A Study of G Protein Coupled Signal Transduction Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease

Ross, Brian M (1992) A Study of G Protein Coupled Signal Transduction Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The specific objective of the work described in this thesis was to study aspects of signal transduction in the post mortem brains of persons who had suffered from dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). There already exists much data describing the state of many neurotransmitter systems in the disease, but little information was available regarding the events that take place subsequent to receptor activation. Such knowledge is important in order to assess the potential for neurotransmitter replacement therapies in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, as well giving further insight into the neurodegenerative mechanism of this disease. The levels of the guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) a subunits, GsH, GsL, Gil, Gi2 and Gsa, were measured by western blotting utilising highly specific anti-G protein antisera. Similarly, the messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding the G protein subunits Goa, Gia and GB, as well as 28S ribosomal RNA (28S mRNA), were analysed by northern blotting utilising radiolabelled oligonucleotide probes. In addition, the activities of the enzymes adenylate cyclase, sodium potassium dependent ATPase and choline acetyl transferase were assayed using standard methods. (i) Effect of post mortem delay on different components of signal transduction in rat brain. Since multiple parameters (e. g. levels of G proteins and their mRNAs, adenylate cyclase activity, etc. ) were to be measured in post mortem human tissue, there was a concern that the delay between death and freezing of the tissue (the post mortem delay) would influence the reliability of any measurements made. This possibility was investigated by experiments in which rats were sacrificed and left at room temperature for 24 hours, or at 4

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Neurosciences
• Date of Award: 1992
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1992-78390
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2020 12:09
• Last Modified: 28 Feb 2020 12:09
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/78390