Lipid dysregulation is a core component of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Gangliosides are members of the glycosphingolipid family enriched in the central nervous system. The healthy brain maintains a homeostatic balance of gangliosides. GM1, the most abundant ganglioside in the adult brain, is enriched within neuronal membrane rafts and exerts neuroprotective effects. In contrast, accumulation of GM2 and GM3, degradative by-products of GM1, can directly cause neurodegeneration, suggesting that ganglioside dysregulation is a key contributor in AD pathology. Our current gap in knowledge is whether ganglioside dysregulation is worsened by, or contributes, to beta-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation in the brain. Thus, anatomical-specific distributions of gangliosides were investigated in the amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) transgenic mouse model of AD that develops age-dependent Aβ plaques. Hypothesis: Aβ accumulation leads to increased levels of simple gangliosides GM2 and GM3 contributing to neurodegeneration in the AD brain. Methods: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) was performed on brains of wildtype and transgenic mice aged 4, 8, 12, and 18 months to quantify ganglioside distribution across anatomical regions. Results: Our data demonstrate an age-dependent increase in simple gangliosides that are exacerbated in the Tg mice. Aged Tg mice showed higher levels of simple gangliosides as compared to Wt in the cortex and hippocampus, brain regions of initial amyloid deposition. Significance: This work identifies a potential interplay between Aβ and simple gangliosides in driving neurodegeneration, highlighting a rationale for evaluating glycosphingolipid modifying approaches in AD treatment.

Mass spectrometry imaging of gangliosides in Alzheimer's Disease

Hearing loss is a chronic health condition affecting ~466 million people worldwide, with excessive exposure to loud noise as a leading cause. Epidemiological studies have identified hearing loss as a major risk factor for age-related cognitive decline; however, the brain regions mediating the link between the two remain elusive. Although previous studies have reported molecular changes in the hippocampus and striatum following noise exposure, it is unknown whether such changes contribute to cognitive decline associated with noise-induced hearing loss. To that end, we noise-exposed 6-month old rats, and then assessed their hearing and cognitive function at 7, 10 and 13 months of age. Rats underwent cognitive testing on the Morris water maze to assess hippocampal-dependent learning and memory, and on a striatal-dependent visuomotor associative learning task. Consistent with human studies, noise exposure resulted in mild, high-frequency hearing loss. The noise-exposed rats did not exhibit significant deficits in striatal-dependent visuomotor associative learning, yet they had a faster reaction time compared to the sham-exposed rats. Moreover, a subset of noise-exposed older rats demonstrated hippocampal-dependent spatial learning deficits, suggesting that some animals are more vulnerable to the effects of noise exposure with age. Ultimately, these novel findings expand our understanding of how brain regions outside of the auditory pathway are affected by noise exposure; findings that should be considered when investigating the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline.

Investigating the link between hearing loss and age-related cognitive decline in a rodent model

Microglia activation is a critical component of the post-stroke inflammatory response; however, an accumulation of pro-inflammatory activated microglia can have a detrimental effect and lead to cognitive decline. Strokes that affect the basal ganglia can impair behavioural flexibility, an important component of executive function. An association between activated microglia in the white matter tracts and executive dysfunction has been established but not sufficiently evaluated in the context of stroke. Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative shown to effectively inhibit microglia activation. In this study, we used a rat model to investigate the effects of acute post-stroke minocycline treatment on cognitive outcomes and white matter pathology. Stroke was induced in 8-10-month-old male wildtype Fischer 344 rats by injection of endothelin-1 into the right dorsal striatum. Minocycline was administered for 4 days post-stroke prior to testing for behavioural flexibility, learning and memory using an operant conditioning-based set-shifting task and the Morris water maze. Brains were histologically examined at 28 days post-stroke to assess microglia activation, astrogliosis and infarct size. Results indicate a link between white matter activated microgliosis and behavioural outcomes post-stroke suggesting that modifying microglia activation post-stroke could protect the brain and improve cognitive outcomes.

