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Journal Club: Andrée-Anne Verreault (Y. De Koninck)

2024-12-03 @ 11:30 - 12:30

Revealing the Nanoscale Foundation of Cognitive Decline in Normal Aging

Normal aging is closely linked to cognitive decline, as well as functional and social impairments. However, studying neuronal changes associated with aging is challenging due to the wide variability in the rate of cognitive decline and the specific cognitive abilities affected across individuals. This project explores how physiological and structural changes at the synaptic level correlate with cognitive decline during normal aging in mice. I hypothesize that, in aged mice with cognitive impairments, there is an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory activity at the single-cell level, and that this imbalance may be associated with structural changes in synaptic morphology. First, I evaluate the cognitive and social capability in aged mice (18 to 20 months) using a series of behavioral tests, including the Open Field, Novel Object Recognition, Social Interaction, and Y-Maze tasks. Young mice (8 to 10 weeks) are used as control. Following these behavioral assessments, I use the whole-cell patch-clamp technique with brain slices to record spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs in pyramidal neurons of the CA1 region of the hippocampus, as well as in neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex, the two areas critical for learning and memory. The neurons recorded are filled with Lucifer Yellow and their morphology of the nanodomain of excitatory and inhibitory synapses is examined using super-resolution STED microscopy. This project provides a better understanding of the complexity of neuronal damage behind cognitive decline in aging.

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Details

Date:
2024-12-03
Time:
11:30 - 12:30
Event Category:

Venue

Centre de recherche CERVO
2601, Chemin de la Canardière
Québec, Quebec G1J 2G3 Canada
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Organizer

CERVOLET comité des étudiants du centre CERVO