Physiology Commons^™

The Distribution Of The Alpha 5 Nachr Subunits In The Mouse Lung, Jason Porter, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The study of developing tissues is extremely important in the field of biology. Each organ in the body adheres to an extremely complex and organized development process involving specific signaling molecules and pathways. Pulmonary development is no exception. Lung development adheres to intimately orchestrated processes that require precisely regulated reciprocal interactions between developing respiratory epithelium and the surrounding splanchnic mesenchyme. Proper lung development involves both spatial and temporal control of a myriad of factors including transcription factors, growth factors, cell surface receptors, and extracellular matrix constituents. My hypothesis when I began this project was that a5 subunits are expressed in …

Aer Signals Outgrowth Of Mesenchyme Cells, Owen Owens, Dr. Jeffery R. Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Apical Ectodermal Ridge has been of great interest to those studying the development of the mammalian limb every since it was discovered that the AER is vital to the formation of correct limb patterning and general limb formation. The AER is a ridge of cells located on the tip of the mammalian limb where it signals inner cells, called mesenchyme during development. This study analyzed proliferation, or cell dividing, and apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of mesenchymal cells in the hope to support the hypothesis that the AER signals mesenchymal cells to migrate, not proliferate or undergo apoptosis. We …

Upr Contributes To Osteoarthritis In The Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Mouse Model, David Nolte, Dr. David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis, affecting more than 26 million people in the United States1. The condition decreases mobility and causes pain. Furthermore, the spending for medical treatment of osteoarthritis is increasing quickly: Spending doubled from 1994 to 2005. With the increasing age of the U.S. population, prevalence of OA is expected to continue rising1. Thus it is important to find effective treatments to alleviate symptoms and/or prevent osteoarthritis. Recent research has shown that osteoarthritis involves more than just the cartilage of the joint. Synovium and adipose tissue contribute to the breakdown of articular cartilage2. Also, …

Synaptic Plasticity In The Rodent Hippocampus Involvement Of Trpv1 In Plasticity Of Area Ca1, Jared Weed, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The hippocampus is the area of the brain where long-term declarative memories are formed. Synaptic plasticity, the long-term strengthening or weakening of the synapse (the connection between two neurons), is the proposed cellular mechanism for the process of memory formation. The two types of synaptic plasticity are long-term potentiation (LTP), in which a synapse becomes strengthened; and long-term depression (LTD), in which a synapse becomes weakened.

Mechanisms In Learning And Memory, Michael Mcneil, Dr. Jeffrey Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Endocannabinoids are molecules that play an important role in neuromodulation and are also known to be a factor in many peripheral nervous system functions such as appetite and pain sensation. Recent discoveries have also shown that endocannabinoids and their cell-signaling mechanisms are found within the central nervous system, specifically within the hippocampus, an active component of declarative or explicit memory, yet their role in the CNS is largely unknown. Within the hippocampus there are two main categories of neurons, the pyramidal cells and the interneurons, and both are critical for hippocampal function. However, the interneurons appear to be involved in …

Researching The Effects Of Osteoarthritis As A Systemic Immune Response, Danielle Peterson, Dr. David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our bodies are dynamic structures that do not operate as individual compartments, but as a whole. When something goes awry in one specific tissue or organ, specific signals from that diseased area are released affect other tissues. I received an ORCA grant last year to study my hypothesis that degradation of Osteoarthritis (OA) is primarily associated with a systemic immune response to trauma of articular cartilage. In order to verify this hypothesis, a treatment that creates OA in one localized area while other tissues remained undamaged was needed. The OA genetic mutant mice that researchers normally turn to couldn’t be …

Localizing Endocannabinoid Receptors Gpr55 And Gpr119 To Subtypes Of Neurons In The Hippocampus, Ryan Williamson, Dr. Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that mediates learning and memory by altering the function of synapses within its circuitry via intracellular signaling molecules. The ability of synapses to change is called synaptic plasticity. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity can be mediated by endogenous lipid-based signaling molecules called endocannabinoids (eCBs) [3]. Two of the best studied eCBs are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG). Physiology data suggests that AEA may mediate synaptic plasticity in neurons of the stratum radiatum region of the hippocampus by binding to an unclassified G protein-coupled receptor called GPR55 [2,3,4,5]. Additionally, another unclassified G-protein coupled receptor, …

The Role Of The Apical Ectodermal Ridge, David Barnes, Dr. Jeffery Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Limb formation in tetra pods, animals with four legs, starts with the outgrowth of lateral plate mesoderm at the level of both forelimb and hind limb. A ridge of ectodermal tissue located at the distal margin, named the apical ectodermal ridge (AER), plays an essential role for the outgrowth and patterning of limbs. Patterning is defined as molecular or morphological differences that are established along an axis. The limb is patterned along each of its three axes: along the proximal to distal (PD) axis, the nature of the limb changes from humerus/femur (stylopod) to radius, ulna/tibia, fibula (zeugopod), to hand/foot …

