Effects Of Hypoxia And Reactive Oxygen Species On Neuronal Excitability Of Intrinsic Cardiac Ganglia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$70,000.00
Summary
Neural control of the heart is mediated by intrinsic cardiac neurones which respond to chemical substances such as neurotransmitters released from nerve fibres innervating the heart and vasoactive substances released into the coronary ciruculation. Prolonged periods of myocardial ischaemia (hypoxia) and post ischaemic reperfusion (oxygen-derived free radicals) influence the electrical activity of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. The involvement of membrane electrical phenomena in general, a ....Neural control of the heart is mediated by intrinsic cardiac neurones which respond to chemical substances such as neurotransmitters released from nerve fibres innervating the heart and vasoactive substances released into the coronary ciruculation. Prolonged periods of myocardial ischaemia (hypoxia) and post ischaemic reperfusion (oxygen-derived free radicals) influence the electrical activity of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. The involvement of membrane electrical phenomena in general, and ion-selective pores (ion channels) in particular, and the action of hypoxia and oxygen-derived free readicals on their function will be studied in isolated neurones dissociated from neonatal and adult rat intrinsic cardiac ganglia. The characterization of ion channels modulated by hypoxia and reactive oxygen species will be monitored using electrical and fluorescence techniques. The opening of ion channels in the cell membrane by changes in either voltage or the intracellular calcium ion concentration leads to an electrical response. The goal of the research is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of ischaemia and ischaemia-reperfusion on neuronal excitability in mammalian cardiac ganglia, thus regulation of the heart rate. Development of therapeutic strategies to prevent ischaemia and reperfusion injuries in coronary heart disease and improvement of cardiac protection during surgery are potential outcomes of this research.Read moreRead less
Disorders Of Action Control And Learning-related Plasticity In The Basal Ganglia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$434,874.00
Summary
Disorders of the basal ganglia have long been known to produce severe cognitive symptoms including a deficit in the control of voluntary action. This project will assess the learning processes through which humans and other animals acquire such actions. We will systematically investigate changes in cellular plasticity associated with the acquisition of new actions to establish the role that it plays in action control under normal and pathological conditions.
Strategies To Restore Bladder Control After Peripheral Nerve Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$519,967.00
Summary
A major complication of pelvic surgery is loss of bladder control, mainly due to nerve injury at the time of removing cancerous tissue. This has a big effect on quality of life. Very little research has been conducted on injured bladder nerves. In this project we will investigate what happens to bladder nerves after injury and how we can make them regrow. We will also investigate if undamaged bladder nerves can be made to compensate for the lost function.
Pathologies Of Action Control: Amygdala-striatal Interactions And The Development Of Habits.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,867.00
Summary
Changes in basal ganglia function, whether produced by neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, injury or disease, can produce pathological changes in action control. This proposal will assess the role of amygdala afferents on basal ganglia structures, most notably the dorsal striatum, in this process. Using an animal model we will compare the role of central and basolateral amygdala inputs to striatum in decision-making, choice and the transition of actions to reflexive, habitual responses.