Life Sciences Commons^™

From Young To Old: The Effects Of Sedentary-Aging And Exercise Interventions On Structural Plasticity Of Lumbar Motor Neurons, Nmj, And Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression, Alberto Felipe Cintron-Colon

Dissertations

Neuromuscular weakness has been associated with age progression. A possible reason is a disconnection between muscle and neuron, causing components from both the central and peripheral nervous systems to deteriorate. Exercise, however, has beneficial effects for both muscle and nervous tissue, inducing neuroprotection. Neurotrophic factors are powerful regulators of neuronal maintenance and synaptic strength. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a neurotrophic factor that has been shown to be a potent survival factor for somatic motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscle.

This study aims to evaluate changes in structural plasticity of motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord and …

Effects Of Instability On Core Muscle Activation In A Side Bridge, Erin E. Kishman

Masters Theses

Training the musculature of the core continues to be perceived as an essential component of conditioning and rehabilitation settings (11). A popular way to train the core is with the use of instability devices, such as Swiss ball or suspension trainer. However, there is limited research on the effects of these devices on core muscle activity. The purpose of this study was to examine core muscle activity during side bridge variations with and without instability devices (Floor, Swiss Ball, and TRX) through electromyography (EMG) of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, erector spinae, and latissimus dorsi. 39 participants performed three variations …

Outline Plan For A Student-Involved Fitness Assessment Program At Western Michigan University, Joanna Gangwisch

Honors Theses

This research was aimed at developing a fitness assessment program that would provide undergraduate exercise science students at Western Michigan University (WMU) with hands on experience that would successfully prepare them for their internships and future careers as well as benefiting the campus community at large. Data for this research was obtained by examining the student recreation center websites and sending out an email/phone questionnaire to WMU’s 10 peer institutions. Direct comparisons were made and evaluated. On the basis of the results of this research, it can be concluded that WMU’s exercise science department and student recreation center together could …

Exercise Alters Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Gdnf) Protein Content In The Spinal Cord, Monica Janine Mccullough

Dissertations

Neurotrophic factors may play a role in exercise-induced neuroprotective effects; however, it is not known if exercise mediates changes in glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein levels in the spinal cord. The aim of the studies described herein was to determine if exercise alters GDNF protein expression in the lumbar spinal cord of healthy and diseased animals. The lumbar spinal cord was analyzed from adult rats aged 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-months, and from transgenic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice and wild-type mice aged 3 months. Animals had undergone either forced wheel running, voluntary wheel running or swimming for …

Female Collegiate Gymnasts And Experiences In Sport Retirement Due To Injury, Coleen Harrington Barry

Dissertations

There has been very limited research on sport retirement concerning the experiences that female collegiate athletes face when retiring from a sport due to injury. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore, understand, and describe experiences that former NCAA Division I female gymnasts had when they retired from gymnastics, part-way through college, due to injury. The main objective of the study was to attempt to understand female collegiate gymnasts' sport retirement experiences and the impact these experiences may have had on their identity development and college experience. The study also considered female collegiate gymnasts' perceived needs and coping …

Cholinergic Neurons Regulate And Utilize Gdnf Secreted By C2c12 Skeletal Muscle Cells In Culture, John-Mary Vianney, John Spitsbergen

Biological Sciences Faculty and Graduate Student Research

Glialcell line-derived neurotrophicfactor (GDNF) has been regarded as a potent survival factor for a subpopulation of neurons. It has been shown that GDNF expression is upregulated in skeletal muscle of patients with early stage of neuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Previous results from our laboratory showed that neural cells regulate GDNF secretion by skeletal muscle; non-innervated skeletal muscle appear to secrete more GDNF compared to innervated skeletal muscle. Two aims were examined in the current study. First, to examine whether neural cells inhibit GDNF through acetylcholine release. Second was to examine whether differentiated NG108-15 neural cells secrete …

