Year of Graduation
2024
Level of Access
Restricted Access Thesis
Embargo Period
5-15-2027
Department or Program
Neuroscience
First Advisor
Manuel Diaz-Rios
Abstract
Global plastic consumption and disposal present significant environmental and public health risks, especially impacting vulnerable groups. Current policies predict a doubling of plastic pollution by 44 million tons annually, with estimates of tripling by 2060 to 400 million tons per year. Phthalates (phthalate esters), such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), are a commonly used plasticizer made of synthetic ester-based compounds derived from phthalic acid. Phthalates are known to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), causing central nervous system impairment, oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired locomotion. Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, demonstrates anti-inflammatory and potential neuroprotective properties. This study uses the neonatal mouse spinal cord as our research model to explore curcumin’s potential role as a neuroprotectant against DBP-induced damage. What is the efficacy of curcumin as a neuroprotectant on the spinal cord when exposed to the damaging effects of DBP? Will the pattern of the locomotor rhythm be preserved or rescued if we pre-incubate the spinal cord in curcumin prior to exposure to DBP? DBP application disrupted the locomotor rhythm, with curcumin showing mild neuroprotective effects at 10 μM, though this high concentration slightly disrupted the locomotor rhythm. At 5 μM, curcumin provided better neuroprotection but did not fully protect against DBP-induced damage, indicating curcumin’s potential as a neuroprotective agent and the importance of continued research into this role. This study has important implications for public health and how environmental stressors such as plastic pollution can affect the physiology and neural function of animals and humans alike.
Restricted
Available only to users on the Bowdoin campus.