Nutrition and the glial response in Multiple Sclerosis

Dietz, L.E.R. (2016) Nutrition and the glial response in Multiple Sclerosis. Research Project 1 (minor thesis), Biology.

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Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the CNS. The disease is characterized by the loss of myelin, neurodegeneration and inflammation. The glial cells, astrocytes and microglia, are thought to be important contributors to the pathology of MS, although it is not sure in what way. Both are thought be important during remyelination, through myelin clearance and orchestrating the remyelination process. Nutrition could affect the progress of remyelination through influencing these inflammatory players. In this study, an experimental diet was fed to mice during the recovery period after administrating the demyelinating cuprizone toxin. N-3 PUFAs and Tryptophan were the most important components of the diet, with expected effects on microglia and astrocytes. It was tested whether the experimental diet had an effect on myelin, microglia, astrocytes and motor behaviour at different time points during the period of remyelination. The results showed a time-dependent overview of what happens to these different aspects during remyelination. However, the experimental diet did not have much effect. The PET results pointed out that the experimental diet had a lowering effect on myelin, while the BlackGold staining showed that the diet had no effect. No effect of the experimental diet was found on behaviour, microglia or astrocytes in the measured timeframe. Hints of diet effects are found in microglia measurements at the beginning and end of the remyelination period, suggesting that there is a long-term effect of the diet. This research provides insight in the process of remyelination, the role of glial cells in this process and the possibilities of nutrition to intervene with MS components.

Item Type:	Thesis (Research Project 1 (minor thesis))
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Research Project 1 (minor thesis)
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 08:10
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 08:10
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/13662

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