Mapk Survival Signaling In Melanoma, Matthew W. Vanbrocklin

Dissertations

Extracellular signals activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades potentiating biological activities such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Constitutive activation of MAPK signaling pathways is implicated in the development and progression of many human cancers, including melanoma. Mutually exclusive activating mutations in NRAS or BRAF are found in ∼85% of all melanomas resulting in constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway (RAS-BRAF-MEK-ERK-RSK). We have previously demonstrated that inhibition of this pathway with small molecule MEK inhibitors selectively induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells both in vitro and in vivo, but not in normal melanocytes. These results support the notion that the …

Molecular Analysis Of The Effects Of Atrazine On Xenopus Laevis Frogs, Ronald Edward Celestine

Dissertations

Atrazine, the most commonly used herbicide in the U.S., has been implicated as one of the factors that may be causing the worldwide decline of amphibians. First, I examined effects of atrazine on laboratory raised Xenopus laevis tadpoles, treated from 5 days post fertilization to NF stage 65/66 with a concentrationof 25 ppb of atrazine. This study showed no significant difference in body weight, length and metamorphic rate.

Second, I used DNA microarrays to examine mRNA expression levels of genes in atrazine treated and control Xenopus laevis tadpoles. I found significant changes in gene expression levels of 18 genes. These …

The Influence Of Landing Technique Versus Technique And Strength Training On Valgus Knee Deformity In Females, Kirsten R. Holmes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of landing technique training versus landing technique and plyometric/strength training program on knee valgus during landing in females. Subjects participated in a 6-week training program. A 2 X 3 repeated measures ANOVA with two within subjects’ factors Test and Group was used to test for differences in the knee valgus angle in the landing condition and the five jump condition. A 2 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA with two within subjects’ factors, was used to test for difference in knee extension strength and knee flexion strength. Pre-test knee-valgus 4.76 ± …

Changes In Gdnf Protein Content Of Skeletal Muscle Following Involuntary Exercise Are Long Lived, Kyle R. Kinnell, Monica J. Czarnopys, John Spitsbergen

Biological Sciences Faculty and Graduate Student Research

Glial-cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a neurotrophic factor produced by skeletal muscle. GDNF has been shown to be potent survival factor for motor neurons. We have previously shown that GDNF content in skeletal muscle is altered following exercise and GDNF levels 24 hours after the last bout of exercise are significantly different than those measured immediately after exercise. We sought to determine how long after exercise do GDNF protein levels remain altered. We removed extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and Soleus (SOL), 24 hr, 72 hr and 1 week following the last bout of involuntary exercise. Muscles were processed …

Exposure Of Nervous System Cells To Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pcbs) Results In Significant Alterations In Levels Of Expression Of Neurotrophic Factors, Charles F. Ide, Jay C. Means, Trisha M. Basford, John Spitsbergen

Biological Sciences Faculty and Graduate Student Research

Toxic insult by PCBs results in learning and memory deficits in humans. Alterations in expression of neurotrophic factors and/or their receptors have been linked to changes in cognition. How PCBs affect cognition is not known. We propose that PCBs affect cognition by altering neurotrophic factor expression or effects. We exposed cultured C6 glial cells in medium containing PCB (Aroclor 1254 (10ppm)). Control cells were treated with DMSO or regular medium. Cells were incubated at 37o C for up to 72 hours. Medium samples were taken at 6hr, 24hr, 48hr, and 72hr intervals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to determine …

A Kinematic And Kinetic Analysis Of First, Fourth, And Fifth Positions In The Classical Ballet Method, Mary Sue Hill

Masters Theses

The problem of the study was to compare electromyography (EMG) responses, ground reaction forces, and torques on female college-age dancers' knees in selected positions. Subjects were 18 female dancers, aged 18 to 30 years, with 6 subjects from each of three levels: Ballet Technique I, II, and III. The rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis were analyzed in a grande plie in three positions, (1) first, (2) fourth, and (3) fifth, with two phases: (1) eccentric, and (2) concentric. No differences in force or EMG data were found for the concentric phases of the three positions. Significant differences were …

