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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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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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Involvement of cellular signal systems controlled by small G-proteins in neuroregenerative processes
Dušek, Jakub ; Novotný, Jiří (advisor) ; Košek, Dalibor (referee)
G-proteins repeatedly seem as significant signal mediators according to actual "cellular signal during neuroregeneration" reviews. This thesis aimed to find out how much small G-proteins correlate with neural tissue regeneration and which molecular mechanisms induce the regeneration. The thesis mentions pathologies of nervous system which are caused by traumas or neurodegenerative diseases in wider social perspective. Pivotal part of the text describes principles of functioning for each small GTPase family and its involvement in nervous tissue repair. This thesis demonstrates crucial role of small GTPases in neuroregeneration and points to considerable therapeutic potential of these GTPases. Key words: neuroregeneration; small GTPase; small G-protein; Ras; signal systems; neurodegeneration
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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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