Research Methods in Life Sciences Commons^™

Targeted Limb Heating Augments The Actions Of Igf1 In The Growth Plate And Increases Bone Elongation In Growing Mice, Holly Lyn Racine

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Bone elongation disorders can lead to painful musculoskeletal disabilities in adulthood. Existing treatment options to correct left-right asymmetry in limb length include invasive surgeries and/or drug regimens. These are often only partially effective. Previous studies in weanling mice have shown that a daily application of mild heat (40°C) to limbs on one side of the body could be used to noninvasively enhance bone elongation. However, the impact of heat-treatment on bone at the cellular level remains elusive. The epiphyseal growth plate, the band of cartilage located at each end of long bones, is the main site of longitudinal growth and …

The Mechanics And Regulation Of Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Contraction: Implications Of Cytoskeletal Remodeling, Protein Phosphorylations, And Microtubule-Based Kinase Transport, Alison Summers Battistella-Patterson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The exact nature of the mechanisms and the regulation of vascular smooth muscle contraction is not well understood. To better understand these processes, we examined two systems involved in smooth muscle contraction, the cytoskeleton and the protein kinases. In order to study the role of the cytoskeleton in smooth muscle contraction, we examined the contractile and mechanical effects of cytoskeleton disruption. We found that the relationship between passive tension applied to aortic rings and the resulting increase in tissue length was nearly linear over the range of 1 g to 15 g. However, even with increasing tissue length, within the …

An Immunomodulating Mycotoxin Interferes With The Development Of Autoimmune Diabetes In Diabetes-Prone Bb/Wor Rats, Honggang Liu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Various fungal products have immunomodulating activity and some have been studied regarding prevention of transplantation rejection. Prior to this investigation, the mycotoxin, gliotoxin (GT), has never been investigated as an immunotherapeutic drug for autoimmune disease. GT is a fungal secondary metabolite and a member of the epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) family which has been shown to inhibit phagocytosis, induction of cytolytic T cells and the proliferation of T cells following mitogen stimulation. GT also induces in vitro apoptosis in certain immune cell types. More importantly, GT exhibits selective activity towards cells of hemopoietic origin.

Autoimmune diseases are disorders caused by immune responses …

Regulation Of Melanogenesis In B16 Mouse Melanoma Cells By Protein Kinase C (Pkc), Harish Mahalingam

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The pigment cell-specific expression of tyrosinase and TRP1 has been shown to be important for the production of melanin in pigmented cells. Using a pigmented cell line, B16 mouse melanoma, we obtained evidence that PKC plays a major role in regulating melanogenesis. Chronic treatment with phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) leads to downregulation of PKC activity and protein levels. This is accompanied by a loss of pigmentation which is correlated with a 50% reduction and a complete loss of TRP1 and tyrosinase respectively. Similar results were obtained with Northern and Western blotting indicating that PKC may regulate the steady state levels of …

Life History, Ecology, And Morphology Of The Ravine Salamander, Plethodon Richmondi, Ronnie D. Jewell

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The distribution of P. richmondi and P. cinereus has been of interest to herpetologist for many years. Plethodon cinereus is found throughout the state except for part of the Allegheny Plateau Province where P. richmondi occurs. There is a somewhat abrupt end to their ranges where they overlap which does not appear to be influenced by elevational differences, vegetation patterns, or general climatic changes. The propose of this study was to determine if temperature and/or moisture are limiting the distribution of P. richmondi and P. cinereus in West Virginia. The natural history of P. richmondi has not in West Virginia …

The Intestinal Platyhelminths Of Southwestern And Central West Virginia Amphibia And Relationships Between The Degree Of Infestation And Habitat Of Amphibians And Sex Of Host, Stanley B. Mills

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In April and May, 1977, 397 (14 species) amphibians were collected from southwestern and central West Virginia and examined for parasites. Five species of trematodes and two species of cestodes were found from 93 hosts. The total of 397 amphibians was subdivided, for convenience, into six categories of amphibians; aquatic male and female, terrestro-aquatic male and female, and terrestrial male and female. Nine of 24 (37.5%). female aquatic amphibians was the highest incidence found, while terrestro-aquatic females contained the highest mean number (6.0) worms per incidence, and parasite loads of host. Hosts, each platyhelminth specimen are given.