The Nectin-Zyxin Interaction’S Role In Emt, Bradley Scott Colton, Dr. Marc Hansen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of our experiment was to prove the interactions between three different proteins named nectin, zyxin, and VASP. It is thought that these proteins are involved in forming interactions with the actin cytoskeleton between neighboring cells and add to the cell adhesion between cells in an epithelial layer of cells. Normally cells need to stick together to function together as a layer of cells. One of the characteristics of cancer is when cells break these cell-to-cell adhesions in order to migrate to different areas of the body and set up new tumor sites. This process is known as epithelialmesenchymal …

Rage Expression In Inflammatory Lung Diseases Triggered By Air Pollutants, Tyler Earley, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I was given a research grant of $1,500. My project was centered around discovery of cellsignaling pathways linked to inflammation specific to the lung. We studied a receptor that may be shown to integrally participate in inflammation in such diseases as COPD and Asthma. My studies followed Receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) which have been implicated in mechanisms of sustained pulmonary inflammation associated with several pathological conditions. This project sought to investigate the direct interaction of particulate matter and RAGE as well as RAGE’s role in perpetuating an inflammatory response in epithelial cells resident to the respiratory tract. This …

Regulation Of P450scc Expression: Ampk And Cortisol Release, Kimberly Dalton, Dr. Allan Judd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The amount of cortisol within the human body must remain at just the right level to adequately mediate the physiological stress response. With elevated cortisol levels, the immune system is suppressed, and the organism becomes vulnerable to infection. With reduced cortisol levels, the immune system is hyperactive, and the organism becomes vulnerable to autoimmune disorders. Too much or too little cortisol is lethal: clearly, cortisol levels have a great effect on human pathophysiology. The project I did provided one step in the mission to characterize the mechanism behind cortisol release. Once this is done, we will have a more thorough …

Mechanism Of Inhibition Of Influenza A Virus, Douglas Bretzing, David Busath

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The ability of influenza A virus to unpack its genome, replicate, and infect its host is contingent upon acidification of the viral interior. This is achieved by proton conductance via M2, an integral membrane protein that forms proton channels in the viral lipid envelope of influenza A virus (1). The drugs amantadine and rimantadine have previously been successful in blocking proton flux into the virus, however viral resistance to these drugs has recently reached over 90% (2). The goal of this project is to provide direct evidence as to the actual site of interaction between rimantadine and M2, thereby aiding …

Up-Regulation Of Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage) In The Lung Results In Significant Tissue Loss And Neonatal Lethality, Jeff Stogsdill, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is becoming an increasingly popular molecule of study after having been initially characterized in relation to a number of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and atherosclerosis among others. It has recently been noted that RAGE is found at high quantities in lung diseases such as lung fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) coupled with emphysema, yet the specific role it plays to date is unknown. In this research, RAGE has been conditionally over-expressed in the mouse lung in order to determine its contribution to pulmonary development and …

Understanding The Neuronal Controls Behind Heart Rate And Respiration, Sowmya Anjur

Faculty Publications & Research

Students in the course Physiology and Disease at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy learn physiology by designing, executing and evaluating their own experiments based on evidence. This semester, students designed laboratory experiments that involved the use of the same type of exercise to increase both heart rate and respiration rate. Students will collect quantitative data from these experiments to make conclusions regarding the correlation of heart rate and respiration rate. This will be followed by student research into the neuronal controls in the brain that were responsible for these correlations.

Intensity Of Exercise And Endothelial Function In Healthy Adults, Jacquelyn R. Moxey

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of acute bouts of isocaloric exercise at different intensities on endothelial function. The flow-mediated dilation (FMD) responses after the different acute exercise bouts were compared to a control (no exercise) condition. METHODS: Nine healthy subjects completed the study (6 males, 3 females, X ± SD = 24 ± 5 yr, 1.75 ± 0.11 m, 79.2 ± 12.4 kg, 47.9 ± 6.9 mL•kg^-1•min^-1). Vascular responses were compared under three different conditions- HIT: a bout of high-intensity interval treadmill exercise consisting of ten 1-minute intervals at ~100% VO_2max; MOD: moderate-intensity exercise …

Combination Therapy Of Hyaluronic Acid Mesotherapic Injections And Sclerotherapy For Treatment Of Lower Leg Telangiectasia Without Major Venous Insufficiency: A Preliminary Clinical Study, Tommaso Iannitti, Valentina Rottigni, Federica Torricelli, Beniamino Palmieri