Targeting post-stroke white matter microgliosis using minocycline to prevent cognitive decline in the rat

**Introduction:** A non-invasive imaging method: inhaled hyperpolarized (HP) 129Xe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently used to measure lung structure and function.***1*** Simultaneous ventilation/perfusion (V/P) lung measurements of functional gas exchange within the lungs can be obtained using this MRI approach because of the high solubility of xenon in lung tissue as compared to other imaging gases. This measurement is possible due to the distinct and large range of chemical shifts (~200ppm) of 129Xe when residing within barrier and RBC (e.g., barrier and RBC phase xenon) compared to the gas phase. Therefore, 129Xe is a unique probe for exploring xenon within and beyond the lung, such as lung parenchyma (barrier), RBC, and even other organs such as the **brain**, heart and kidney.
[15O]water positron emission tomography (PET) is the gold standard imaging method for determining cerebral perfusion.***2,3*** In this study, simultaneous 129Xe-based MRI and [15O]water PET images were collected and compared. 

**Methods:** A 60mL plastic syringe was used in which 30mL of the hyperpolarized 129Xe gas was dissolved in [15O]-water solution (30mL) After dissolving, all leftover xenon gas was removed from the syringe. A turn-key, spin-exchange polarizer system (Polarean 9820 129Xe polarizer) was used for obtaining Hyperpolarized 129Xe gas. 129Xe dissolved phase images were acquired in a 3T PET/MRI (Siemens Biograph mMR) scanner. [15O]water PET data were acquired simultaneously with 129Xe MRI using the integrated PET system in the 3T PET/MRI. 

**Results:** Two consecutive 2D axial 129Xe MRI images and two (2D and 3D) [15O]water PET images were acquired simultaneously. 129Xe/PET images indicate that the diameter of the phantom from both PET and MRI images are similar. Both 129Xe images demonstrate a sufficient SNR level (80 and 10 respectively) suggesting that 3D 129Xe imaging is possible. 

**Conclusions:** The results of this proof-of-concept study clearly indicate the feasibility of the simultaneous hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI and [15O]water PET measurements. This demonstration enables the next step, namely, in-vivo double tracer brain perfusion imaging which we plan to perform using a small animal model.

***References:***
***1***.Kaushik, S. S. et al. MRM (2016); ***2***. Fan, A., et. al. JCBFM (2016); ***3.*** Ssali. T., et. al. JNM (2018).

Simultaneous Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI and [15O]water PET Multi-Modal Imaging: A Proof of Concept Study

Join us in Gather.Town to view the posters and interact live with friends and colleagues

[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/11eac27c9accef6840f694c003fd485d.png)](https://gather.town/app/mVxTT37ZAOAyCRIW/CAN-ACN) [![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/7a93179b79ec979deb339ab0a83f4ecc.png)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ur3o1kkB3PL7xs8QcjFfPj-bE8YplClq/view?usp=sharing)

PS-1-C -  Disorders of the Nervous System

poster

Colleagues and Friends:

I am very happy to welcome you to the 14th annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, and to the first virtual edition of our meeting. I want to highlight the important work the CAN meeting chair, **Roger Thompson** and co-chair, **Alyson Fournier**, did to put together the great program we are offering this year. Moving to a virtual format required a complete re-design of the program, and both Roger and Alyson did a splendid job in providing us with an appealing and well adapted program for our first virtual event. I wish to thank them for this very important effort.

Highlights of this year’s scientific meeting include invited speakers **Michael Hausser, Franck Polleux, Gwyneth Card, Magdalena Götz**and Brain Prize winner **Huda Zoghbi**. Plenary and parallel symposia, proposed by our members complete our diverse [scientific program.](https://can-acn.org/meeting-2021/program-2021/)

The 2021 Advocacy session, chaired and organized by CAN advocacy committee chair **Karun Singh**, will feature a special lecture and question period with Member of Parliament and past Science Minister **Kirsty Duncan**. This will be followed by a short overview of CAN’s advocacy activities over the last year. We invite you to participate in this session for insight from Dr. Duncan on the workings of Parliament Hill, and to learn more about what CAN has been doing to promote neuroscience research in Canada.

