Venue: Centre Broca
Defense in french
Maëlle Ollivier
INCIA
Thesis supervisor: Sandrine Bertrand
Title
Role of sympathetic autonomic nervous system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was initially defined by Jean-Martin Charcot in 1869 as a disease exclusively affecting motor neurons. However, it is now recognized as a multisystem neurodegenerative disease, characterized by clinical, genetic, and neuropathological heterogeneity. Despite increasing advances in understanding Charcot’s disease, around forty randomized clinical trials have not demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy. This lack of success may be attributed to several potential factors, including the approach of treating ALS as a single entity without considering the different underlying causes and mechanisms involved. Although various non-motor symptoms related to autonomic nervous system dysfunctions have been described, few research projects have investigated the involvement of these alterations in the disease’s development.Therefore, this thesis focuses on the role of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system in ALS, using an animal model carrying the SOD1*G93A mutation. Our study primarily focuses on a neuronal population located near motor neurons in the spinal cord, known as sympathetic preganglionic neurons. These neurons, considered the final relay of central control over sympathetic vasomotor flow to various organs of the body, are responsible for autonomous regulation and control, particularly of cardiac function. By combining genetic, biochemical, anatomical techniques with telemetric and behavioral approaches, we will study the function of preganglionic neurons and cardiovascular control during the development of ALS.
Key words : amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, sympathetic autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular control
Jury
Stéphanie Chevallier (examinatrice)
Cecile Hilaire (rapporteur)
Daniel Zytnicki (rapporteur)
Marc Landry (président)
Sandrine Bertrand (thesis supervisor)