Authors

Megan N. Ashworth, Lynn University

Mortality Index of Drosophila melanogaster, following Traumatic Brain Injury

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Publication Date

Spring 4-19-2024

Date Assignment Submitted

2024

Abstract

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are associated with immediate and long-term consequences that can be divided into primary and secondary injuries. A primary injury results from the direct damage inflicted on the brain by the impact, whereas a secondary injury takes time to manifest due to the cascade of molecular events that lead to cellular damage and death within the brain. This study analyzes mortality as a secondary injury following repetitive traumatic brain injuries in the presence of a human neurodegenerative genetic risk factor, APOE Îμ4. The High Impact Trauma (HIT) device developed by Katzenberger et al. (2013) was utilized to inflict TBI in Drosophila melanogaster animal models. First, the mortality index at 24 hours (MI24) was collected in a wild-type (w1118) fruit fly model subjected to varying numbers of TBIs. The data indicates a direct correlation between the number of TBIs inflicted and mortality. As the number of TBIs increases, the mortality index increases. This data is representative of what Katzenberger et al. (2013) demonstrated, indicating the efficacy of the HIT device. Using a genetic over-expression system, the amount of APOE Îμ4 was elevated in the fruit flies’ brains. Fly groups were subjected to either one or five TBIs. The mortality index was calculated at 24 hours, three days, and seven days post-TBI. The final results, along with analysis, will be presented during the presentation at the Symposium.

Publisher

Lynn University

Conference/Symposium

Lynn University Student Research Symposium

Contest

Oral Presentation

City/State

Boca Raton, FL

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Instructor

Dr. Kimberly D. Rowland

Recommended Citation

Ashworth, M. N. (2024, April 19). Mortality index of Drosophila melanogaster, following Traumatic Brain Injury [Oral presentation]. Lynn University Student Research Symposium, Boca Raton, FL, United States.