We are also excited to host **Lisa Willis** in the Equity Diversity and Inclusion session, organized by EDI committee chair **Jibran Khokhar**.

A special highlight of our meeting will be the lectures by award-winning young neuroscientists. We are please to host the CAN 2020 Young Investigator Award winner **Mihaela Iordanova**, and CAN 2021 Young Investigator Award winners **Aaron Phillips** and **Tabrez Siddiqui**. Highlights will also include presentation by the top three winners of the CAN-CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Award winners, **Claire Gizowski, Nuria Daviu Abant** and **Lukas Tamayo-Orrego**.

Independently organized satellite symposia complement and complete this exciting program, check them out here: https://can-acn.org/meeting-2021/2021-satellite-symposia/

Some of the most engaging sessions are always the poster sessions featuring the work of our trainees, so make sure to log in to Gather Town during the poster sessions to chat with the presenters.
We hope you enjoy this program, and look forward to welcoming you, virtually.

Shernaz Bamji

President of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience

![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/b9aea25343a87d5aac3b9367dc780974.jpg)



Please head to https://can-acn.org/meeting-2021/registration-2021/ to register. 

CAN-ACN 2021

14th Canadian Neuroscience Meeting from August 23rd-25th

Join us in Gather.Town to view the posters and interact live with friends and colleagues

[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/11eac27c9accef6840f694c003fd485d.png)](https://gather.town/app/mVxTT37ZAOAyCRIW/CAN-ACN) [![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/7a93179b79ec979deb339ab0a83f4ecc.png)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sywj-XqqiC5kthen4CJi3UFevymyHhat/view?usp=sharing)

PS-2-F -  Cognition and Behavior

PS-3-C -  Disorders of the Nervous System

M4-2 MR and PET Imaging - Part 2 (DPMB/COMP) / Imagerie RM et TEP - Partie 2 (DPMB/OCPM)

technical paper

**WELCOME TO THE 2021 CAP VIRTUAL CONGRESS UNDERLINE PLATFORM**

The CAP staff and our organizing and program committees are pleased to welcome you to our 2021 Congress filled with plenary talks, technical sessions/talks, student presentations and competition sessions, workshops, and several symposia offered by the CAP divisions and its partners.  

You will also have opportunities to network with other delegates through the Gathertown platform accessed by selecting the lounge or posters button on the left.

Registered delegates should use the schedule button to call up the details of the session/event they wish to attend.  Each sessions includes a link to access the online platform where the event is taking place, either within Underline or through other Congress-related Zoom meetings.  

Invited speaker talks are identified with an (I), and student competitors include a (G*) or (U*) to identify graduate or undergraduate presenters.

Please take the time to check out the information about our sponsors and exhibitors, request further information, or leave a note of thanks for their support.

General information about the Congress can be found on the CAP website Congress pages at https://www.cap.ca/congress/2021.

Looking for a specific talk?   A full searchable list is available on our Indico Congress site at https://indico.cern.ch/event/985448/contributions/

We look forward to sharing this exciting week with you!


Shawn Whitehead

4

1

Presentations

Mass spectrometry imaging of gangliosides in Alzheimer's Disease

Investigating the link between hearing loss and age-related cognitive decline in a rodent model

Targeting post-stroke white matter microgliosis using minocycline to prevent cognitive decline in the rat

Simultaneous Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI and [15O]water PET Multi-Modal Imaging: A Proof of Concept Study

Stay up to date with the latest Underline news!

PRESENTATIONS

CONFERENCES

COMPANY

RESOURCES