrical activitiy of the antrum and ileum in Tg2576 mice (P > 0.05), thus suggesting a loss of neuronal and/or glial cells in the GI tract during the early stages of AD. / In conclusions, these findings suggest the mouse model for AD has morphological, biochemical and functional changes in the GI tract. The present studies provide a foundation for the investigation of degenerative diseases and support the hypothesis that the ENS may be the gateway for the early pathological changes in the central nervous system. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Hui, Chin Wai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-200). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO THE WORK IN THIS THESIS --- p.i / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.vii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- General introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) as electrical pacemaker cells in GI tract --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- ICC subtypes in GI tract --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Hypotheses of slow wave generation --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Mechanisms of the NSCC pacemaking hypothesis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Mechanisms of the alternative hypothesis --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Involvement of ion channels in slow wave generation of ICC --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Calcium channels --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Sodium channels --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Potassium channels --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Chloride channels --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Non-selective cation channels --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Distribution of several types of receptors in ICC --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Purinergic receptors --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Muscarinic receptors --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Tachykinin receptors --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- Serotonin receptors --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6 --- Introductions and functions of enteric nervous system --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Interaction amongst the central, peripheral and enteric nervous system: brain-gut axis --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Enteric neuronal subtypes in the GI tract --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6.2.1 --- Motor neurons --- p.16 / Chapter 1.6.2.2 --- Interneurons --- p.16 / Chapter 1.6.2.3 --- Intrinsic primary afferent neurons --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Enteric glial cells --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6.3.1 --- Enteric glial subtypes in the GI tract --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6.3.2 --- Communication between enteric neurons and glial cells --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6.3.3 --- Possible functions of enteric glial cells in the GI tract --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6.3.3.1 --- Secretion of neurotrophic factors --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.3.3.2 --- Secretion of reduced glutathione --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6.3.3.3 --- Secretion of transforming growth factor-beta 1 --- p.21 / Chapter 1.7 --- Interactions amongst ICC, enteric neurons and enteric glial cells --- p.21 / Chapter 1.8 --- Gastrointestinal disorders --- p.22 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- Mechanisms for cell depletion --- p.22 / Chapter 1.8.1.1 --- Autoimmune attack --- p.22 / Chapter 1.8.1.2 --- Hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus --- p.24 / Chapter 1.8.1.3 --- Oxidative stress --- p.25 / Chapter 1.8.1.4 --- Ageing --- p.26 / Chapter 1.9 --- Alzheimer’s disease --- p.28 / Chapter 1.9.1 --- Genetics and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease --- p.28 / Chapter 1.9.1.1 --- Aggregation of amyloid beta protein --- p.29 / Chapter 1.9.1.2 --- Genetic factors of AD --- p.29 / Chapter 1.9.1.3 --- Tau hyperphosphorylation and neurofibrillary tangles --- p.31 / Chapter 1.9.2 --- Current treatment for Alzheimer’s disease --- p.33 / Chapter 1.9.2.1 --- Symptomatic treatment --- p.33 / Chapter 1.9.2.2 --- Disease-modifying treatment --- p.34 / Chapter 1.9.2.3 --- Other potential drugs for AD treatment --- p.35 / Chapter 1.9.3 --- Possible animal models for AD investigation --- p.36 / Chapter 1.9.4 --- Possible correlations between Alzheimer’s disease and the enteric nervous system --- p.36 / Chapter 1.10 --- Aim of study --- p.37 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Investigation into the morphologies of enteric nervous system and interstitial cell of Cajal in Tg2576 mice --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Molecular markers for ICC, ENC, and EGC --- p.38 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Aims and objectives --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Animals --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Tissue preparation --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Image acquisition and analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- General observations --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Area and pattern of ICCs and the ENS in the stomach --- p.46 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Area and pattern of ICCs and the ENS in the duodenum --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Area and pattern of ICCs and the ENS in the jejunum --- p.56 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Area and pattern of ICCs and the ENS in the ileum --- p.60 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Area and pattern of ICCs and the ENS in the colon --- p.66 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.70 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Major findings --- p.70 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Possible alterations of the ENS during AD --- p.70 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Morphological changes of the ENS in relation to genotype --- p.71 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Morphological changes of ICCs in relation to genotype --- p.72 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Morphological changes of the ENS and ICCs in relation to GI regions --- p.72 / Chapter 2.4.6 --- Inflammatory conditions in different GI regions --- p.73 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusion --- p.74 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Formation of amyloid plaques in the brain and the GI tract of Tg2576 mice --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- The absence of amyloid plaques in rodents --- p.75 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Overexpression of human APP in transgenic mice --- p.76 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Distribution of human APP and Aβ deposition in human and transgenic mice --- p.77 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Transgene and promoter in Tg2576 mouse --- p.77 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Methods for Aβ plaque detection --- p.78 / Chapter 3.1.6 --- Aim and objectives --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Animals --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Tissue processing --- p.80 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Preparation of paraffin wax blocks and slide sections --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Aβ immunohistochemistry --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Sirius red assay --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Thioflavin-T assay --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Image acquisition --- p.84 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Aβ immunohistochemistry --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- The absence of positive immunoreactivity in the brain --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- The presence of positive immunoreactivity in the GI tract of Tg2576 mice --- p.85 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Sirius red assay --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- The presence of positive immunoreactivity in the brain of Tg2576 mice --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Characteristics of Sirius red staining in the GI tract --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- The presence of positive immunoreactivity in the GI tract of Tg2576 mice --- p.92 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Thioflavin-T assay --- p.98 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- The presence of positive immunoreactivity in the brain of Tg2576 mice --- p.98 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- The presence of positive immunoreactivity in the GI tract of Tg2576 mice --- p.98 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.104 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- The presence of a small amount of amyloid plaques in the brain of young Tg2576 mice --- p.104 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- The presence of amyloid plaques in the GI tract --- p.104 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Plaque formation in relation to genotype --- p.105 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Possible effects of amyloid plaques in the brain and GI tract --- p.106 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusion --- p.108 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Expression of Aβ oligomers, ChAT, nNOS and GDNF in the GI tract of Tg2576 mice --- p.109 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.109 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Common and peripheral types of ChAT --- p.109 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Three subtypes of NOS --- p.111 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Functions of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the ENS --- p.112 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Neurotoxicity of soluble Aβ peptides --- p.113 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Aims and objectives --- p.113 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Animals --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Preparation of materials --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Sample preparation --- p.117 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Separating and stacking gels preparation --- p.118 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Western blot --- p.119 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Image acquisition and analysis --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.122 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Increase in nNOS expression in the ileum of Tg2576 mice --- p.122 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- No changes in the expressions of Aβ oligomers, ChAT, nNOS and GDNF in the colon of Tg2576 mice --- p.122 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.127 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- The absence of “cholinergic hypothesis of AD in the GI tract of Tg2576 mice --- p.127 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Increased expression of nNOS in the ileum of Tg2576 mice --- p.128 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Neuronal and glial losses may be related to the reduced GDNF expression --- p.129 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- No relationship between the Aβ oligomers and neuronal damages in the GI tract --- p.129 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.129 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Microelectrode array (MEA) study on slow wave activity in the GI tract --- p.131 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.131 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Components in peristalsis-controlling unit --- p.131 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Techniques in evaluating slow wave activity --- p.131 / Chapter 5.1.2.1 --- Patch clamp --- p.132 / Chapter 5.1.2.2 --- Calcium imaging --- p.132 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Application of microelectrode array in evaluating slow wave activity --- p.134 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Aims and objectives --- p.136 / Chapter 5.2 --- Methods and materials --- p.137 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Animals --- p.137 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Tissue preparation --- p.137 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Electrical recordings --- p.138 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Analysis and Statistics --- p.139 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.142 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Experiments on ICR mice --- p.142 / Chapter 5.3.1.1 --- Nicotine stimulates the slow wave activity in the antrum in the presence of NIF but not in the presence of NIF and 500 nM TTX --- p.142 / Chapter 5.3.1.2 --- Nicotine stimulates the slow wave activity in the ileum in the presence of NIF but only partially stimulates activity in the presence of NIF and 500 nM TTX --- p.152 / Chapter 5.3.1.3 --- The use of 1 μM TTX completely blocked the nicotine stimulation in the ileum --- p.160 / Chapter 5.3.1.4 --- The dominant frequency of baseline increased in the ileum of 12-month-old ICR but not in the antrum in the presence of NIF --- p.162 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Experiments on Tg2576 mice and their wild type controls --- p.164 / Chapter 5.3.2.1 --- No differences in both antral and ileal baseline DFs between 6- month-old non-transgenic and Tg2576 mice --- p.164 / Chapter 5.3.2.2 --- Nicotine stimulates slow wave activity in the antrum of 6-month-old wild type controls but not of Tg2576 mice --- p.164 / Chapter 5.3.2.3 --- Nicotine stimulates slow wave activity in the ileum of 6-month-old wild type controls but not of Tg2576 mice --- p.167 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.171 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Pharmacological effects of nicotine in the GI tract --- p.171 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Excitatory effects of nicotine in the slow wave activities of the stomach and ileum --- p.172 / Chapter 5.4.3 --- Changes of ICC functions and neuronal activities during ageing --- p.174 / Chapter 5.4.4 --- Enteric neurodegeneration leads to alteration in the ENS function in Tg2576 mice --- p.175 / Chapter 5.4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.176 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- Concluding discussion --- p.177 / REFERENCES --- p.180

Hong, Sijia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-234). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

This study examined the effects of low to moderate doses of manganese (0, 250, or 750 _g per day from PD 1-21) on a comprehensive battery of behaviors in rats during the neonatal period, preweanling period, and in adulthood.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure from occupational, environmental and food sources is a significant threat to public health. MeHg poisonings in adults may result in severe psychological and neurological deficits, and in utero exposures can confer significant damage to the developing brain and impair neurobehavioral and intellectual development. Recent epidemiological and vertebrate studies suggest that MeHg exposure may contribute to dopamine (DA) neuron vulnerability and the propensity to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD). I have developed a novel Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of MeHg toxicity and have shown that low, chronic exposure confers embryonic defects, developmental delays, reduction in brood size, decreased animal viability and DA neuron degeneration. Toxicant exposure results in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the robust induction of several glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) that are largely dependent on the PD-associated phase II antioxidant transcription factor SKN-1/Nrf2. I have also shown that SKN-1 is expressed in the DA neurons, and a reduction in SKN-1 gene expression increases MeHg-induced animal vulnerability and DA neuron degeneration. Furthermore, I incorporated a novel genome wide reverse genetic screen that identified 92 genes involved in inhibiting MeHg-induced animal death. The putative multidrug resistance protein MRP-7 was identified in the screen. I have shown that this transporter is likely expressed in DA neurons, and reduced gene expression increases cellular Hg accumulation and MeHg-associated DA neurodegeneration. My studies indicate that C. elegans is a useful genetic model to explore the molecular basis of MeHg-associated DA neurodegeneration, and may identify novel therapeutic targets to address this highly relevant health issue.