MST43

The 43rd International Conference of the Microscopy Society of Thailand
June 8 - 11, 2026, The 80th Anniversary of Kasetsart University Hall, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand



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MST43 Speaker Detail



Senior Lecturer Azim Patar
Invited Speaker
Abstract Title: Microscopy-Based Analysis of Cellular Viability and Glial Responses in Ex Vivo Spinal Cord Injury Models
Session: Biological Science
From: Department of Neurosciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

Biography

 CURRICULUM VITAE

1. PERSONAL DATA
                Name : Azim Patar
                Nationality : Malaysian
                Researcher ID : S-4908-2018 54888700000
                ORCID : 0000-0001-8047-8183
                Current Position : Senior Lecturer
                Qualifications : Ph.D (Stem Cell Biology), University of Galway, IRELAND
                                         MSc (Cellular & Mollecular Neurosciences) USM, MALAYSIA
                                         BSc (Biomedicine) USM, MALAYSIA
 
                Field of specialization : Stem Cell Biology, Central Nervous System Injury, Axon Regeneration, Gene & Cellular                                                        Therapy
                Tel (office) /HP : 09-7676314/010-2421001
                Fax : 09-7673833
                email : azimpatar@usm.my/ azim.patar@gmail.com
 
2. CURRENT RESEARCHS AND PAST RELATED RESEARCH:
                Current Research    1. Neuroprotective Effect of Marine Superfood for Brain Anti-Ageing
                                                2. Adipose Derived Stem Cells for Facial Nerve Injury in Animal Model
                                                3. Glioma model of IDH1, CASP9 and TP53 genetic mutation using iPSC technology
                                                4. Ex vivo models of Rat Spinal Cord Injury
                                                5. Gut Microbiome and Rat Spinal Cord Injury
                Past Research        1. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) and Amytropic Lateral Sclerosis (PhD work)
                                                2. Modelling Genetic Kidney Malformations Using Crispr/Cas9 edited 3D organoids                                                              derived from Pluripotent Stem Cells
                                                3. The Effect of Smoking on the Stemness Capabilities of Lung Stem
                                                    Cells in Mice Model of COPD
                                                4. Bio-inspired algorithm for automated behavioural characterisation of spinal injured rats

3. SELECTED RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS:
 
  • Yusof, Ya’acob, Patar, Mahmud Jamaluddin, Mohd Nor Azim Bin Ab Patar (2025). A Novel Walkaway System for Measuring the Spatial Gait Parameters of Rats with Spinal Cord Injury, International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 17, 95-106; DOI:10.30880/ijie.2025.17.01.008
  • Yusuf Y, Mohd Nor Azim Ab Patar, Le CH.,Mahmud J (2025). RATS: An Alternative Solution for Tracking Open Field Locomotion of Rats with Spinal Cord Injury, Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 21,2303-2313;DOI:10.11113/mjfas.v21n4.3848
  • Lee Si Yuen, Leong Shye Wei, Mohd Nor Azim Bin Ab Patar, (2024). Bioprinting and Efficient Differentiation of Stem Cells for Neural Regeneration, N/A (N/A), . 10.1016/B978-0-443-15717-2.00070-6
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Lecture Summary

Microscopy-Based Analysis of Cellular Viability and Glial Responses in Ex Vivo Spinal Cord Injury Models

Spinal cord injury research requires experimental models that are biologically relevant, reproducible, and compatible with high-resolution cellular analysis. Ex vivo spinal cord slice cultures provide an intermediate platform between in vivo and in vitro systems, enabling direct microscopic assessment of injury-induced cellular responses while reducing animal usage. This study established and validated stab, contusion, and transection injury paradigms in ex vivo rat spinal cord slices, with a particular focus on microscopy-based evaluation of cell viability and glial scar formation. Phase-contrast, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy were used to assess temporal changes in neuronal survival and glial responses up to ten days post-injury. Quantitative image analysis revealed progressive reductions in cell viability following all injury types, with transection producing the most consistent and spatially defined lesion architecture. Reactive astrocytes, chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan-expressing cells, microglia, and radial glia exhibited injury-dependent redistribution within scar, near-scar, and distant tissue zones, which were reliably quantified using stereological volume fraction analysis. The model was further applied to evaluate therapeutic modulation of the injury microenvironment. Enzymatic treatment targeting inhibitory extracellular matrix components reduced glial scar complexity, while lentiviral delivery of neurotrophin-3 combined with gene silencing against nerve growth inhibitor proteoglycans promoted neurite outgrowth across the lesion site, as visualised by confocal microscopy. These findings demonstrate that ex vivo spinal cord slice cultures are a robust and microscopy-compatible platform for analysing cellular viability, glial dynamics, and regenerative responses following spinal cord injury.

Reference: 

  1. Shortiss C, Howard L, McMahon SS. Viability and suitability of rat pup organotypic spinal cord slice cultures in a transection injury model. J Neurosci Methods. 2025;421:110499 
  2. Nemati S, Stanley A, Kilcoyne M, Zeugolis D, McMahon SS.Development of an in vitro fibrotic scar model of spinal cord injury using macromolecular crowding. J Neurosci Methods. 2025;424:110601.  
  3. Patar A, Dockery P, Howard L, McMahon S.Analysis of reactive astrocytes and NG2 proteoglycan in ex vivo rat models of spinal cord injury. J Neurosci Methods. 2019;311:418–425. 
  4. Patar A, Dockery P, Howard L, McMahon SS. Cell viability in three ex vivo rat models of spinal cord injury. J Anat. 2019;234(2):244–251



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