It
is common knowledge that traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to increased
synaptogenesis, which can amplify the traumatic sensations caused by diffuse
TBI due to the increase in nerve impulses. The traumatic sensations that can be
triggered by increased synaptogenesis initiated by diffuse TBI into memory
related areas (Hippocampus, PFC, Amygdala) include loss of memory and
difficulty of memory retrieval. Using a streamlined version of the western blot technique, I will
measure the impact of diffuse TBI on the levels of neuroligand-1 and glypican4,
protein factors essential in the regulation of synaptogenesis in CNS neurons,
present in memory related brain areas over a two-month time period. The results
can prove to be essential in determining factors that play a vital role in
stimulated synaptogenesis while also proactively aid in finding a solution for
post -TBI symptoms in the memory related areas of the brain.
Terms to know
Wes machine: A machine that has streamlined the traditional Western blot process in our Translational Neurotrauma Lab. For those who are not familiar with a Western blot procedure, it is a widely used technique for protein analysis that utilizes both gel electrophoresis to separate out the denatured proteins by the length of the polypeptide as well as the transfer to a membrane that stains the protein with an antibody specific to the target protein. Usually, the Western blot process takes about 2 days to complete, taking into account the time needed to create the gel among other things. This Wes process shortens the time frame to about 6 hrs to gather data from one plate.
Neuroligand-1: protein factor in the brain that stimulates the production and redirection of synapses after traumatic brain injury using thrombospodin 1.
Glypican-4: astrocyte secreted signals sufficient to induce functional synapses between ganglion cells in the human brain. Have similar effect like neuroligand-1
Sham: Designates a sample from a region from an uninjured animal. Acts as a baseline for comparison to injured animal samples.
Project Goals
- Examine amount of protein factors in select tissue samples from Sprague Dawley rats at specified days after TBI
- Hopefully aid in research into factors controlling increased synaptogenesis after TBI.
Hi Kash, would you please explain synaptogenesis in a bit more detail with respect to traumatic brain injuries?
ReplyDeleteSo when a person suffers some form of traumatic brain injury, the neurons suffer a lot of damage, particularly through axonal shearing and synapse disruption. After such an injury, the brain tries to repair these axons and synapses and reconnect into the "circuit" that was there before. As a result, there is an increased rate of synaptogenesis after TBI. But keep in mind, the synapses do not necessarily reconnect the same way as they did before the injury, which leads me to look at the effects of protein factors on synaptogenesis in memory related areas.
DeleteCan we see a picture of a blot?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you do while you are waiting for the results from the Wes machine to process?
ReplyDeleteAs I wait for our results, I plan for the next run tomorrow by calculating all the required values such as primary antibody amount, amount of GAPDH needed etc. I also plan to make sure the samples I use are all sorted out and ready to go by the next day.
DeleteKa$h,
ReplyDeleteAny insight how I can use your research to best help our basketball team remember plays? Keep up the good work this spring.
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ReplyDeleteKash,
ReplyDeleteI'm very interested in your project because originally I was doing my project on TBI too. Can't wait to see your results.