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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Myoepithelial Cell Morphogenesis And Differentiation In The Mouse Submandibular Salivary Gland In Development And Disease, Elise Marie Gervais Jan 2015

Myoepithelial Cell Morphogenesis And Differentiation In The Mouse Submandibular Salivary Gland In Development And Disease, Elise Marie Gervais

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Organogenesis is the process by which tissues organize, gain considerable size, and undergo cellular differentiation or specialization to form fully functional organs. To study the processes involved in organogenesis of branched organs, the mouse submandibular salivary gland is frequently used as a model system, as it can undergo morphogenesis and differentiation and be genetically manipulated ex vivo. The mouse submandibular salivary gland undergoes a specific process of outgrowth and invagination known as branching morphogenesis which allows for the significant increase in gland size and complexity, as well as maximization of surface area for secretion of saliva. Surrounding the mouse submandibular …


Using A Novel Multiplexing Method To Track Cell Populations And Cytodifferentiation During Development Of The Submandibular Salivary Gland, Charles Thomas Manhardt Jan 2015

Using A Novel Multiplexing Method To Track Cell Populations And Cytodifferentiation During Development Of The Submandibular Salivary Gland, Charles Thomas Manhardt

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The development of submandibular salivary glands is complex and requires coordination of specific signaling events. Submandibular salivary glands originate as an epithelial invagination into the adjacent mesenchyme that leads to a single stalk and end bud; this end bud will go through a clefting process. Numerous rounds of clefting will lead to a fully developed salivary gland by this process, which is known as branching morphogenesis. As the gland undergoes morphogenesis, specific cues leading to differentiation of multiple cell types and even epithelial sub classes are required. By the later stages of development the glands are fully innervated, have an …


Vitamin D Signaling And The Impact On Mouse Mammary Gland Epithelium, Donald Grant Matthews Jan 2015

Vitamin D Signaling And The Impact On Mouse Mammary Gland Epithelium, Donald Grant Matthews

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A strong correlation between vitamin D deficiency and increased breast cancer incidence and mortality has been well established, leading researchers to further examine the possibility of using vitamin D in treatment and prevention strategies. Our long term goal is to elucidate the mechanisms by which vitamin D pathway signaling impacts on breast cancer. Generation of the high-affinity vitamin D receptor (VDR) ligand 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-D) from 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-D) is mediated by CYP27B1 which is present and developmentally regulated in multiple tissues including the mammary gland. We utilized transgenic mouse models combined with diet-induced vitamin D deficiency to determine whether …


Brown Adipogenesis Of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells In Alginate Microstrands, Andrea Mannarino Unser Jan 2015

Brown Adipogenesis Of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells In Alginate Microstrands, Andrea Mannarino Unser

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The ability of brown adipocytes (fat cells) to dissipate energy as heat shows great promise for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders. Employing pluripotent stem cells, with an emphasis on directed differentiation, may overcome many issues currently associated with primary fat cell cultures. However, brown adipocytes are difficult to transplant in vivo due to the instability of fat, in terms of necrosis and neovascularization, once injected. Thus, 3D cell culture systems that have the potential to mimic adipogenic microenvironments are needed, not only to advance brown fat implantation, but also to better understand the role of brown adipocytes …


A Novel Method For Studying Gene Regulatory Elements In Vivo Reveals Essential Roles For Intron Splicing In Neurofilament Gene Expression, Chen Wang Jan 2015

A Novel Method For Studying Gene Regulatory Elements In Vivo Reveals Essential Roles For Intron Splicing In Neurofilament Gene Expression, Chen Wang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Axon outgrowth requires coordinated expression of critical cytoskeletal genes in response to extracellular cues. The spatial and temporal expression of these genes is regulated transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally. Such regulation is largely mediated through the activity of cis-regulatory elements within the cytoskeletal DNAs and RNAs, which recruit specific sets of trans-factors such as DNA- and RNA-binding proteins, as well as microRNAs. To identify the functionally active cis-elements, characterize their dynamically changing sets of trans-factors, and investigate the association between the two sets of regulators in the context of an intact developing nervous system, one needs to combine appropriate in vivo strategies …