Date: Friday, 20 May 2022

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Venue: Cheung Kung Hai Lecture Theatre 1, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

5:00 p.m.

Presenter: Mr. Alvin Ka Wai WONG, PhD candidate
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Raymond Chuen Chung CHANG
Presentation Title: Exploring the effects of ladder-based exercise in experimental model of Alzheimer’s disease
Abstract: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by its progressive and global cognitive dysfunction. Increasing lines of evidence have suggested that exercise confers beneficial effects on cognitive functions and ameliorates symptoms of AD, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. A ladder-based exercise (LBE) regimen was established in the triple transgenic AD mice model (3xTg-AD) to explore the effects of exercise on neurodegeneration. Here, our findings reveal that both weighted-added climbing (RE), which mimics resistance exercise, and free-weight climbing (FWC) exhibited improved memory and cognition in behavioral testing compared with sedentary control. However, molecular analyses showed a differential effect between FWC and RE on weight change, inflammatory cytokine expression, and AD-associated pathology in the brain. Further work is needed to probe the potential difference in the modulation of brain microenvironment.

5:30 p.m.

Presenter: Miss Pit Shan CHONG, PhD candidate
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Lee Wei LIM
Presentation Title: Antidepressant-like effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in an animal model of depression
Abstract: Depression is the leading cause of global disability worldwide and approximately 20%-30% of patients are refractory to pharmacotherapy. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant-like activities of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TaVNS) and its potential mechanisms related to the hippocampal neuroprotection, neurotransmission, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation. We found that animals with TaVNS induced remarkable anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects in chronic restraint stress mouse model. Strikingly, we demonstrated that TaVNS reduced the levels of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormones, and these findings were further supported by normalization of levels of various monoamine neurotransmitters and metabolites related to essential amino acid and glucose metabolism functions. These results suggest that TaVNS could potentially alleviate depression through regulation of stress hormones, neurotransmission, and specific metabolic pathways.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Miss Cynthia Cheung at 3917 9748.