Date of Award
2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Neuroscience
Abstract
A common complaint after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) is vestibular dysfunction, which can become persistent and decrease quality of life. Delayed testosterone treatment has been shown to reduce vestibular impairment and improve neuronal survival in the vestibular nucleus following rmTBI; however, the long-term molecular pathways associated with rmTBI and testosterone treatment remain widely unexplored. We utilized a 5-hit closed-head rodent rmTBI model and administered testosterone 35 days after injury (DPI). The vestibular nuclei were removed and prepared for RT-qPCR and western blotting. Gene expression and protein levels were elevated for markers of oxidative stress (NADPH oxidase 4) and pyroptosis (gasdermin D) up to 63 DPI, and testosterone treatment reduced these elevations. This study provides insight into the temporal profile of molecule sequelae associated with rmTBI and demonstrates the therapeutic efficacy of delayed testosterone treatment in a clinically relevant closed-head model of rmTBI.
Recommended Citation
Volyanyuk, Michael, "Delayed Testosterone Treatment in a Rodent Model of Repeat Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Attenuates Mechanisms of Cellular Death in the Vestibular Nucleus" (2022). Master's Theses. 4429.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_theses/4429
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2022 Michael Volyanyuk
