CHARACTERIZATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN AN IN VITRO NEURODEGENERATION MODEL

• Grant number: 23/14160-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Andréa da Silva Torrão
• Grantee: Maria Luiza Domingues Maiolo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that representes a huge socioeconomic burden affeting millions of people, and unfortunately there is no cure. The lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease hinders the development of effective therapeutic approaches. In order to expand knowledge about neurodegenerative processes related to AD and based on previous laboratory results, this study aims to investigate morphological changes in an in vitro neurodegeneration model pharmacologically induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in neuro-2a cells. Neuro-2a will be exposed to 5 mM STZ at diferente time intervals (2, 24, and 48 hours). To determine cell viability and death, the MTT and LDH assays will be used. The analysis of neuronal morphology will be evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and any nuclear changes, such as the size of the nucleus and the presence of multinucleated cells, will be investigated using the fluorescence technique. The total number of cells will be quantified by counting with Trypan Blue dye. This study is expected to provide importante information about the mechanisms underlying sporadic AD and contribute to the development of more effective therapeutic strategies aimed at improving patient's quality of life and reducing the growing impacto f this disease on society.