Olti Jakupllari
Research Mentor(s): Kanagaraj Palsamy
Department or Program: Neurology
Authors: Olti Jakupllari, Jack Parent, and Kanagaraj Palsamy
Session: Session 2: 1:00pm-1:50pm
Poster: 19
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury remains a prominent cause of disability. Such disability not only conveys personal burdens and limitations, but can require extensive care, creating a financial burden on both the individual and the economy. The disability associated with traumatic brain injury is largely due to the limited ability of the human brain to repair after injury. In contrast, zebrafish possess a large capacity for brain repair. This investigation focused on investigating the supportive role of the immune response in this regeneration process in order to identify differences with the non-supportive human immune response. In order to accomplish this, a weight-drop model, involving the dropping of a metal ball onto the head of the fish from various heights, was standardized. This paradigm was used to induce a blunt injury to the zebrafish that is similar to traumatic brain injury in humans. This model allows for the ability to determine the role of the immune response in regeneration following blunt traumatic brain injury by comparison of the immune response with a sharp, stab-wound model and uninjured zebrafish. In addition, the immune response differences between zebrafish and medaka were analyzed. Medaka have a limited ability for brain regeneration but are phylogenetically closer to zebrafish than mammals. A stab wound traumatic brain injury model was used to examine the immune response in medaka following injury. This allows for the identification of differences between the fish species that may contribute to understanding what aspects of the immune response promote regeneration in zebrafish. Understanding the mechanisms utilized by zebrafish to complete the brain repair process can help inform future therapeutics to treat traumatic brain injury and promote brain regeneration in humans.
