Parkinson’s Diseases (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and is characterized by a preferential loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cause of the disease remains unknown; however, it is thought that environmental factors may contribute to its development. Rotenone is a pesticide that blocks mitochondrial respiration in the Electron Transport Chain by inhibiting Complex I and has been identified as an environmental risk factor for sporadic PD. Here our goal is to develop strategies that can lead to the development of potential preventative measures against PD. Dacarbazine is a potential anti-PD drug that is known for its use in chemotherapy for skin cancer and was identified in a previous screen for neuroprotective agents against the disease. We hypothesize that Dacarbazine can relieve or reverse the effects of rotenone in Drosophila. We set up a study to analyze the effect of dacarbazine against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity using locomotion behavior as a measure of neuronal toxicity. We set up four conditions: rotenone only; rotenone combined with dacarbazine; dacarbazine only; and DMSO only as vehicle only control. Here we present our results in two paradigms: a first one in which we performed a brief chronic exposure to rotenone and/or dacarbazine for three weeks and a second paradigm in which the chemical treated flies were allowed to recover on normal food for two additional weeks. Together, these studies could help determine whether dacarbazine confers protection against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity and could inform future efforts to establish a neuroprotective strategy against sporadic PD.

Ameliorating the effects of an environmental toxin in a Drosophila model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized in part by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Although the precise cause of PD is not yet fully understood, environmental factors are known to contribute to the etiology of a vast number of cases. Rotenone, a pesticide that inhibits Complex 1 of the Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain, is one such toxin. Importantly, there is no known cure for PD and effective treatment options are severely limited both in number and efficacy. We are interested in measuring mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) using the Seahorse Analyzer in our in vitro and ex vivo model exposed to mitochondrial stressors (Oligomycin, FCCP, and Rotenone/Antimycin). Once mitochondrial respiration measurements have been optimized, we aim to test whether treatment with dacarbazine, a possible neuroprotective agent, can ameliorate the effects of mitochondrial stress. Here, we present preliminary data on the effect of mitochondrial stressors in fly heads and Schneider cells (S2 cells) and the effect of dacarbazine on OCR in fly heads and S2 cells. In sum, our report shows the effects of toxins in mitochondrial metabolism and the utility of a potential neuroprotective chemical against a model of PD and suggests a possible neuroprotective chemical against the disease.

Optimizing the measurement of mitochondrial respiration in Drosophila melanogaster adult brains and late-stage embryonic cells

Posters - Life & Behavioral Science

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Welcome to Delaware State University’s Annual Summer Research Symposium, and thank you for attending! Our symposium represents the culmination of students’ summer experiences in research at Delaware State University. This event showcases the work of college students working on faculty-led research projects, as well as middle and high school students experiencing research for the first time working in research groups. Whatever the case, this summer has been a unique experience for the students, and we hope a transformative one. Even for students who are not planning a career in scientific research, their summer experience has given them skills they will draw on for years to come. 
 Please join us on the mainstage and in Gather for the live event, and visit the recorded poster presentations any time.
 The student participants and organizers of the various summer programs at DSU would like to thank all of the research mentors who guided our summer program participants. There were many DSU faculty, graduate students, and other research and program staff who gave their time and energy to help our students have a fun and educational summer experience. Without their generosity and patience these summer programs would not be possible.
 For the research participants, we hope that you will maintain contact with your research mentors and colleagues. Science is a relatively small community made up of disciplinary “neighborhoods”. If you continue to work in a discipline, the other folks in that discipline will be like your neighbors that you run into regularly. Staying in contact with them will help you keep up with the news of the neighborhood, and open doors to educational and career opportunities. Whether you continue in science or take a different career path, for this summer you have been part of the world of research, and you will benefit from that perspective for the rest of your life.

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DSU Summer Research Symposium 2021

Welcome to Delaware State University’s Annual Summer Research Symposium, and thank you for attending!

Poster Session and Award Announcements

This annual event showcases and celebrates the neuroscience research in Delaware.  Posters and talks highlight neuroscience research carried out by graduate students, undergraduate students, and research staff at all of Delaware’s research and education institutions. The Lounge section of the symposium allows real-time interactions and networking among attendees.  New this year is an expo of research core facilities in Delaware.  Check them out in the Research Cores section of our poster session, or see the logos below.

Dionne Williams

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Presentations

Ameliorating the effects of an environmental toxin in a Drosophila model of Parkinson’s Disease

Optimizing the measurement of mitochondrial respiration in Drosophila melanogaster adult brains and late-stage embryonic cells

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