The R Value At Vo2 Max During Maximal Graded Exercise Treadmill Tests Of Coronary Artery Diseased And Nondiseased Subjects, Sherry S. Williams

Masters Theses

This study examined the R value at VO2 max during maximal graded treadmill exercise tests to determine if it was a reliable indicator of VO2 max and could therefore be used as a test termination criterion. The subjects in this study were 160 coronary artery diseased (CAD) patients and 170 nondiseased individuals. Data were collected from existing stress test records. The R value was also analyzed to determine if proportions of diseased and nondiseased subjects were the same. The time it took 100 CAD patients to reach VO2 max and exhaustion once R rose above 1.00 was also examined.

The …

Total Blood Cholesterol, Blood Triglyceride, And Blood Hdl Correlation, Rebecca Lynn Babler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between total blood cholesterol levels, blood triglyceride levels, and blood HDL levels in men and women 20 to 80 years of age. All subjects fasted for 12 hours prior to having their blood drawn.

The computer program SPSSX (SPSSX, Inc., 1988) was used along with subprograms CONDESCRIPTIVE, CORRELATION, and ANOVA. Pearson Product Moment Correlations were calculated for all subjects, for male subjects, and for female subjects.

The study revealed a low correlation coefficient between blood cholesterol levels and blood triglyceride levels for all subjects, female subjects and male subjects. There …

Methylphenidate Effects On The Learning And Performance Of Four Hyper Active Children, Paul James Yoder

Dissertations

The effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) on the learning and performance of four hyperactive children were evaluated using a repeated acquisition procedure with both learning and performance components. Three dosages of methylphenidate plus a placebo were evaluated under double-blind experimental conditions. Dosages treated included each subject's therapeutic dosage, a dosage 5 milligrams higher, and a dosage 5 milligrams lower. Methylphenidate produced no effect on either the number of errors per session or on the rate of responding across the range of dosages tested suggesting that the medication neither facilitated nor impaired learning or performance. Data were also collected on social …

Cortical And Subcortical Interhemispheric Interrelation In The Visual System, George C. Wagner

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Inhibition Of Gastric Secretion And Ulcer Formation By Lithium Chloride In The Rat, Thomas H. Adair

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Comparative Evaluation Of Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion In Nondiabetic, Diabetic, And Prediabetic Chinese Hamsters, Ronald Neil Prange

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Spectral Analysis Of Olfactory System Electrical Activity: Effects Of Ketamine And Sodium Pentobarbital, John Ludwig Orr

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Histochemical Study Of The Neurosecretory Cells In The Sub Pharyngeal Ganglia And Ventral Nerve Cord Of Lumbricus Terrestris And Their Response To The Removal Of The Suprapharyngeal Ganglia And To Osmotic Regulation, Bernard F. Orenstein

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Role Of The Suprapharyngeal Ganglia Of Lumbricus Terrestris In Respiratory Metabolism, John D. Nelson

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Kinetic Studies Of The Cell Elongation Phenomenon In Etiolated Pisum Stem Segments, Grant M. Barkley

Masters Theses

The short-term growth response of etiolated pea stem segments (Pisum sativum L., var. Alaska) was investigated using a high-resolution growth recording device. The immediate effect of treatment with indoleacetic acid (IAA) is an inhibition of growth. This inhibition lasts about 10 minutes and then the rate of elongation rises abruptly to a new steady rate about 4 times the rate of elongation before auxin treatment. This rapid steady rate of elongation, however, continues for only about 22 minutes before declining suddenly to a lower steady rate of growth about 2 times the rate of elongation before the addition of auxin. …

An Attempt To Demonstrate The Presence Of A Local Utero-Ovarian Transport Mechanism In The Guinea Pig By Radioisotope Tracer Techniques, Michael C. Fleck

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Blood Constituent Levels Associated With Transition Into Reproduction And During Egg Formation In The Female Mallard Duck, Robert L. Smoes

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.