Effect Of Aging And Mitochondrial Dysfunction On The Optic Nerve Response To Pressure-induced Oxidative Stress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,554.00
Summary
The risk of glaucoma, a potentially blinding disease of the optic nerve, increases exponentially with age, but the cellular mechanisms responsible are not known. We hypothesise that age-related changes in mitochondria, the energy producing part of the cell, render nerve cells prone to damage. This project will determine whether aging and mitochondrial impairment increase nerve damage and whether dietary moodifications that preserve mitochondria during aging, protect the optic nerve from damage
Cellular Mechanisms Underlying The Sense Of Balance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$192,960.00
Summary
Dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance are major reasons for visits to the doctor, particularly by the elderly. For example, balance related falls account for an astonishing 50% of accidental deaths in people over 65. Inner ear disturbances account for 85% of these cases. Illness, infections, disease, head trauma or simply the natural aging process cause these disturbances and it is thought that they result in abnormal signals being sent from the inner ear to the brain. In spite of the health costs a ....Dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance are major reasons for visits to the doctor, particularly by the elderly. For example, balance related falls account for an astonishing 50% of accidental deaths in people over 65. Inner ear disturbances account for 85% of these cases. Illness, infections, disease, head trauma or simply the natural aging process cause these disturbances and it is thought that they result in abnormal signals being sent from the inner ear to the brain. In spite of the health costs associated with disorders of balance, very little is known about how signals are generated in our vestibular organs, let alone what abnormal changes may occur. Our attempts to understand balance in humans have been hampered by the lack of suitable experimental models. This proposal takes advantage of a newly developed mouse preparation to study key problems that could not be realistically addressed in whole animal or dissociated cells. We will investigate three critical components of balance organs. These components are: 1) hair cells that detect motion; 2) nerve endings that send information from hair cells to the brain; and 3) nerve endings that bring information from the brain. The aim of this proposal is to understand how these components interact with each other to provide us with a sense of balance. This knowledge will be the first of its kind and contribute significantly to our understanding of human vestibular function and pathology.Read moreRead less
Astrocytes And Mural Cells In The Retina: Normal Development And Pathophysiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$679,616.00
Summary
The blood vessels that supply the nerve cells of the brain and retina are associated with support cells known as mural cells and astrocytes. Whereas astrocytes both ensure that the vessels do not leak and produce factors that induce vessel growth, mural cells control blood flow and are thought to promote vessel stability. We aim to characterise the development of astrocytes and mural cells as well as the interactions of these cells with blood vessels that influence vessel shape, growth, and loss ....The blood vessels that supply the nerve cells of the brain and retina are associated with support cells known as mural cells and astrocytes. Whereas astrocytes both ensure that the vessels do not leak and produce factors that induce vessel growth, mural cells control blood flow and are thought to promote vessel stability. We aim to characterise the development of astrocytes and mural cells as well as the interactions of these cells with blood vessels that influence vessel shape, growth, and loss. Aging is associated with changes in the vasculature of the central nervous system that confer a predisposition to certain conditions, such as dementia, caused by abnormal blood supply and consequent nerve cell death. We plan to investigate the contribution of astrocytes and mural cells to the vascular changes that accompany aging. These studies may lead to the development of interventions to prevent such changes and their associated pathologies. Finally, astrocyte degeneration is implicated in various neuropathological conditions, including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and trauma. We aim to purify and characterise a population of astrocyte precursor cells whose transplantation might result in the repopulation of damaged regions of the central nervous system.Read moreRead less