Cell Biology Commons^™

Appropriate Preconditioning Of The Uterine Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Inhibits Preterm Labor, Judith Ann Ingles

Wayne State University Dissertations

Introduction: In this study, we are testing the overarching hypothesis that preconditioning the myometrial UPR allows for the maintenance of non-apoptotic CASP3 activity and thus sustains uterine quiescence. We have previously demonstrated that the pregnant uterus facilitates uterine quiescence through UPR mediated activation of non-apoptotic CASP3, yet the mechanism in which CASP3 utilizes to avoid its apoptotic cell fate is unresolved. There is a growing body of evidence including our own that demonstrates remote and direct preconditioning with minor stresses propagates cytoprotective mechanisms that allow for the avoidance of apoptotic cell death upon exposure to a subsequent more damaging stress, …

Characterization Of Adult Zebrafish Retinal Regeneration Following Two Different Damage Models, Jennifer Lee Thomas

Wayne State University Dissertations

Unlike mammals, zebrafish can regenerate all of their retinal neurons through Müller glial cells, which respond to retinal damage by re-entering the cell cycle to create clusters of progenitor cells. The progenitors continue to proliferate as they migrate to the site of damage, where they ultimately differentiate into new retinal neurons. In contrast, Müller glia of the mammalian retina respond to injury with reactive gliosis, which if persistent, can lead to loss of Müller cell function and devastating vision loss. Despite this, multiple lines of evidence suggest that mammalian Müller glial cells possess a latent ability to regenerate retinal neurons. …

Hyperosmotic Stress Enzyme Signaling Modulates Oct4, Nanog, And Rex1 Expression And Induces Prioritized Differentiation Of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells, Jill A. Slater

Wayne State University Dissertations

HYPEROSMOTIC STRESS ENZYME SIGNALING MODULATES OCT4, NANOG,

AND REX1 EXPRESSION AND INDUCES PRIORITIZED DIFFERENTIATION OF

MURINE EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS

by

JILL SLATER

MAY 2013

Advisor: Daniel Rappolee, Ph.D.

Major: Physiology

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Transcription factor expression and therefore lineage identity in the periimplantation

embryo and its stem cells may be influenced by extracellular stresses,

potentially affecting pregnancy outcome. Cellular stress forces cells to suppress some

normal activities (such as protein synthesis and cell proliferation) in order to repair

stress-damaged macromolecules and restore homeostasis. Therefore, any new

activities that embryonic cells initiate while concurrently funding the demands of the

stress …