Life Sciences Commons^™

Role Of Sox11 During Vertebrate Ocular Morphogenesis And Retinal Neurogenesis, Lakshmi Shashidharan Pillai

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma (MAC) are distinct abnormalities demonstrating a continuum of developmental eye defects that contribute to 15-20% of blindness and severe vision deficiencies in children worldwide. The genetic etiology of MAC is large, complex and encompasses the whole developmental biology of the eye. Understanding how the eye develops will aid in identifying genes and developmental pathways involved in MAC. Although investigation of the genetic architecture of congenital anomalies is growing exponentially, much work remains to be accomplished to understand the complex, genetically heterogeneous congenital anomalies, which significantly impact childhood vision.

With an interest in elucidating the mechanisms that …

Dual Functions For Insulinoma-Associated 1 In Retinal Development, Marie A. Forbes-Osborne

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Proper visual system function requires tightly controlled proliferation of a pool of relatively homogeneous retinal progenitor cells, followed by the stepwise specification and differentiation of multiple distinct cell types. These retinal cells, both neuronal and glial, must be generated in the correct numbers, and the correct laminar location to permit the formation of synaptic connections between individual cell types. After synapses are made, constant signaling is required as part of normal retinal function, and to maintain cellular identity and connectivity. These processes rely on both extrinsic and intrinsic signaling, with regulation of gene expression by cascades of transcription factors having …

Neurotransmitter Systems And Age Related Cognitive Decline: A Focus On Attention And Plasticity, Christine Teal Kozikowski

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Metabolic Characterization Of Mpnst Cell Lines, Christopher A. Waker

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Malignant transformation is the process by which cells develop cancer properties. While many causes for malignant transformation are known (i.e. common genetic mutations and/or exposure to toxins or viruses), the basic requirements that allow a cell to stay alive with altered nutrient and energy requirements are just now being studied. In some tumor types malignant cells undergo changes that result in metabolic differences compared to normal cells. These can include defects in mitophagy resulting in an accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria and/or a metabolic switch resulting in increased glycolysis, termed the Warburg effect. Increased tumor growth and metastasis have also been …

Sensorimotor Analysis Of Oxaliplatin Treated Rats, Krystyna Blanka Wieczerzak

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

There is currently no direct evidence that chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) necessarily explains the sensorimotor deficits seen in 90% patients treated with oxaliplatin (OX). Some patients develop sensory symptoms without CIPN. Our laboratory reported abnormal signaling from IA afferents in OX treated rats with no evidence of neuropathy. We hypothesized that in the absence of CIPN, the behavioral disability is associated with impaired sensory encoding in OX treated rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sensorimotor abilities of OX treated rats. The battery of behavioral tests was designed to address proprioception and sensorimotor integration. In the …

Correlations Between Sensory Encoding And Central Morphology Of Muscle Proprioceptors In The Rat, Hanna Marie Gabriel

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Until now, observations regarding the central morphology and organization of Ia, group II and Ib Golgi tendon organ afferents have been confined to the cat model. As the use of rodents in the study of the development and organization of segmental spinal cord circuitry increases, a complete account of the peripheral encoding and central connectivity of rodent muscle proprioceptors is necessary. The data presented in this study establish the central morphology and spatial distribution of 12 (4 of each class) functionally phenotyped muscle proprioceptor afferents in the rat by intracellular labeling with Neurobiotin. Each afferent type showed a characteristic central …

An Exploration Of The Wheel-Induced Feeding-Suppression, Stephen Benjamin Peckham

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Anorexia nervosa is an enigmatic human condition typified by food-restriction that is often accompanied by extensive exercise. This has been modeled in rats in the wheel-induced feeding-suppression (WIFS) model. In this model, animals are given access to a running-wheel, which induces a volitional drop in food-consumption. Short periods of wheel access have induced a feeding-suppression which is effectively reversed by chlorpromazine administration (Adams et al., 2009). Recent attempts at replicating Adams et al.’s (2009) feeding-suppression have, however, been unsuccessful (Peckham et al., 2013). These attempts raised questions as to whether or not the existing methodology is most effective at suppressing …

Characterization Of The Trans-Plasma Membrane Electron Transport System In The Myelin Membrane, Afshan Sohail

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Myelination is the key feature of evolution in the nervous system of vertebrates. Myelin is the protrusion of glial cells. More specifically, "oligodendrocytes" in the central nervous system (CNS), and "Schwann" cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) form myelin membranes. Myelin remarkably, enhances the propagation of nerve impulses. However, myelin restricts the access of extracellular metabolites to the axons. A pathology called "demyelination" is associated with myelin. The myelin sheath is not only an insulator, but it is itself metabolically active. In this study it is hypothesized that the ratio of NAD(P)⁺/NAD(P)H and the glycolytic pathway of …

Influence Of Planning Resources On Gait Control In Parkinson’S Disease, Frederico P. Faria

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Movement disturbances in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been associated with difficulties to plan complex actions. Performance of simple and complex actions overloads resources for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it is unclear if central resources required to plan gait adjustments while walking exacerbate gait disturbances of patients with PD. More specifically, it is unclear how gait impairments, sensory processing, and the dopaminergic system influence the load on processing resources (e.g. cognitive load) during the planning of step modifications. In order to investigate the relative influence of these factors on cognitive load and its impact on gait control, …

Dementia And Primary-Care Health Measures:Hearing, Gait, And Markers Of Inflammation, Elsa Lindgren

Honors Theses and Capstones

Dementia is a syndrome associated with declining cognitive function that has a variety of types and causes, and is encountered frequently in general medical practice. Researchers are actively exploring possible risk factors for dementia. The St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) exam is a dementia-screening exam used in primary care visits to detect cognitive impairment that may be a sign of dementia. This study compared scores on the SLUMS exam to other measures recorded in a typical primary care visit in 86 patients of age 65 and older to look for correlations between indicators of health, such as physical examination …

Biological Basis Of Motherhood And Effect Of Stress On Maternal Psychophysiology, Erin Loree Minnick 15

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.