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Investigation Of Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha And Its Potential Role In Promoting Ovarian Follicular Dominance, Allie Lynn Lundberg

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Intraovarian growth factors play a vital role in influencing the fate of ovarian follicles. They affect proliferation versus apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs), and can influence whether small antral follicles continue their growth or undergo atresia. Transforming Growth Factor-alpha (TGFα), an oocyte-derived growth factor, is thought to regulate granulosa cell function, yet has been largely overshadowed by current interest in TGF-beta superfamily members, such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). In the current study, effects of TGFα on bovine GC proliferation, intracellular signaling and cytokine-induced apoptosis were evaluated. Briefly, all small antral follicles (3-5mm) from bovine ovaries …

Examination Of Bovine Rumen Fluid And Milk Fat Globule Membrane Proteome Dynamics, Mallory Cate Honan

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Proteomic technology has been increasingly incorporated into agricultural research, as characterization of proteomes can provide valuable information for potential biomarkers of health and physiological status of an animal. As dairy cattle are a dominant production animal in the USA, their biofluids such as milk, blood, urine, and rumen fluid have been examined by proteomic analysis. The research outlined herein was performed to further characterize the dynamics of specific proteomes and relate them to dairy cattle physiology.

The first experiment evaluated the diurnal dynamicity of the rumen metaproteome in Holstein dairy cattle. Rumen fluid was collected from three mid to late …

Examination Of The Effects Breed And Nutrition Have On The Milk Protein Profile Produced By Lactating Dairy Cattle, Rinske Tacoma

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Milk is a highly nutritious natural product and research over the last 10 years has proven that these milk proteins not only provide a rich source of amino acids to the consumer but also contains many bioactive proteins and peptides known to exert biological activity benefitting human health. In this research, proteomic methods were first used to characterize the low abundance proteome within the skim milk fraction produced by Holstein and Jersey dairy cows maintained under the same diet, management and environmental conditions. Milk samples were collected over a seven day period from six Holstein and six Jersey dairy cows. …

An Investigation Of Epigenetic Contributions To Inter-Animal And Age Dependent Variation In The Bovine Innate Immune Response., Benjamin Green

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Mastitis represents a major issue within the dairy industry responsible for economic loss via decreased animal productivity and associated veterinary costs. Currently, there is a push to identify a phenotypic innate immune response that will yield dairy cows with an enhanced resistance to mastitis. Bovine dermal fibroblasts were used as a cell model to measure the response of individuals to Gram-negative bacterial stimuli through the TLR4 signaling pathway. Fibroblast cultures were isolated from 15 dairy heifers at 5, 11, and 16 months of age in order to determine the variability in responsiveness to LPS as well as to monitor the …