Physiology Faculty Publications

Background. Telangiectasia is the dilation of dermal capillaries mainly due to hypertension and vein insufficiency. Treatments of choice for this condition are sclerotherapy with foam liquid or intradermal fiber optic laser energy delivery. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a new therapeutic approach consisting in the use of polymerized hyaluronic acid mesotherapicinjections following sclerotherapy in the areas of the skin affected by telangiectasia in patients without major vein insufficiency. Materials and Methods. A total of 20 women, aged between 19 and 64 years, affected by recurrent lower leg telangiectasia, were included in this study. …

The Perceived Demands Of Crossfit, Bryanne N. Bellovary

All NMU Master's Theses

Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue causing myoglobin, creatine kinase, and other intracellular proteins and electrolytes to leak into circulation, disrupting cell homeostasis. Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) occurs after extremely rigorous physical training that could include high amounts of strenuous eccentric exercise. There has been an increase in reports for mild to severe ER as well as other musculoskeletal injuries as the popularity of extreme conditioning programs (e.g., CrossFit®) increases. Therefore, the main purposes of this investigation were to identify: primary risk factors associated with ER during CrossFit®, CrossFit® workouts that might induce a higher risk for the development of …

Physiological Responses To A 60-Minute Zumba® Class In College Age Females, Jill Best Sampson, Rebecca Rogers, Kyle Biggerstaff, Dyanna Bullinger, David Nichols, Vic Ben Ezra

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Zumba® is a group exercise format that incorporates aerobic dance components and claims to be an appropriate physical activity to be included in an exercise prescription for improving cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this study was to determine the energy expenditure and physiological effects of a 58.6 min Zumba® class and compare the average METs of the Zumba® class to the ACSM’s definition of vigorous activity of 6 METs. All participants (n=30) were volunteers from Zumba® classes at Texas Woman’s University. Participants attended three Zumba® classes to become familiar with the choreography. The Zumba® session where data was collected was …

Quantitative Assessment Of Supraorbital Osseous Bar Stability And Symmetry After Frontal Orbital Advancement For Unilateral Coronal Craniosynostosis, Aaron Hart, Chia-Chi Teng, Dr. Richard Hopper, Dr. David Khechoyan, Dr. Jennifer Brown

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Abstract— Frontal-orbital advancement is the accepted surgical treatment for correcting the cranial deformity associated with premature fusion of one of the coronal cranial sutures. Removal and reshaping of the brow and lower forehead bone is performed to correct ipsilateral frontal flattening and parietal bulging, recession of the supraorbital rim, and contralateral forehead bossing. In addition to the functional aspects of the treatment, bilateral symmetry is one desirable outcome that is difficult to achieve because of the recessive movement and shape changes of the supraorbital rim that continue to occur over a prolonged period of time after the operation. Surgeons often …

Role Of Α6 Nachrs In Ethanol Modulation Of Vta Neurons, Samuel Injae Shin

Theses and Dissertations

The prevailing view is that enhancement of dopamine (DA) transmission in the mesolimbic system leads to the rewarding properties of alcohol and nicotine (NIC). The mesolimbic DA system consists of DA neurons in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) that innervate the nucleus accumbens (NAc). DA neurotransmission is regulated by inhibitory VTA GABA neurons, whose excitability is a net effect of glutamate (GLU) and GABA neurotransmission that are modulated by NIC cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) on afferent terminals. We have previously demonstrated that VTA GABA neurons are excited by low-dose ethanol but are inhibited by moderate to high-dose ethanol, and they …

Different Expression Of Placental Pyruvate Kinase M2 In Normal, Preeclamptic, And Intrauterine Growth Restriction Pregnancies, Brigham L. Bahr

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will be organized into two chapters discussing the placental expression of two proteins, pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and heat shock protein 27 (HSP 27), in human placentas. Understanding the mechanisms of placental metabolism in healthy and diseased placentas helps us understand how placenta disorders occur and how we can treat these disorders. The goal is to investigate these proteins to gain an understanding of their roles in placental disorders and help decrease maternal and fetal mortality rates. Chapter one covers the background of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in cancer and embryonic tissues, and the expression of PKM2 in …

Physiotherapy To Enhance Active Ageing, Yee Hung, Priscilla Poon

International Conference: Overcoming Challenges in Active Ageing

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Dichloromethane Fraction Of Areca Catechu Nut On Monoamines Associated Behaviors And Tyramine Pressor Sensitivity In Rodents, Shagufta Khan, Ghulam Abbas, Fahad Shabbir Ahmed, Attaur Rahman, Ahsana Dar

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

The current study was aimed at investigating the effect of Areca catechu nut dichloromethane fraction (7 mg/kg) on monoamines (serotonin and dopamine) modulation (5-hydroxytryptophan-induced tremors and phenylethylamine-induced stereotypes) and its interaction with tyramine (cheese effect). The dichloromethane fraction caused pronounced increase in 5-HTP-induced tremors (50%) with negligible PEA-induced stereotypes (20%). Additionally, it did not produce a significant increase in the tyramine pressor effects. These results suggest that the dichloromethane fraction of A. catechu nut primarily elevates serotonin levels (probably via monoamine oxidase A inhibition) and does not induce cheese effect.

The Effects Of Substituting True Protein With Non-Protein Nitrogen In Holstein Dairy Heifers Precision-Fed Different Forage To Concentrate Ratios, Noe Alberto Gomez

Animal Science

Understanding the efficiency and digestibility of dietary nutrients in dairy heifers is essential for minimizing costs and environmental impacts of the dairy industry. The objective of this study was to interpret the effects of manipulating rumen-degradable protein (RDP) in a precision feeding system. Eight Holstein ruminally cannulated heifers (14.6 ± 0.1 mo of age, and 386 ± 9.1 kg of weight) were randomly assigned to 2 forage levels: HC (25% forage) and LC (75% forage) and to a degradable protein sequence [0% degradable protein from urea U, 100% casein C (no urea treatment U0); 33% U, 67% C …

The Effects Of Aging On Skeletal Muscle Ampk Activation And An Analysis Of Chronic Aicar Treatment On The Aging Phenotype, Shalene E. Hardman

Theses and Dissertations

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic regulator, acts in opposition to many of the effects of aging and may provide insights into the development of sarcopenia. However, the effect of aging on AMPK activation is unclear. The purpose of this dissertation was to: 1) clarify the controversy concerning the activation of AMPK in response to endurance-like exercise in aged skeletal muscle; 2) address mechanisms for the age-associated alterations in AMPK activation; and 3) address the known benefits of chronic AICAR treatment in aged skeletal muscle. First, to clarify the effect of age on AMPK activation, young adult (YA) (8 mo.) …

Endocannabinoid Biosynthetic Enzyme Mrna: Patterns Of Expression In Hippocampus And Ventral Tegmental Area And Effects On Synaptic Plasticity, Collin Brutch Merrill

Theses and Dissertations

Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipophilic signals that are produced by postsynaptic neurons in an activity-dependent manner, and signal in a retrograde fashion to modulate neurotransmitter release. As such, eCBs are highly involved in synaptic plasticity, a process that strengthens or weakens synapses. eCB-mediated synaptic plasticity is involved in many brain processes including learning, short-term memory, and adaptive reward, which are processed in the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA), respectively. However, the expression of eCB biosynthetic enzyme mRNA within hippocampal and VTA neurons, as well as the relationship between these mRNA species and the occurrence of synaptic plasticity, remains unclear. The …

Life Course Approach To Successful Ageing, Lok Kwan, David Dai

International Conference: Overcoming Challenges in Active Ageing

No abstract provided.

Sex Differences In A Mouse Model Of Multiple Sclerosis: Neuropathic Pain Behavior In Females But Not Males And Protection From Neurological Deficits During Proestrus, Elizabeth J. Rahn, Tommaso Iannitti, Renee R. Donahue, Bradley K. Taylor

Physiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders in the industrialized world. This disease afflicts more than two million people worldwide, over two thirds of which are women. MS is typically diagnosed between the ages of 20-40 and can produce debilitating neurological impairments including muscle spasticity, muscle paralysis, and chronic pain. Despite the large sex disparity in MS prevalence, clinical and basic research investigations of how sex and estrous cycle impact development, duration, and severity of neurological impairments and pain symptoms are limited. To help address these questions, …

Selected Predictors Of Ankle And Hip Mobilty In Baseball Pitching Performance And Ball Velocity, Derek E. Howell

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

TACSM Abstract

Selected Predictors of Hip/Ankle Mobility for Baseball Pitching Performance and Ball Velocity

D.E. HOWELL and J.D. MILLER

Human Performance Lab, Department of Exercise of Sport Science, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK

Category: Undergraduate

ABSTRACT

Hip and ankle mobility are important variables in ball velocity and pitching performance. Possible indices in hip mobility are passivehip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER). A contributor of ankle mobility is passive ankle dorsi-flexion (PAD). This study examines the relationship of selected indices in hip and ankle mobility for collegiate baseball pitchers with the athlete’s respective coaches’ rating of pitching performance …

Acute Vascular Effects Of Aquatic And Land Treadmill Exercise, Dustin Joubert, Peter Grandjean, Stephen Crouse

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

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