Honors Theses

Date of Award

Spring 5-8-2026

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Biomolecular Sciences

First Advisor

Brenton Laing

Second Advisor

Joshua Bloomekatz

Third Advisor

Kristine Willett

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized condensed extracellular matrix (ECM) structures that preferentially ensheathe parvalbumin-expressing neurons (PV+). PNNs are shown to be conserved across vertebrate species and are well characterized in vertebrate mammals, but limited literature exists surrounding their presence in non-mammalian vertebrates. This study aims to investigate the conservation of PNNs in zebrafish brains, and the spatial relationship of PV+ neurons and ECM glycan components in the mouse brain.

Lectin histochemistry was utilized to visualize the PNNs. Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) is known to stain for N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), which is a glycan confirmed to be present and specific in PNNs. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) is a lectin known to stain for the more widespread glycan N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). By identifying specific and widespread glycans, we can create a fuller picture of the ECM and detect glycan patterns.

In zebrafish brain sections, WFA was found to have positive fluorescence and net-like staining patterns, suggesting the presence of PNNs. The structures were regionally concentrated, suggesting evolutionary conservation.

In mouse brain sections, the first experiment of WGA and PV+ staining revealed that GlcNAc preferentially surrounds distinct populations of PV+ neurons. The second experiment in mouse brains demonstrated a distinct condensation of WFA-positive staining surrounding PV+ neurons.

Together, these findings support the concepts that the evolutionary conservation of PNNs extends into zebrafish and that glycan motifs might have regionally specific functions based on their spatial relations with PV+ neurons.

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