Phthalate Esters Exacerbate Neurodegeneration in a Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson’s Disease Model
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC 137B
Start Date
21-5-2015
End Date
21-5-2015
Keywords
Parkinson's, C. elegans, Plasticizers
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) extracts a significant medical and financial toll on the developed world and is second only to Alzheimer’s disease in terms of prevalence as a neurodegenerative disease. Up to 90 percent of PD cases are idiopathic or environmental in origin. Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBzP) and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate are plasticizers, compounds used in industry to improve the malleability and durability of plastic products, which were evaluated for their potential contribution to neurodegeneration of dopamine neurons in a Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworm) PD model. These phthalates were assessed for effect in two genetic worm strains of PD. The first genetic strain is a transgenic animal expressing the human alpha-synuclein gene that is known to contribute to PD in humans. The second strain was a transgenic animal that overexpressed tyrosine hydroxylase, leading to excess production of reactive oxygen species, another suspected cause of PD neurodegeneration in humans. It was discovered that different PD models were effected by different phthalate esters. DEHP induced neurodegeneration in non-genetically predisposed animals at ten days post-exposure and in the tyrosine hydroxylase model at seven and ten days post-exposure while BBzP only exacerbated neurodegeneration at ten days post-exposure. Further BBzP exacerbated neurodegeneration in the alpha-synuclein model at day seven and ten. Our results suggest that phthalate esters could be important in the development of PD.
Recommended Citation
Darley, Jacob, "Phthalate Esters Exacerbate Neurodegeneration in a Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson’s Disease Model" (2015). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 89.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2015/oralpresentations/89
Department/Program
Biological Sciences
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
Phthalate Esters Exacerbate Neurodegeneration in a Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson’s Disease Model
SURC 137B
Parkinson’s disease (PD) extracts a significant medical and financial toll on the developed world and is second only to Alzheimer’s disease in terms of prevalence as a neurodegenerative disease. Up to 90 percent of PD cases are idiopathic or environmental in origin. Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (BBzP) and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate are plasticizers, compounds used in industry to improve the malleability and durability of plastic products, which were evaluated for their potential contribution to neurodegeneration of dopamine neurons in a Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworm) PD model. These phthalates were assessed for effect in two genetic worm strains of PD. The first genetic strain is a transgenic animal expressing the human alpha-synuclein gene that is known to contribute to PD in humans. The second strain was a transgenic animal that overexpressed tyrosine hydroxylase, leading to excess production of reactive oxygen species, another suspected cause of PD neurodegeneration in humans. It was discovered that different PD models were effected by different phthalate esters. DEHP induced neurodegeneration in non-genetically predisposed animals at ten days post-exposure and in the tyrosine hydroxylase model at seven and ten days post-exposure while BBzP only exacerbated neurodegeneration at ten days post-exposure. Further BBzP exacerbated neurodegeneration in the alpha-synuclein model at day seven and ten. Our results suggest that phthalate esters could be important in the development of PD.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Lucinda Carnell