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Noah Morgan
Wayne State University

Subject Listing - Biology: Molecular Biology
Advisor: Dr. Christian Kreipke

Thursday, Poster Session 1, Presentation Kiosk 10 A, Health & Fitness Center

ALTERATIONS IN CALDESMON EXPRESSION FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Caldesmon (Cd) is associated with the contractile mechanisms regulating vascular tone. Modifications in caldesmon expression are thought to regulate vessel contractility and hence, are associated with the regulation of blood flow. Our lab has previously shown that following traumatic brain injury (TBI) there is a significant decrease in blood flow. This study was aimed at drawing a causal association between changes in Cd expression and regulation of neurovascular tone following TBI. Using the Marmarou's model, used to simulate TBI, brain tissue was collected for protein analysis. Double immunofluorescence, using antibodies raised against Cd, smooth muscle actin (SMA) (a marker for smooth muscle cells (SM)), and lectin (a marker for the endothelial cells (En)) revealed that in control animals Cd colocalized with SMA and with the marker for En. Cd expression significantly increased in SM at 4hours. This increase was sustained throughout the duration of the experiment (48hours). Cd expression increased at 24 hours post TBI within En, to a level of nearly 400% that of control. However, this upregulation was not sustained at 48hours with a return to control levels. This data, in conjunction with MRI results showing decreased blood flow following TBI, supports a causal association between modifications in Cd expression and the regulation of neurovascular tone following neurotrauma. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the dynamic process of vessel contractility and represents an initial investigation into the upstream events following TBI. Supported by NIH grant NS039860.

Advisor: Dr. Christian Kreipke, Research Associate, School of Medicine, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI