Protein Kinase C Delta Expression in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis in Adolescent Mice Exposed to Intermittent Ethanol
Location
Lions Eye Center Building
Presentation Date
30-10-2025 9:30 AM
End Date
30-10-2025 11:00 AM
Description
Background: The adolescence phase is a critical period of neural development. Alcohol use during this period can damage and produce long-lasting changes in the brain, including increased risk for the later development of an alcohol use disorder. Recent research suggests a bidirectional interaction of alcohol use and pain. Previously published data from our lab reports a long-lasting mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol (AIE) exposure. To investigate this persistent hypersensitivity after AIE, the aim of this study will investigate the neuronal population of Protein Kinase C delta (PKCd) positive cells in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST), a brain region known to mediate the perception of pain.
Method: Postnatal day (PND) 28 – 39 C57BL/6J male and female mice were treated with volatilized ethanol or water vapor. This gold standard paradigm for AIE exposure consists of a two 4-day cycle of ethanol vapor (16 hours in vapor chamber and 8 hours outside of chamber per day). These two cycle were separated by a 3-day no alcohol outside of chamber. Adolescence mice’s blood alcohol level was maintained around 200 mg/dL range. Mechanical hypersensitivity was assessed by von Frey at five different time point (24 hours, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) post-vapor exposure. Hargraves, a test for thermal hypersensitivity was conducted. On day 28, thirty minutes after the final von Frey assessment, mice’s brain tissue was collected after decapitation. The obtained brains were flash-frozen and sliced at 14uM for RNAscope assay. RNAscope was performed using probes for PKCd and mouse c-fos genes as molecular markers.
Recommended Citation
Pham, Jimmy, "Protein Kinase C Delta Expression in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis in Adolescent Mice Exposed to Intermittent Ethanol" (2025). Medical Student Research Poster Symposium. 34.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/sommrd/2025MSRD/session1/34
Abstract
Protein Kinase C Delta Expression in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis in Adolescent Mice Exposed to Intermittent Ethanol
Lions Eye Center Building
Background: The adolescence phase is a critical period of neural development. Alcohol use during this period can damage and produce long-lasting changes in the brain, including increased risk for the later development of an alcohol use disorder. Recent research suggests a bidirectional interaction of alcohol use and pain. Previously published data from our lab reports a long-lasting mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol (AIE) exposure. To investigate this persistent hypersensitivity after AIE, the aim of this study will investigate the neuronal population of Protein Kinase C delta (PKCd) positive cells in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST), a brain region known to mediate the perception of pain.
Method: Postnatal day (PND) 28 – 39 C57BL/6J male and female mice were treated with volatilized ethanol or water vapor. This gold standard paradigm for AIE exposure consists of a two 4-day cycle of ethanol vapor (16 hours in vapor chamber and 8 hours outside of chamber per day). These two cycle were separated by a 3-day no alcohol outside of chamber. Adolescence mice’s blood alcohol level was maintained around 200 mg/dL range. Mechanical hypersensitivity was assessed by von Frey at five different time point (24 hours, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) post-vapor exposure. Hargraves, a test for thermal hypersensitivity was conducted. On day 28, thirty minutes after the final von Frey assessment, mice’s brain tissue was collected after decapitation. The obtained brains were flash-frozen and sliced at 14uM for RNAscope assay. RNAscope was performed using probes for PKCd and mouse c-fos genes as molecular markers.
Comments
Mentor: Dr. Tiffany Wills, LSUHSC-Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy