Research Methods in Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Chronic Hypoxia On Cardiac Function In The Fetal Ovine Heart, Rodney David Rodrigo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It has been shown that long-term high altitude hypoxia during pregnancy was associated with a decrease in cardiac contractility in fetal sheep. Given that hypoxia caused apoptotic cell death in fetal and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, the present study tested the hypothesis that chronic hypoxia during pregnancy increases apoptosis in the fetal sheep heart. Pregnant (d 30) sheep were divided between normoxic control and chronically hypoxic (maintained at high altitude, 3,820 m, PaO₂: 60 Torr for 110 days) groups. Hearts were isolated from near-term (d 140) fetal sheep, and samples from all four chambers, right and left atria, and …

Age Related Changes In Contractile Sensitivity To Cyclic Gmp And Intracellular Calcium Compartmentalization In Ovine Arteries, Surya Margono Nauli

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The study examines the hypothesis that maturation changes the ability of cGMP to produce cerebral vasodilatation and alters the relative intracellular calcium pool sizes in ovine arteries. In ovine basilars taken from near-term fetal and young adult sheep, 8- pCPT-cGMP relaxed potassium- and serotonin-induced tone with pD2 values of 4.4±0.1 and 4.9±0.1 (fetal basilar) and 4.0±0.1 and 4.7±0.1 (adult basilar), respectively. In fura-2 loaded arteries, 8-pCPT-cGMP significantly lowered increases in cytosolic calcium concentration induced by serotonin but not potassium regardless of age. When calcium sensitivity was calculated in the same arteries as the slope of the relation between calcium concentration …

Optimum Bonding Time Of Four Different Curing Lights, Nathan Don Cotten

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

With the development of new high-intensity curing lights, the time required to bond orthodontic brackets is steadily decreasing. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum curing time for bonding orthodontic brackets using four different visible curing lights (Standard Optilux 501, High Intensity Optilux 501 with Turbo Tip, Virtuoso Plasma Arc, and ESPE LED light). This study also tested the new generation of light emitting diode (LED) lights to determine if they can be used for bonding orthodontic brackets. Three hundred freshly extracted bovine teeth were mounted in acrylic resin and divided into 20 groups of 15 teeth …

Animal Research: A Review Of Developments, 1950–2000, Andrew N. Rowan, Franklin M. Loew

State of the Animals 2001

The third phase of the animal research debate started around 1950. After World War II the government became a major sponsor of scientific research, including biomedical research. The budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grew dramatically and has continued to grow, with a few minor retrenchment periods, up to the present time (see Figure 1). This growth led to an enormous expansion in publicly funded research. In the private sector, the discovery of penicillin and streptomycin led to a tremendous expansion in pharmaceutical research and in the size of the prescription drug industry. These expansions in government funding …

The Ethical Limits Of Domestication: A Critique Of Henry Heffner’S Arguments, Colin Allen, Marc Bekoff, Lori Gruen

Experimentation Collection

Henry E. Heffner argues that “animals bred for research are properly viewed as animals who have successfully invaded the laboratory niche, relying heavily on kin selection to perpetuate their genes.” (1999, p. 134). This view of human–animal interactions is the cornerstone of his defense of animal experimentation in two widely-distributed papers (Heffner 1999, 2001). We argue that Heffner’s defense lacks adequate attention to ethical distinctions and principles.

Chondrocranium And Visceral Skeleton Of Atelopus Tricolor And Atelophryniscus Chrysophorus, E O. Lavilla, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Atelopus tricolor and Atelophryniscus chrysophorus have gastromyzophorous tadpoles. Aside from specific differences, the larval chondrocrania and visceral skeletons show several shared character states, including an almost quadrangular, open chondrocranium , cornua trabeculae with expanded tips, cartilago suprarostralis as a single element, a posteriorly projected arcus subocularis quadrati, a closed muscular tunnel, and a simplified branchial basket, with only three pairs of ceratobranchiales. They are compared with diverse character states of suctorial larvae considering them as causally related to the stream life adaptations.

