Dopamine toxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae as a model of Parkinson's disease neuropathology
Graduation Date
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology, 2014
Committee Chair Name
Ethan Gahtan
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, Oxidative stress, Zebrafish larvae, Dopamine signaling, Dopamine toxicity, Oxidative damage, L-DOPA, Dopamine, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Psychology, DOPAL
Abstract
Dopamine signaling is conserved across all animal species and has been implicated in the disease process of many neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The primary neuropathology in PD involves the death of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra (SN), an anatomical region of the brain implicated in dopamine production and voluntary motor control. Increasing evidence suggests that the neurotransmitter dopamine may have a neurotoxic metabolic product (DOPAL) that selectively damages dopaminergic cells. This study was designed to test this theory of oxidative damage in an animal model of Parkinson's disease, using a transgenic strain of zebrafish with fluorescent labeling of cells that express the dopamine transporter. The pretectum and ventral diencephalon exhibited reductions in cell numbers and fluorescence intensity due to L-DOPA treatment, and this was partially rescued by MAO inhibition. Consistent with the MPTP model of PD in zebrafish larvae, spontaneous locomotor behavior in L-DOPA treated animals was depressed following a 24-hour recovery period, while visually-evoked startle response rates and latencies were unaffected.
Recommended Citation
Stednitz, Sarah Josephine, "Dopamine toxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish larvae as a model of Parkinson's disease neuropathology" (2014). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 1304.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/1304
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/0v838274j