Tomographic Imaging of Exercise- Dependent Adaptations in the Motor Cortex of the Adult Rat
Mentor 1
Rodney Swain
Location
Union 280
Start Date
29-4-2016 12:20 PM
Description
The goal of this research design is to analyze the effects of long-term cerebrovascular changes in the forelimb region of the primary motor cortex in adult rats following exposure to voluntary exercise. 14 Long Evan- Hooded Blue Spruce rats were pseudo- randomly assigned either an inactive control or a voluntary exercise group where the rats were provided full access to a running wheel for twenty- eight days. After the twenty- eight days animals were anesthetized and imaged using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Upon finishing the vasculature density, oxygen levels were manipulated using a normoxic condition of 21% oxygen to a hypoxic condition of 10% available oxygen. Between-subject design statistics were employed, using treatment manipulation as the independent variable, along with standard T-tests to determine differences in blood vessel densities. To examine these changes, the brains of control rats and experimental rats were analyzed using SD-OCT. This allowed us to quantify blood vessel density to assess the impact exercise has on the cerebrovascular structure and function. SD-OCT captures high resolution 3-dimensional angiograms, allowing for non-invasive imaging within a single animal at different points in time. To capture the angiograms, cross sections within a 2mm x 2mm scanning field were imaged 10 times before moving onto the next cross-sectional position. Using SD-OCT analysis, blood vessel diameter between the two groups, were able to be quantified using a point count system to provide evidence of exercise- dependent adaptations within the primary motor cortex. We hypothesize that exercise animals will exhibit greater blood vessel density when compared to sedentary controls.
Tomographic Imaging of Exercise- Dependent Adaptations in the Motor Cortex of the Adult Rat
Union 280
The goal of this research design is to analyze the effects of long-term cerebrovascular changes in the forelimb region of the primary motor cortex in adult rats following exposure to voluntary exercise. 14 Long Evan- Hooded Blue Spruce rats were pseudo- randomly assigned either an inactive control or a voluntary exercise group where the rats were provided full access to a running wheel for twenty- eight days. After the twenty- eight days animals were anesthetized and imaged using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Upon finishing the vasculature density, oxygen levels were manipulated using a normoxic condition of 21% oxygen to a hypoxic condition of 10% available oxygen. Between-subject design statistics were employed, using treatment manipulation as the independent variable, along with standard T-tests to determine differences in blood vessel densities. To examine these changes, the brains of control rats and experimental rats were analyzed using SD-OCT. This allowed us to quantify blood vessel density to assess the impact exercise has on the cerebrovascular structure and function. SD-OCT captures high resolution 3-dimensional angiograms, allowing for non-invasive imaging within a single animal at different points in time. To capture the angiograms, cross sections within a 2mm x 2mm scanning field were imaged 10 times before moving onto the next cross-sectional position. Using SD-OCT analysis, blood vessel diameter between the two groups, were able to be quantified using a point count system to provide evidence of exercise- dependent adaptations within the primary motor cortex. We hypothesize that exercise animals will exhibit greater blood vessel density when compared to sedentary controls.
