Preview

PDF 128145 Journal ...pdf | Download (999kB) | Preview

Abstract

Microtubule dynamics underpin a plethora of roles involved in the intricate development, structure, function, and maintenance of the central nervous system. Within the injured brain, microtubules are vulnerable to misalignment and dissolution in neurons and have been implicated in injury-induced glial responses and adaptive neuroplasticity in the aftermath of injury. Unfortunately, there is a current lack of therapeutic options for treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thus, using a clinically relevant model of mild TBI, lateral fluid percussion injury (FPI) in adult male Thy1-YFPH mice, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of the brain-penetrant microtubule-stabilizing agent, epothilone D. At 7 days following a single mild lateral FPI the ipsilateral hemisphere was characterized by mild astroglial activation and a stereotypical and widespread pattern of axonal damage in the internal and external capsule white matter tracts. These alterations occurred in the absence of other overt signs of trauma: there were no alterations in cortical thickness or in the number of cortical projection neurons, axons or dendrites expressing YFP. Interestingly, a single low dose of epothilone D administered immediately following FPI (and sham-operation) caused significant alterations in the dendritic spines of layer 5 cortical projection neurons, while the astroglial response and axonal pathology were unaffected. Specifically, spine length was significantly decreased, whereas the density of mushroom spines was significantly increased following epothilone D treatment. Together, these findings have implications for the use of microtubule stabilizing agents in manipulating injury-induced synaptic plasticity and indicate that further study into the viability of microtubule stabilization as a therapeutic strategy in combating TBI is warranted.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Chuckowree, JA and Zhu, Zhendan and Brizuela, M and Lee, KM and Blizzard, CA and Dickson, TC
Keywords:	traumatic brain injury, fluid percussion injury, neuroplasticity, microtubule stabilization, epothilone D, dendritic spine, cortical projection neuron, mushroom spine
Journal or Publication Title:	Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Publisher:	Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:	1662-5102
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2018.00223
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2018 The AuthorsLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Related URLs:	UTAS Profile: Chuckowree, JA UTAS Profile: Blizzard, CA Google Scholar: Dickson, TC UTAS Profile: Dickson, TC
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

Actions (login required)

Item Control Page