College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-12 08:07:33
Major
Biomedical Science
Honors Course
Biology Honors Research Project
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2023
Abstract
Even though poor glycemic control puts diabetics at risk for a variety of disease complications, there are many barriers to achieving adequate blood glucose regulation. Diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a progressive autonomic denervation of the cardiovascular system resulting from chronic hyperglycemia and characterized by orthostatic hypertension, sinus tachycardia, low heart rate variability, and fatal arrhythmias. Available CAN therapeutics are limited to symptom alleviation, and do not prevent or reverse cardiac nerve damage. Limited evidence from clinical trials suggests the antioxidant Alpha Lipoid Acid (ALA) prevents CAN progression (Lee et al., 2017; Serhiyenko et al., 2020; Tankova, Koev & Dakovska, 2004; Ziegler et al., 1997). This study tested the effect of ALA in the preclinical setting using a zebrafish model with diet induced hyperglycemia. Zebrafish were divided into four groups: balanced diet, high carbohydrate diet, balanced diet with ALA tank water, or high carbohydrate diet with ALA tank water. Noninvasive techniques were used to quantify symptoms of hyperglycemia and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Hyperglycemic behaviors were analyzed using novel tank diving tests while light cardiography was done to measure heart rate and heart rate variability. The results indicate that a six-week high carbohydrate diet in zebrafish inhibits weight gain and promotes bradycardia under anesthesia. Additionally, ALA treatment may reduce anxious behavior during novel tank diving.
Research Sponsor
Brian Bagatto
First Reader
Katherine Weiss
Second Reader
Richard Londraville
Honors Faculty Advisor
Brian Bagatto
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Scott, Sophia, "The Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy in Danio rerio" (2023). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1736.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1736
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