Class
Article
College
College of Science
Department
Biology Department
Faculty Mentor
Sara Freeman
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Oxytocin, a hormone present in the mammalian brain, has been shown to be a vital component of social function in animals and may have a role in the social deficits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in humans. Based on previous studies from our lab, there are oxytocin receptors in the human substantia nigra, a basal ganglia structure in the midbrain that is important in both movement and reward pathways. The substantia nigra contains two subsections that are defined by the neurotransmitters they contain: the pars compacta, which is dopaminergic, and the pars reticulata, which is GABAergic. By localizing oxytocin receptors in either the pars compacta or pars reticulata, we can infer the role of that region as it relates to social function. We previously attempted to identify the pars compacta using immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase, but the background signal was too high to reliably be used to delineate the boundaries, so we are trying a new approach. We used Nissl staining, which has been shown to reveal dopaminergic neurons in the brain and has been used to distinguish the pars compacta from the pars reticulata. Once identified, we will use the borders of the pars compacta to quantify oxytocin receptors within the substantia nigra in a neuroanatomically informed way by overlaying microscope images of tissue, with the pars compacta outlined, with autoradiographs, which visualize oxytocin receptors in the substantia nigra. The tissue was acquired from four distinct groups: eight typically developing males, seven typically developing females, eight males with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and seven females with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We will analyze the oxytocin receptor binding to determine the effect of sex and autism on oxytocin receptor density. Future directions of this research are aimed at defining the role of the oxytocin system in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and how it relates to the social deficits present in those individuals. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 12-1 p.m.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Combining Nissl Staining and Digital Densitometry to Accurately Quantify Oxytocin Receptors in the Human Substantia Nigra
Logan, UT
Oxytocin, a hormone present in the mammalian brain, has been shown to be a vital component of social function in animals and may have a role in the social deficits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in humans. Based on previous studies from our lab, there are oxytocin receptors in the human substantia nigra, a basal ganglia structure in the midbrain that is important in both movement and reward pathways. The substantia nigra contains two subsections that are defined by the neurotransmitters they contain: the pars compacta, which is dopaminergic, and the pars reticulata, which is GABAergic. By localizing oxytocin receptors in either the pars compacta or pars reticulata, we can infer the role of that region as it relates to social function. We previously attempted to identify the pars compacta using immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase, but the background signal was too high to reliably be used to delineate the boundaries, so we are trying a new approach. We used Nissl staining, which has been shown to reveal dopaminergic neurons in the brain and has been used to distinguish the pars compacta from the pars reticulata. Once identified, we will use the borders of the pars compacta to quantify oxytocin receptors within the substantia nigra in a neuroanatomically informed way by overlaying microscope images of tissue, with the pars compacta outlined, with autoradiographs, which visualize oxytocin receptors in the substantia nigra. The tissue was acquired from four distinct groups: eight typically developing males, seven typically developing females, eight males with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and seven females with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We will analyze the oxytocin receptor binding to determine the effect of sex and autism on oxytocin receptor density. Future directions of this research are aimed at defining the role of the oxytocin system in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and how it relates to the social deficits present in those individuals. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 12-1 p.m.