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Behavioral testing of animals after experimental spinal cord injury.
Freislebenová, Hana ; Machová Urdzíková, Lucia (advisor) ; Kriška, Ján (referee)
Spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injury that leads to a decrease in the quality of life both physically and mentally. Although there is currently no effective treatment, great efforts are being made to develop new treatments. The effectiveness of experimental treatment is verified by behavioral tests performed on animal models, where rats are the most suitable ones for this type of injury. Behavioral tests are divided into several groups depending on what the testing is focused on. Locomotor tests examine the function of a locomotive apparatus, motor tests are used to determine the function of skeletal muscles not primarily involved in locomotion, sensory and motor tests test the functionality of sensory and motor apparatus and their interconnection, sensory tests are designed to test responses to sensory stimuli. Electrophysiological tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging are part of a series of special tests that use artificially induced electrical stimuli to measure muscle activity. This thesis is focused on detailed description of selected behavioral tests, their functionality and comparison of their advantages and disadvantages.
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Proliferation and differentiation of NG2-glia following ischemic brain injuries
Kirdajová, Denisa ; Anděrová, Miroslava (advisor) ; Machová Urdzíková, Lucia (referee)
NG2-glia, a fourth major glial cell population, were shown to posses wide proliferation and differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo, therefore the aim of this study was to compare the rate of proliferation and differentiation potential of NG2-glia after different types of brain injuries, such as global and focal cerebral ischemia (GCI, FCI) or stab wound (SW), as well as during aging. Moreover, we aimed to determine the role of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in NG2-glia proliferation/differentiation after FCI. We used transgenic mice, in which tamoxifen triggers the expression of red fluorescent protein (tdTomato) in NG2-glia and cells derived therefrom. Proliferation and differentiation potential of tdTomato+ cells in sham operated animals (controls) and those after injury were determined by immunohistochemistry employing antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen and glial fibrillary acidic protein. FCI was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, GCI by carotid occlusion with hypotension and SW by sagittal cortical cut. Shh signaling in vivo was activated or inhibited by Smoothened agonist or Cyclopamine, respectively. Compared to controls, the proliferation rate of tdTomato+ cells was increased after all types of injuries, while it declined in aged mice (15-18- months-old) after...
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Curcumin in the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury
Kloudová, Anna ; Machová Urdzíková, Lucia (advisor) ; Martončíková, Marcela (referee)
Spinal cord injury is a very significant clinical as well as social problem with extensive consequences, affecting the patient and also his/her family. Great efforts have been devoted to searching for an effective treatment, which would improve their situation. This thesis evaluated the effects of the natural compound curcumin on spinal cord injury using an experimental balloon compression model. Male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups following the lesion induction, namely vehicle- or curcumin-treated. The behavioral recovery was evaluated using a set of locomotor and sensory tests and a histological and imunohistochemical analysis was performed. The qPCR method was used to observe the expression of some genes related to regeneration and immune response. It was demonstrated that curcumin improved locomotor recovery after the spinal cord injury, particularly in the early stages. Morphometric analysis of the gray and white matter sparing didn't confirm any differences between the two groups. Nevertheless, the glial scar formation was significantly reduced around the central part of the lesion in the curcumin treated group and also the NF-κB activity was substantially inhibited. The gene expression analysis demontrated downregulation of Gfap and Rantes genes and upregulation of the Irf5 gene...
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Experimental rat models in traumatic spinal cord injury research
Kloudová, Anna ; Machová Urdzíková, Lucia (advisor) ; Mrózková, Petra (referee)
A large number of spinal injuries that cause damage to the spinal cord occur every year. Such damage to spinal cord tissue leads to a number of dysfunctions that significantly reduce quality of life and therefore the development of effective therapies remains a very important issue. The use of animal models is considered the major tool of this research field, enabling the testing of new treatments as well as observing ongoing pathophysiological processes. Rats are the most frequently used animal model due to the many possible ways of creating a spinal cord lesion on them. The contusion model uses a computer-controlled device to simulate the spinal cord contusion and therefore is highly precise. However, a compression model seems to be the most suitable model for pathophysiological studying. Besides contusion it enables persistent compression to the spinal cord. Transection and hemisection methods are intended for axonal regeneration research, as only these models can reliably distinguish new growing fibers from the preserved ones. Less often photochemical and excitotoxic models are used. Lastly, dislocation and distraction of vertebrae or damage to the spinal cord using heat or cold can be carried out. Each of the models have their own unique features that make them optimal to use in different...
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