Parkinson’s disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are common neurodegenerative disorders exhibiting male gender biases. The gender-related differences at both symptomatic and therapeutic levels are not understood. We developed C. elegans models for studying both disorders, and examined gender differences in symptom presentation using behavioral assays measuring locomotion and chemosensory abilities. Symptoms exhibiting gender bias had limited presentation in our models. Additionally, we investigated the efficacy of two potential treatments, caffeine and vanillin. We found that while treatment with caffeine had mixed results based on disease type, vanillin reduced neuronal deficits in both PD and ALS models.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Patterson, Marissa Lauren
• Burn, Aidan Hugh

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042617-145251

Advisor

• Srinivasan, Jagan
• Skorinko, Jeanine LM

Year

• 2017

Date created

• 2017-04-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright