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In Vitro Maturation, In Vitro Fertilization And Development Of Bovine Oocytes., Li Zhang

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

To improve the efficiency of the culture system for bovine in vitro fertilization (IVF), several factors affecting the success of in vitro maturation (IVM), IVF and in vitro culture (IVC) of bovine oocytes were studied. A simple and efficient procedure has been developed for IVM/IVF/IVC of bovine follicular oocytes, which consistently produced 45 to 50% morulae and blastocysts during the treatment of over 6,000 oocytes. Ovary holding temperatures of $\rm 0\sp\circ C,\ 18\sp\circ C\ and\ 25\sp\circ C$ were found to affect the rate of maturation, fertilization and cleavage (P $<$ 0.05). When ovaries were held at 25$\sp\circ$C for 3 h, 20% of the oocytes developed to blastocysts and hatched in vitro, indicating that this temperature is suitable for holding ovaries during transportation. The highest cleavage rate (79%) was obtained when oocytes were matured and fertilized both at 39$\sp\circ$C in 5% CO$\sb2$. Fertilization rate was impaired with a lowered incubation temperature (37$\sp\circ$C) and CO$\sb2$ level (2.5%). Cumulus cells were shown to be important and necessary for IVM and acquisition of competence for full embryonic development. Cumulus cell removal before IVM, before IVF or 7 h after IVF reduced the rates of maturation, fertilization and development at all embryo stages evaluated (P $<$.05). Cumulus cell removal at 20 h after fertilization resulted in a rate of development similar to control embryos (P $>$.05). Co-culture enhanced the development of IVF-derived embryos. More embryos …

The Life History (Age, Growth And Reproduction) Of Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) And Its Affinity For Oil And Gas Platforms., Jeffrey Howard Render

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this dissertation was to describe the association of red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, with oil and gas platform habitat in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Ages were estimated using transverse sections of sagittae. Annuli were validated to have formed yearly. Age estimates ranged from less than 1 to 54 years. Von Bertalanffy growth models were significantly different for males and females; females exhibited a faster initial growth rate but achieved a lesser maximum length than did males. The variability in age among individuals of a given length or weight class precluded formulation of age at size keys. Otolith …

Daily Variations Of Lipogenic Activities In Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica)., Bruce L. Tedford

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Studies were made in Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica) to determine if daily variations of plasma insulin and de novo lipogenesis exists and examine the roles of daily variations in lipogenic responsiveness to insulin and prolactin. A daily variation in plasma insulin levels exists in quail fed ad libitum, with photophase levels 4.6 times greater than scotophase levels. This variation was not driven exclusively by the feeding of the quail, because insulin levels had dropped by dark onset, yet all bird's crops contained food at this time. There was a daily variation in the amount of $\sp{14}$C-acetate labelled lipids extracted …

Effects Of Environmental Factor Gradients On Survival, Growth And Physiology Of Two Species Of Crab Within The Genus Callinectes., John Louis Guerin

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Effects of environmental factor gradients on growth, molting and physiology of crabs within the genus Callinectes were examined. Juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, were exposed to a range of dissolved cadmium concentrations at two salinities (2.5 and 25$\perthous$). 21-day LC$\sb{50}$'s were lower at 2.5$\perthous$ (19 $\mu$g l$\sp{-1}$) than at 25$\perthous$ (186 $\mu$g l$\sp{-1}).$ Crabs were exposed to Cd levels of 0, 50 and 100 $\mu$g l$\sp{-1}$ for bioenergetic measurements. Energy expenditure did not vary with cadmium. Scope for growth, energy consumption and energy absorption were unaffected by Cd at 25$\perthous,$ but decreased with exposure to cadmium at 2.5$\perthous.$. Juvenile lesser …

Nitrogen Biogeochemistry Of Aquaculture Pond Sediments., John Albert Hargreaves

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Aquaculture pond water quality is dominated by planktonic processes, although the high surface-to-volume ratio suggests that sediment has the potential to effect important changes in water quality. The objectives of this research were to evaluate annual variation of sediment nitrogen biogeochemistry and develop a model of annual variation in ammonia concentration in a commercial channel catfish pond. In addition, the effects of physical and chemical sediment management techniques on water quality in aquatic mesocosms were evaluated. Sediment nitrogen was dominated by organic (92-96%) and adsorbed ammonium (2-4%) fractions. Porewater ammonium comprised the smallest yet most dynamic component of sediment N, …

Estimation Of Genetic Parameters For Preweaning Growth Traits Of Crossbred Cattle., Denis Jose Salgado-Fonseca

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Data from a long-term rotational crossbreeding study involving Angus, Brahman, Charolais and Hereford cattle were analyzed to evaluate the importance of maternal effects on birth weight (BWT), weaning weight (WWT) and preweaning average daily gain (ADG) and, to estimate genetic parameters. Six different animal models were fitted for each trait, ranging from a single additive to a maternal animal model allowing for both genetic and environmental maternal effects and a genetic covariance between direct and maternal additive effects. Genetic effects were obtained using a maternal animal model allowing for a maternal additive effect and a direct-maternal additive covariance (Model 4). …

The Molecular And Morphological Systematics Of Subfamily Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae)., Malcolm Ray Neyland

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The current project undertakes the first molecular-based phylogenetic study of subfamily Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae). Approximately 1,200 nucleotide bases (from the 3$\sp\prime$ half of the ndhF chloroplast gene) for 34 orchid taxa, and a lilioid monocot, Clivia miniata, (Amaryllidaceae) were subjected to phylogenetic analysis using parsimony methods. Oryza sativa (Poaceae), a nonlilioid monocot was designated as outgroup. Using unweighted ndhF sequences, the strict consensus cladogram of 531 most-parsimonious trees supports the hypothesis that the large subfamily Epidendroideae is monophyletic, with Listera (Neottieae) as sister. Although subtribal-level relationships in subfamily Epidendroideae ate well resolved in this analysis, tribal-level relationships are resolved poorly. A …

Management Of Bollworm, Helicoverpa Zea (Boddie), And Tobacco Budworm, Heliothis Virescens (F.), With Transgenic Bt Cotton Genotypes, Microbial Insecticides And Conventional Insect Resistance Traits In Cotton., Charles Andrew White

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticides and transgenic Bt cotton in controlling the bollworm (BW), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and tobacco budworm (TBW), Heliothis virescens (F.), complex. Laboratory tests indicated that rates $\ge$1.17 liters (form)/ha caused TBW mortality significantly higher than the untreated control 2 hours after treatment (HAT). Dipel ES$\sp\circler$ at 4.68 liters (form)/ha and Condor OF$\sp\circler \ge$ 0.58 liters (form)/ha caused significantly higher TBW mortality than the untreated control at 72 HAT. TBW mortality levels did not significantly increase as Dipel ES$\sp\circler$ or Condor OF$\sp\circler$ dosage rates increased. Results of a persistence study …

Daughter Cells Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae From Old Mothers Display A Reduced Life Span, Nicanor Austriaco, Brian K. Kennedy, Leonard Guarente

Biology Faculty Publications

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae typically divides asymmetrically to give a large mother cell and a smaller daughter cell. As mother cells become old, they enlarge and produce daughter cells that are larger than daughters derived from young mother cells. We found that occasional daughter cells were indistinguishable in size from their mothers, giving rise to a symmetric division. The frequency of symmetric divisions became greater as mother cells aged and reached a maximum occurrence of 30% in mothers undergoing their last cell division. Symmetric divisions occurred similarly in rad9 and ste12 mutants. Strikingly, daughters from old mothers, whether they arose …

The Identification, Distribution, Impacts, Biology And Management Of Noxious Rangeland Weeds, Roger L. Sheley

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

This document provides a discussion of the biology and management of exotic rangeland weeds which are a threat to native ecosystems of the western United States. Chapter 1 describes a generalized approach for managing noxious weed infested rangeland, while Chapter 2 focuses on preventing noxious weed invasion. In some cases, noxious weeds readily invade riparian areas, and because of the sensitive nature of these ecosystems Chapter 3 is devoted to riparian weed management. The following 13 chapters describe the identification, origin, history, distribution, potential invasion, impacts, biology and ecology, and management of specific noxious rangeland weeds.

Working Draft, University Of South Florida Botanical Garden Blueprint For The Future, August 1994, Frederick B. Essig

USF University Archives and Documents

Working draft of the University of South Florida Botanical Garden Blueprint for the Future dated August 1994. Topics include overview of and history of the University of South Florida Botanical Garden, facilities, funding, staffing, master plan for the Garden, mission statement, site maps, and proposal for tropical plant Conservatory.

Characterization Of Cdnas Encoding Potential Drosophila Acetylcholine Receptors., Gang Wu

Student Work

In the central nervous system (CNS) of insects and other invertebrates, acetylcholine (Ach) functions as a major neurotransmitter and acts upon a number of different types of receptors. One approach is to the identification of acetylcholine receptors (AChR) is to use cross-homology between vertebrate and invertebrate AChRs. To this end, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the well-characterized nicotinic vertebrate AChR that cross-react with Drosophila tissues have been developed. One of them, mAb 16.42, was used to screen a lambda-ZAP expression vector library in which Drosophila adult head cDNAs were inserted, and three cDNAs that may encode nAChRs were identified.

G94-1220 Controlling Ticks, John B. Campbell, Gustave D. Thomas

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Identification and control of ticks common to Nebraska.

Ticks are members of the same phylum (Arthropoda) of the animal kingdom as insects, but are in a different class (Arachnida). The main difference is the body of a tick is composed of only two sections while insect bodies have three sections.

There are over 800 species of ticks, 100 of which are important to man and animals because of economic losses or disease transmission. Fortunately in the United States, only about 12 species are economically important because they transmit disease organisms (viral, bacterial, protozoan, and rickettsial) or cause economic losses to …

Central Neuronal Circuits Involved In The Reflex Control Of The Cardiovascular System, Douglas James Mckitrick

Digitized Theses

To reveal central nervous system (CNS) structures involved in the reflex control of the cardiovascular system, the distribution of Fos protein-like immunoreactivity (FLI) was examined in the brains of urethane anesthetized rats following stimulation of the aortic depressor (ADN) and femoral (FN) nerves. First, the ADN was cut bilaterally in 13 rats, the central ends were placed on stimulating electrodes and stimulated for 1 h. CNS sections were incubated in anti-Fos antibody and prepared immunohistochemically for visualization of FLI. Label was found on the side ipsilateral to the side of stimulation in discrete nuclei in the hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain …

Pre-Cataractous Loss Of Cellular Antioxidants And Atp In The Diabetic Rat Lens, Kenneth Patrick Mitton

Digitized Theses

The in vivo streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model of cataract is one of the oldest animal models of cataractogenesis available, however investigation of diabetic lenses before the formation of liquid-filled vacuoles, is lacking. Using analysis specific for glutathione, it was found that pre-vacuolar diabetic rat lenses lost glutathione (GSH) (85%) compared to normal lenses. Glutathione disulphide (GSSG) did not appear in diabetic lenses. Lens ascorbate concentration was also decreased by 48% in pre-vacuolar diabetic lenses compared to normal lenses.;ATP loss, previously demonstrated only in post-vacuolar diabetic lenses, was found in pre-vacuolar diabetic lenses compared to normal lenses. It is possible that …

Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin In Fetal And Adult Sheep, Edward Terry Berdusco

Digitized Theses

In the ovine fetus, plasma cortisol is bound by its high affinity binding protein corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). Plasma CBG concentrations increase during late gestation, but the stimulus for this increase and its consequences in the fetal sheep are not known. These studies were undertaken to examine the stimulus for an increase in fetal plasma CBG, the mechanism of this increase, and the physiological significance of the increase.;Chronically catheterized fetal and adult sheep were used to examine the changes in late gestation of plasma CBG concentrations, plasma CBG glycosylation, total and free cortisol, and effects of glucocorticoids on plasma CBG. An …

Uterine Vascular Permeability, Extracellular Fluid Volume And Blood Flow Following Deciduogenic Stimulation Of Rats, Gavin Scot Hamilton

Digitized Theses

The present study examined the possible importance of uterine vascular permeability (VP), extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) and blood flow (BF) in the enhanced accumulation of serum proteins in uterine tissue destined to undergo decidualization. This process is identifiable by endometrial blueing after intravenous (i.v.) injection of Evans blue dye. It was hypothesized that VP, ECFV and BF must increase to promote the enhanced intrauterine accumulation of serum proteins and that these uterine vascular and perivascular changes require optimal endometrial sensitization and prostaglandins (PGs).;ECFV was estimated by the uterine volume of distribution of i.v. injected {dollar}\sp{lcub}51{rcub}{dollar}Cr-EDTA, VP by the rate of …

Functional Regulation Of The Pituitary-Adrenal Axis In The Ovine Fetus, Feng Lu

Digitized Theses

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms regulating function of the ovine fetal pituitary-adrenal axis by hypothalamic, pituitary and adrenal factors, and by locally produced growth factors. Specifically, the effects of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and cortisol on CRH binding, levels of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) output from the fetal ovine anterior pituitary were evaluated in vitro. Further, expression of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) genes and possible roles of IGFs in the ovine fetal pituitary-adrenal axis were examined.;Our studies provide the following results: (1) The number of CRH binding sites …

The Role Of Opsonin-Independent Bacterial Adherence In The Pathogenesis Of Legionnaires' Disease, Frank Clinton Gibson

Doctoral Dissertations

Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen which initiates infection of the human host by adhering to macrophages in the alveoli of the lung following which internalization and intracellular multiplication occurs. In this study a novel mechanism of opsonin-independent attachment for this organism to host cells was identified. L. pneumophila serogroup 1, strain Nottingham N7, and U-937 cells as well as primary guinea pig alveolar macrophages were used to study this adherence phenomenon.

A variety of assay methods were used to evaluate the nature of this binding event: transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to visualize …

Adherence Of Salmonella Typhimurium To Murine Peritoneal Macrophages, Saif Nasser Al-Bahry

Doctoral Dissertations

Salmonella species are responsible for wide spread disease in both humans, and animals and macrophages (MO play a central role in host defenses against disease. Recent evidence has shown that MO bear surface receptors involved in direct microbial recognition. Using the mouse model and a virulent strain of S. typhimurium, we have attempted to determine the means by which peritoneal MO recognize this pathogen in the absence of serum factors. Bacterial adherence was monitored by direct microscopic visualization and by flow cytometry. Two strains of S. typhimurium strains 1826 and ATCC 14028 were used in this model. Adherence was much …

The Detection Of Enteric Viruses By Nylon-Based And In Situ Nonisotopic Probe Assays And Their Use In Treated And Untreated Waters, Norman James Moore

Doctoral Dissertations

Potable water is a primary need of humankind. In the interest of public health, the water should be free of infectious agents, such as bacteria, intestinal parasites, and viruses. The current method for assaying water for viruses is cell culture, which is expensive, labor intensive, and time consuming. Nucleic acid probes offer an alternative method which is less costly, more rapid, and requires less training and experience. Consequently, this study provides alternatives to viral monitoring of water sources.

Three nonradioactive nucleic acid probe assays were developed and evaluated by colormetric and chemiluminescent signals. A biotin-tailed probe was able to detect …

Effects Of 17 Beta-Estradiol On Cellular And Molecular Atherogenic Events In Animal Models, Glenn Thomas Shwaery

Doctoral Dissertations

Estrogens may protect against coronary artery disease (CAD) as women have less CAD than age-matched men, and postmenopausal women on estrogen have less CAD than those without replacement therapy. To elucidate potential benefits of 17 beta-estradiol on atherogenesis, female swine and hamsters were treated to yield three groups: (1) ovariectomized (ovex), (2) ovariectomized with estradiol replacement (ovex + estradiol), and (3) sexually intact. Postoperatively, animals were switched from a low fat to a high fat diet for measurement of acute estradiol effects in swine and chronic effects in hamsters. Swine monocyte and platelet adhesion to porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) …

The Complete Nucleotide Sequence Of The Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon Marinus) Mitochondrial Genome: Implications For The Evolution Of Animal Mitochondrial Genome Structure And Rates Of Evolution In Vertebrates, Woo-Jai Lee

Doctoral Dissertations

The complete nucleotide sequence of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) mitochondrial genome has been determined using purified, intact mtDNA. The lamprey mitochondrial genome is 16,201 bp in length, and contains genes for 13 proteins, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs and 2 major non-coding regions. The genome displays several minor rearrangements but is basically colinear with other vertebrate genomes.

The sequence suggests that the vertebrate mitochondrial genomic organization was established at an early stage of vertebrate evolution. Comparisons with teleost and mammalian mitochondrial control regions demonstrate that some conserved sequence blocks have arisen recently. The overall base composition of the genome is …

Elevation Of The Hatching Envelope In Penaeidea Shrimp: Morphology And Assembly., Patricia Stoops Glas

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The appearance of extracellular coats around "eggs" are associated with activation of the oocytes. This coat, termed fertilization envelope (sea urchins), chorion (fish), zona pellucida (mammals), capsule (crab) or hatching envelope (HE) (shrimp) serves as a polyspermy block (Wasserman, 1982) or microenvironment protecting the egg from bacteria or other hostile elements (Kudo and Inoue, 1989; Kudo and Teshima, 1991; Kudo, 1992; Epel, 1993). HE assembly is described for penaeoid shrimp (Lynn, et al., 1991) and is, in contrast to many systems, a fertilization independent event. However, the mechanisms of assembly appear similar to extracellular coat formation in other animal systems …

The Role Of Infaunal And Epifaunal Suspension Feeding Macrofauna On Rates Of Benthic-Pelagic Coupling In A Southeastern Estuary., Christine Miller-Way

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This research investigated the effects of two suspension feeding bivalves, the infaunal Rangia cuneata, and the epifaunal Crassostrea virginica, on benthic-pelagic coupling in Fourleague Bay, LA, a river-dominated estuary. A continuous-flow microcosm system was developed to overcome recognized limitations of batch methodology and to facilitate manipulations designed to investigate the ecological role of benthic macrofauna. Experiments comparing traditional batch methodology to continuous-flow methodology indicated that rates of benthic processes were consistently greater when measured using continuous-flow methodology. Examinations of concentrations indicated that differences were due to concentration gradients which departed from ambient over time in the batch cores. Over an …

Pharmacodynamics Of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents In Acute Inflammation And Chronic Pain In The Horse., Jane Granville Owens

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ketoprofen (2.2 and 3.63 mg/kg) and phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg) were compared in equine models of acute synovitis and chronic hoof pain. The eicosanoids, prostaglandin E$\sb2$ (PGE$\sb2$) and leukotriene B$\sb4$ (LTB$\sb4$), increased dramatically in synovial fluid after carrageenan-induced synovitis of the intercarpal joint. PGE$\sb2$ concentrations in untreated horses peaked at 9 hours while LTB$\sb4$ concentrations peaked in all horses at 3 hours. Synovial fluid concentrations of both eicosanoids returned to near baseline by 48 hours. Lameness, joint temperature, and synovial fluid volume, protein and nucleated cells increased at 3 to …

Promoter Analysis Of A Rice Seed Storage Protein Glutelin Gene And Expression Of Bean 7s Seed Storage Protein Beta-Phaseolin In Transgenic Rice Plants., Zhenwei Zheng

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

It was demonstrated, using a homologous transgenic rice system, $5\sp\prime$ distal and proximal cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements were required for developmental control of a rice seed storage protein glutelin (Gt1) gene. The functional importance of proximal elements in the context of the 1.8 kb promoter was demonstrated by single substitution mutations in the TATA box ($-$28/$-$23), AACA motif ($-$73/$-$61), and protein-binding Boxes I ($-$103/$-$86), II ($-$124/$-$110), III ($-$175/$-$158), and IV ($-$200/$-$217). A simultaneous mutation of five protein-binding sites ($-$410/$-$86) essentially eliminated the activity of the 1.8 kb promoter. To understand the function of the $5\sp\prime$ distal cis-acting upstream sequence, eighteen …

Transcriptional Cis-Regulatory Elements And Trans-Factors Of A Gene For The Seed Storage Protein Beta-Phaseolin From Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris)., Yasushi Kawagoe

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

In many dicotyledons, the nutrient reserves are stored in the cotyledons. Phaseolin, 7S globulin, is the major seed protein from common bean Phaseolus vulgaris. In vitro transcription assays and gene transfer studies indicate that phaseolin gene expression is regulated primarily at the transcriptional level. In this dissertation, I studied cis- and trans-acting factors that may play a role in the transcriptional regulation of the $\beta$-phaseolin gene. Gel mobility shift and exonuclease III protection assays identified four distinct DNA binding proteins, CAN, AG-1, CA-1, and TATA-box binding protein. Three CANNTG motifs, CACGTG ($-$248/$-$243), CACCTG ($-$163/$-$158), and CATATG ($-$100/$-$95), were found to …

Electrophysiological Responses Of Olfactory Receptor And Bulb Neurons To Stimulus Mixtures And To Their Individual Components In The Channel Catfish, Ictalurus Punctatus., Jiesheng Kang

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Both electro-olfactogram and integrated multiunit receptor responses of populations of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) clearly showed that responses to complex mixtures were predictable. Results demonstrated that receptor sites for basic and acidic amino acids, respectively, are independent from those for neutral amino acids and multiple receptor site types with highly overlapping specificities exist for amino acids within each group. Results also confirmed that one mechanism for synergism is the simultaneous activation of relatively independent receptor sites by the components in a mixture, and there was no evidence of mixture suppression. Single ORNs recorded in vivo responded to stimuli with either …

Life History Biology And Soil Characteristics Of Two Species Of Arctomecon (Papaveraceae), Shelia Kathleen Sheldon

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Two rare plant species of the Mojave Desert were investigated in this study. Life history and reproductive data as well as vegetative associates and soil characteristics for Arctomecon californica Torr. and Frem. and Arctomecon merriamii Cov. were collected. Results for the life history and reproductive data show that the highest mortality in both species occurs at the seedling stage. Loss of potential seed, for both species, was highest at the bud and capsule stage. Arctomecon californica was found to be reproductively self-incompatible, while A. merriamii was able to self-pollinate. Results from the vegetative and soil data show that the vegetation …