Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

Spring 5-2-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Gregory Macleod

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is known to have a greater impact on dopaminergic neurons when compared with other neurons. Dopaminergic neurons regulate muscle movement and coordination, and mitochondria supply the energy needed for that function in the form of ATP. Along with ATP production, mitochondria play an essential role in various other cell processes, and it is quite plausible that neurons of different functional and neurotransmitter types have different dependencies on mitochondria. To further investigate this possibility, mitochondrial distribution was analyzed in different neuron types in electron micrographs of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mitochondria were longest (1.65±0.12 μm) in cholinergic interneurons, and shortest in GABAergic motor neurons (0.86±0.11 μm). Glutamatergic sensory neurons had the greatest mitochondrial density (7.8±1.2%), and vulval muscle motor neurons had the lowest (3.6±0.3%). Understanding mitochondrial distribution will foster a deeper understanding of mechanisms neurons use to regulate mitochondria, better equipping us for the treatment of disorders with mitochondrial pathology.

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