Week 1: Introduction

Hello everyone, and welcome to my senior project: Analyzing the action potentials exhibited by a Zebra Finch in response to its exposure to 4-Aminopyridine. 

Research Question 

What measures can be taken to prevent the development of a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the regular use of a commonly used substance in daily life? What alternative pharmacotherapies can be recommended to treat Parkinson’s Disease, considering the potential development of symptoms with conventional medications like Levodopa? 

Background

Motor disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD), are a widespread and consequential health concern in the United States, affecting approximately 42 million individuals and constituting 3% of the global population. PD is a progressive neurological condition characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, resulting in a multitude of symptoms, including tremors, involuntary movements, bradykinesia, and rigidity (Hayes et al., 2019). The disorder manifests in two forms, idiopathic and sporadic. Idiopathic PD arises from multiple factors, whereas sporadic PD is acquired through heredity (Kalia and Lang, 2015). The causes of idiopathic PD include proteolytic stress associated with ubiquitin-proteasome system malfunction, oxidative stress linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, environmental factors such as pesticides and other neurotoxins, local inflammation, or even genetic mutations. 

Before delving into my research, it is important to acknowledge the significance of the correlation between environmental factors, particularly pesticides and other neurotoxins, and PD. Muhammad Ali, a distinguished American professional boxer of the 20th century, widely known as the best heavyweight boxer of all time, succumbed to Parkinsonian symptoms such as impaired speech, slow motor movement, and fatigue, which ultimately led to his retirement. According to his daughter’s interview with the Los Angeles Times, Ali’s exposure to pesticides such as bug spray at the Deer Lake training camp in Pennsylvania is believed to have induced his PD. This illustrates the importance of studying pesticides, a type of neurotoxin, as they are commonly used in various settings, and researchers should develop countermeasures to prevent individuals from developing PD from this commonly used substance.

Research 

In my research, I will be studying the response of action potentials in the cerebral cortex of a Zebra Finch when infused with the drug 4-aminopyridine, with the aim of creating a model for motor disorders. 4-Aminopyridine, a neurotoxin, operates by blocking specific potassium-voltage-gated channels, leading to a constant influx of depolarization, resulting in muscle contractions. Given that muscle contractions are a common symptom of PD, this motor disorder model will prove effective as it will influence future researchers to work together to develop pharmacotherapies with improved efficacy to address the diverse ways in which PD can manifest. 

Given that this research will require learning advanced techniques and the use of complex machinery, my external research mentor, Arij Daou, will navigate me through this process. 

Next week, I will be at the University of Chicago to learn these techniques. Although it will take time and effort to master these processes, I am glad it will benefit me in the long run. Anyways, be ready for new details in my next post! 

Citations 

1. Hayes, M. T. (2019). Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism. The American Journal of Medicine, 132(7), 802–807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.03.001 
2. Kalia, L.V., Lang, A.E., 2015. Parkinson’s disease. Lancet 386, 896–912. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61393-3