Molecular Mechanisms of Excitotoxicity: A Mechanism for Deafferentation-Induced Death and a Mechanism Underlying the Neuroprotective Effects of Progesterone A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BY

......................................................................................................................... i List of Tables................................................................................................................ v List of Figures.............................................................................................................. iv Chapter One: Introduction Part I: Excitotoxic Death of Neurons.............................................................. 2 Excitotoxic Neuronal Death: A Calcium Mediated Process................. 2 Excitotoxic Death of Deafferented Sensory Neurons........................... 8 Excitotoxic Death of Injured Neurons and Neuroprotection by Progesterone......................................................................................... 9 Part II: Summary and Rationale.................................................................... 12 Chapter Two: Deafferentation-Induced Activation of NFAT (Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Cells) in Cochlear Nucleus Neurons During a Developmental Critical Period: A Role for NFATc4-Dependent Apoptosis in the CNS Introduction.................................................................................................... 15 Materials and Methods................................................................................... 18 Results............................................................................................................ 29 Discussion..................................................................................................... 46