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Brain energy metabolism and its pathologies
Nová, Jana ; Telenský, Petr (advisor) ; Kolář, David (referee)
The brain belongs amongst metabolically most active organs and disturbances of brain energy metabolism are commonly cited as a critical factor predisposing to neurodegeneration. Brain metabolic substrates must be strictly regulated both spatially and temporarily to ensure the energy homeostasis of the brain. Research on energy metabolism of the brain identified several models revealing the interdependence of metabolic processes in the CNS. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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The role of vent genes family in early development and brain development
Fabian, Peter ; Kozmík, Zbyněk (advisor) ; Němec, Pavel (referee) ; Balaštík, Martin (referee)
6 III ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) In chordates, the central nervous system (CNS) is derived from the dorsal part of gastrula. Induced dorsal part of the embryo - the neural plate - gives rise to the neural tube or primordial brain. The developing dorsal part of the embryo is shaped by BMP/Smad signaling from the ventral part. Using the basal chordate amphioxus, we show here the conserved evolutionary role BMP/Smad signaling in axial cell fate determination. Pharmalogical inhibition of BMP/Smad signaling induces dorsalization of Branchiostoma floridae (amphioxus) and Oryzias latipes (medaka) embryos and expansion of neural plate markers. We provide evidence for the presence of the positive regulatory loop within the BMP/Smad signaling network of amphioxus. Thus, our data suggest that early emergence of a positive feedback loop within the BMP/Smad signaling network may represent a crucial molecular event in the evolutionary history of the chordate cell fate determination. The dorso-ventral body axis formation is mediated by genes of the vent family, which are the direct targets of BMP/Smad signaling. The function of vent gene family in early development is relatively well known, however, its role in developing CNS is not yet clear. Therefore, we decided to manipulate vox transcription factor, a vent family member....
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Delineating pain and fear engrams in the prefrontal cortex
Ludínová, Kristýna ; Zitko, Jan (advisor) ; Herink, Josef (referee)
Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis Candidate: Kristýna Ludínova Supervisor: PharmDr. Jan Zitko, Ph.D. External supervisors: Dr. Manfred Oswald, Prof. Dr. Rohini Kuner Title of diploma thesis: Delineating Pain and Fear Engrams in the Prefrontal Cortex Pain is a complex process associated with activation of various brain centres. According to evidence of imaging studies in humans and rodents the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) ranks amongst the brain area consistently activated during painful perception. The mPFC circuits underlies functionally-distinct processes, such as pain, emotional response, decision-making, attention amongst others. However, the precise contribution of mPFC in pain related function remains to be unknown. The aim of the study was to delineate how pain and fear are manifested at the cellular level within the regions of PFC. By employing activity dependent neuronal labelling we tested if cellular ensembles activated in pain and fear behaviours within the mPFC are distinct. We investigated a potential use of activity-dependent DREADDs (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) expression in order to test for the functional role of PFC ensembles in pain and fear behaviour. Our...
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Wnt/β-catenin signalling in the development of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii
Žídek, Radim ; Kozmik, Zbyněk (advisor) ; Janečková, Lucie (referee) ; Macůrková, Marie (referee)
Radim Žídek "Wnt/β-catenin signalling in the development of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii" (dissertation) Abstract: Wnt/β-catenin signalling is absolutely crucial for the early embryonic development of metazoan animals from the establishment of body axes, through the specification of germ layers and tissues to the development of organ systems. I used pharmacological manipulations of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity in the planktonic larvae of the marine polychaete annelid Platynereis dumerilii, the representative of the clade Spiralia, to investigate the role of Wnt/β- catenin signalling in the development and evolution of three hallmarks of Bilateria: the central nervous system, the body segmentation and the digestive tube. Wnt proteins are produced in all three aforementioned systems in Platynereis where they trigger the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in neighbouring cells. I describe here, for the first time in Platynereis, a homologue of the endpoint transcription factor of the entire pathway, Pdu-Tcf, which is subjected to an alternative splicing and along with a Wnt target gene Pdu-Axin is expressed in tissues with the active Wnt signalling - in the brain ganglia, in the neuroectoderm along the ventral midline, in segments, in the posterior growth zone and in the gut. Pharmacological manipulations...
