Papers on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain" and similar term paper topics

Paper #008175 :: The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain
Buy and instantly download this paper now

A paper which studies the effects of the Superfund Neurotoxin Methylazoxymethanol (MAM) on brain dendritic spine density in long hooded Evans Rats Rattus norvegicus.

Written in 2000; 2,100 words; 11 sources; APA; $ 65.95

Paper Summary:

The paper shows that in the study of structural development in the brain there have been several proposed biomarkers for quantifying brain plasticity. These include but are not limited to cortical thickness, dendritic length and branching, expression of neuronal proteins, and the presence of DNA adducts. The paper discusses the theory that a measure of brain plasticity emerging late in embryonic development will be a very sensitive biomarker for detecting subtle damage suffered by brain cells during earlier stages of brain development not detectable by other means. The paper shows that to test this, the effects of a neurotoxin on the late developing dendritic spines were studied. A significant decrease in spine density was observed as the neurotoxin, methylazoxymethanol, increased. The author of the paper shows how the implications are widespread in the study of neuro-degenerative disease.

From the Paper:

"Fifty years ago, Donald Hebb demonstrated that the conditions under which laboratory rats were housed could significantly affect their performance in a variety of complex spatial tasks later in life (1). The complex environment rearing paradigm has been valuable in assessing plasticity of a variety of brain components including cerebral cortical microvasculature, astrocyetic morphology, dentritic branching patterns, synaptic number, and synaptic structure are all affected by complex environment rearing (2). It has been suggested that multiple synaptic contacts (spines) may play a role in the spread of the additive effect of learning known as potentiation, among neighboring unstimulated neurons. A lack of these spines and their connection with boutons of neighboring neurons could then result in a decrease in the capacity for learning. Some recent work has indicated that the presence of multiple synaptic contacts may be altered by experience. Most of this research has focused on structural changes in the hippocampus. Dendrtic spines show great variability in structure and connectivity, both within and across brain structures, including 10-fold differences in length and diameter as well as variations in the number of branches and spines per dendrite."

Tags: animal brain cortex models neurotoxicity visual

More papers on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain"

1. Paper #017659 :: Left Brain/Right Brain Differences ( 1,125 words; 8 sources; )
2. Paper #016940 :: Ectopic or Heterotopic Brain Tissue ( 3,987 words; 10 sources; APA )
3. Paper #028763 :: Brain and Language ( 1,260 words; 9 sources; MLA )
4. Paper #038153 :: Split Brain Theory ( 2,400 words; 8 sources; )
5. Paper #031303 :: Congenital Brain Defects ( 650 words; 4 sources; )

About AcaDemon

We have thousands of high-quality term papers, research papers, essays, book reports and dissertations on every topic. At AcaDemon, you can download those term papers to help you write yours! You can be sure that the term paper, essay, book report or research paper, you download are top-quality, competitively priced and high-level work.

Look for more research papers, essays and book reports on The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain

This Free Term Paper Abstract is a part of our Term Paper Library. Here you can purchase research papers, examples of essays, academic dissertations, articles, notes, analytical papers, book reports, stories and poems. We have thousands of persuasive, point-of-view, narrative, critical, compare and contrast and other types of essays in our Library. You can also find here Term papers on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Essays on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Research papers on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Student papers on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Book reports on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Dissertation on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Thesis on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Summary of paper on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain", Articles written on "The Effects of a Neurotoxin on the Mammalian Brain".