Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Dawson-Scully, Ken
Abstract
Oxidative stress causes neural damage and inhibits essential cellular processes, such as synaptic transmission. Despite this knowledge, currently available pharmaceutical agents cannot effectively protect neural cells from acute oxidative stress elicited by strokes, heart attacks, and traumatic brain injuries in a real life clinical setting. Our lab has developed an electrophysiology protocol to identify novel drugs that protect an essential cellular process (neurotransmission) from acute oxidative stress-induced damage. Through this doctoral dissertation, we have identified three new drugs, including a Big K+ (BK) K+ channel blocker (iberiotoxin), resveratrol, and a custom made resveratrol-like compound (fly2) that protect synaptic function from oxidative stress-induced insults. Further developing these drugs as neuroprotective agents may prove transformative in protecting the human brain from acute oxidative stress elicited by strokes, heart attacks, and traumatic brain injuries. Inhibiting the protein kinase G (PKG) pathway protects neurotransmission from acute oxidative stress. This dissertation has expanded upon these findings by determining that the PKG pathway and BK K+ channels function through independent biochemical pathways to protect neurotransmission from acute oxidative stress. Taken together, this dissertation has identified two classes of compounds that protect neurotransmission from acute oxidative stress, including resveratrol-like compounds (resveratrol, fly2) and a BK K+ channel inhibitor (iberiotoxin). Further developing these drugs in clinical trials may finally lead to the development of an effective neuroprotective agent.
Extent
137 p.
Recommended Citation
Bollinger, Wesley L., "Protecting Synaptic Function From Acute Oxidative Stress: A Novel Role For Big K+ (BK) Channels And Resveratrol-Like Compounds" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019. 1995.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_6/1995
Identifier
FA00013054
Comments
Includes bibliography.|Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.