Investigation of Sox9 ablation on neuroplasticity and recovery after ishcemic stroke

Another research project for our great stroke association to tackle. Unless you really think your neurologist is smart enough to figure out how to accomplish this by themselves. 

Investigation of Sox9 ablation on neuroplasticity and recovery after ishcemic stroke

Bethany Robin Lenore Bass, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Room 447 Medical Science Building

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Anatomy and Cell Biology

Supervisor

Dr. Arthur Brown

Delay of Publication

1

Abstract

Neuroplasticity is a key factor in post-stroke functional recovery. A chief inhibitor of post-stroke neuroplasticity is the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). Recent research has shown that the transcription factor SOX9 is responsible for upregulating the expression of CSPGs in the injured central nervous system. Accordingly, CSPG levels are significantly lower in mice with the Sox9 gene conditionally knocked out. The purpose of this study was to determine how Sox9 ablation affects neuroplasticity and recovery after stroke. Behavioural test results revealed that Sox9 KO mice exhibited significantly improved functional recovery after stroke compared to controls. This correlated with increased contralesional corticofugal plasticity in the Sox9 KO animals, as highlighted by tract tracing studies. An increase in one type of glutamatergic input marker (VGLUT1) was observed at the deafferented red nucleus of the Sox9 KO mice, but not at the denervated the cervical spinal cord ventral horn. Further investigation into the effects of Sox9 ablation on post-stroke neuroplasticity would be beneficial to determine the potential of Sox9 as a therapeutic target.

Recommended Citation

Bass, Bethany Robin Lenore, "Investigation of Sox9 ablation on neuroplasticity and recovery after ishcemic stroke" (2014). University of Western Ontario - Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. Paper 2338.
http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/2338

Traffic lights for axon growth: proteoglycans and their neuronal receptors

You'll have to ask your neurologist which is more important; axon pathfinding or neurite outgrowth? And what the difference in stroke protocols is for each one. Your doctor had better know all this stuff.
You do expect 100% recovery using their knowledge, Don't you?

Traffic lights for axon growth: proteoglycans and their neuronal receptors

Yingjie Shen

Department of Neuroscience and Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, 460 w 12th Ave,

Columbus, OH 43210, USA

Abstract

Axon growth is a central event in the development and post-injury plasticity of the nervous

system. Growing axons encounter a wide variety of environmental instructions. Much like traffic

lights in controlling the migrating axons, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and heparan

sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) often lead to “stop” and “go” growth responses in the axons,

respectively. Recently, the LAR family and NgR family molecules were identified as neuronal

receptors for CSPGs and HSPGs. These discoveries provided molecular tools for further study of

mechanisms underlying axon growth regulation. More importantly, the identification of these

proteoglycan receptors offered potential therapeutic targets for promoting post-injury axon regeneration.