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The biological basis of mental illness with regard to affective disorders
Volf, Petr ; Šivicová, Gabriela (advisor) ; Hrachovinová, Tamara (referee)
This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current biological hypotheses and manifestations of mental illness with an emphasis on affective disorders. Mood disorders are the third most common mental disorder and lifelong perspective affects almost one-fifth of the population. For this reason, their etiology is important issue for the prevention, treatment and subsequent rehabilitation. Bachelor thesis puts emphasis on the biological disposition, especially anatomical and physiological abnormalities typical for affective disorders and attempts to classify and structure the existing research findings. The output is a research project that could provide the answer, if it is indeed a significant difference in biological dispositions (and their types) in individuals with emotional disorders and a healthy population. Specifically, the text contains anatomical and neurophysiological description of the structures of the brain that are responsible for the emotional state of a person, the clinical picture of affective disorders and an overview of approaches to their genesis. The following is dedicated to individual biological hypotheses, which results in the research question, that deals with the design of empirical investigation.
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Interactions between gut microorganisms and brain
Fajstová, Alena ; Pácha, Jiří (advisor) ; Hock, Miroslav (referee)
Intestinal microbiota communicates with brain via various cooperating pathways including neuronal, endocrine and immune. Pathogenic and commensal bacteria produce great amounts of neurotransmitters and various other metabolites which can interact with brain. Presence of bacteria can also induce immune system response which can influence brain through cytokines and other mediators. Last but not least the communication can be mediated through nerves, especially the vagus nerve. The brain can influence the intestines through sympathic and parasympathic efferent nerves and through hormones. Gut colonization by nonpathogenic commensal bacteria is crucial for proper brain development. If this doesn't happen in certain period psychiatric disorders such as depression or autism can occur later in life. Various pathological conditions might be ameliorated or fully reversed by administration of probiotic bacteria. Aim of this thesis is to briefly review factors influencing gut microbiota, its influence on the brain development and the role of probiotics in the therapy of intestinal and psychiatric diseases. Keywords: gut microbiome, brain, neuroendocrine regulation, probiotic, neurotransmitter
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Effects of memantine and riluzole on learning deficits in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder induced by 8-OH-DPAT sensitization
Mainerová, Karolína ; Stuchlík, Aleš (advisor) ; Kelemen, Eduard (referee)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic psychiatric disease. It seriously limits the quality of life of patients. Treatment of OCD is not yet fully successful and still many patients are left with debilitating symptoms without functioning medication. Animal models of genetic, behavioral, pharmacological, and optogenetic origins are beneficial in the achievement of new understandings of the disease. Chronic sensitization of serotonin 1A and 7-receptors with an agonist 8-OH-DPAT ((8- hydroxy-2-(di-propylamino)-tetralin hydrobromide) induces perseverative and compulsive behaviors, which is considered to constitute an animal model of OCD. In this thesis, the 8-OH- DPAT model has been tested in the active place avoidance task on Carousel maze to provide information about the model on learning. Second, this model is used to determine, whether co- administration of memantine or riluzole alleviates the cognitive and learning deficits of this model. To uncover these effects, an active place avoidance task on a Carousel maze was used. Measured criteria were total distance, entrances to the shock sector, total number of shocks, and median speed after the shock. During habituation, the animals were sensitized to 8-OH-DPAT (with a control group that did not receive 8-OH-DPAT but only saline). In an...
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A commented translation: Was Lernen beinflusst. In: Lernen. Gehirnforschung und die Schule des Lebens. Heidelberg 2006. P. 139-167.
Tichá, Eva ; Kloudová, Věra (advisor) ; Špirk, Jaroslav (referee)
This bachelor thesis has two basic parts. The first part sets to produce a function translation. The basic literature which is the most important for this thesis is the Art of Translation by Jiří Levý. The reason is the fact that my translation method is based on this book. The second part of this bachelor thesis is the commentary to this translation. It is well known that the bachelor thesis is not able to mention all problems which we can meet in a translation. But I would like to describe the problems which are the most important aspects for our understanding of the translation process and my translation method. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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