The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Georgia Veterinary Scholar Program

Georgia Veterinary Scholar	Faculty Mentor

Brian Berger University of Georgia Class of 2005	Dr. Thomas Murray

Investigation of the Effect of Cedrol on Intact Neurons in Primary Culture

Cedrol is a naturally occurring component of cedar wood and cedar wood oils. Shavings of cedar trees are often used for their pleasant scent and also as a pest repellant. The goal of this research is to link the presence of the cedrol in the GI tract of a small population of canines to their neurologic presentation state and their ensuing death. Cerebellar Granule Neurons (CGN), a model for studying neurotoxicity, will be subjected to different concentrations of cedrol, dissolved in DMSO and diluted with a vehicle, for a period of two hours. Upon completion of the two-hour exposure period the exposure buffer will be collected and assayed for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. LDH is released from within the neuron at the time of death either because the cell membranes break or become permeable. The amount of LDH released in the individual wells is proportional to the number of cells that expire. Neurotoxins typically produce a concentration-dependant death that manifests as a dose-dependant increase in LDH activity. These studies will therefore explore the potential neurotoxicity and attendant mechanisms of action of cedrol using intact neurons.