Arkansas Animal Science Department Report 2000, Zelpha B. Johnson, D. Wayne Kellogg

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Animal Science is very much devoted to youth education and development. During the past year, over 20,000 youth were involved in 4-H livestock projects. Two very successful activities that took place last year were the Mid-American Grassland Evaluation Contest and Livestock Judging Camps. The Grassland Contest is designed to teach students about grassland resource management for livestock and wildlife uses. The contest was held in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Firstplace honors in the 4-H division went to White County, and second place honors went to Van Buren County. Two Livestock Judging Camps (Fayetteville and Hope) were conducted this past year. A …

Chronic Hypoxia, Exercise Training, And Skeletal Muscle Capillarity: Angiogenic Regulation And Morphological Consequences, Ivan Mark Olfert

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Angiogenesis is important in health and disease. In particular, exercise training is known to increase skeletal muscle capillarity, providing there is sufficient training intensity. The stimulus for this may be intracellular hypoxia activating angiogenic growth factor gene expression. Acute hypoxia alone has been shown to increase the gene expression of several key angiogenic regulators, e.g. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and to a lesser degree transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an endogenous negative angiogenic regulator. Paradoxically, however, chronic hypoxia is generally not found to increase mammalian skeletal muscle capillarity. Accordingly, we hypothesized that …

Primate Numerical Competence: Contributions Toward Understanding Nonhuman Cognition, Sarah T. Boysen, Karen I. Hallberg

Sentience Collection

Nonhuman primates represent the most significant extant species for comparative studies of cognition, including such complex phenomena as numerical competence, among others. Studies of numerical skills in monkeys and apes have a long, though somewhat sparse history, although questions for current empirical studies remain of great interest to several fields, including comparative, developmental, and cognitive psychology; anthropology; ethology; and philosophy, to name a few. In addition to demonstrated similarities in complex information processing, empirical studies of a variety of potential cognitive limitations or constraints have provided insights into similarities and differences across the primate order, and continue to offer theoretical …

Taking Animal Welfare Seriously: Minimizing Pain And Distress In Research Animals, The Humane Society Of The United States

ANIMAL RESEARCH

Pain and distress caused by specific research models and techniques raise serious concerns for those in the animal welfare community as well as in the scientific community. Yet good estimates of how much animal pain and/or animal distress is caused by particular techniques or methods are not yet available. The HSUS has compiled a preliminary list of research models and techniques that cause pain and distress. Analyses by the USDA and HSUS indicate that the majority of the animals reported in Column E are used in various testing procedures, with vaccine testing prominent among them. More data are needed to …

Periradicular Response Of Immunodeficient Rats To Mechanical Pulpal Exposure, James E. Stich

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Periradicular lesions develop as a result of the interaction between root canal irritants and the immune system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the periradicular response of immunodeficient rats to their oral flora. Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats received a total body irradiation dose of 750 cGy one week prior to the investigation. The pulps of the mandibular first molars of these animals and six nonirradiated rats were exposed mechanically with a ½ round bur and left open to the oral cavity. Additional irradiation (350 cGy) was administered bi-weekly to maintain immunosuppression. Periradicular specimens were obtained after two and four …

Evaluation Of Animal Model Research, Kenneth J. Shapiro

Experimentation Collection

It is argued that a concept of evaluation of animal models that is broader and more useful than validation is available. Productive generativity refers to the degree to which a model furthers understanding and leads to more-effective treatment interventions. Results of the application of this novel evaluative frame to several animal models of eating disorders show that this animal-based research has not been productive. The question of the relation between clinic and animal laboratory is discussed.

Comparing Genotypic And Phenotypic Methods For Differentiating Strains Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From The Environment, Lateef Y. Saffore

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, oxidase-negative, lactose fermenting rod belonging to the family Enterohacleriaceae. The enteric bacteria are common inhabitants of animal and human guts, but are not considered to be native to the environment. The presence of E. coli and similar enteric bacteria (coliforms) in surface water or groundwater implies the presence of fecal contamination from human or animal sources. E. coli has been used as an indicator of sewage-contaminated water since the 1930's and some strains are also causative agents of food or waterborne disease (Francy et al., 1993). The severity of disease can vary markedly depending …

Basic Biotechnology, Jennifer Flak, Julie Albrecht

Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary

An introduction to traditional cross-breeding and genetic engineering of plants, and to biotechnology.

Objectives - Basic Biotechnology

After completing Nutrition Basic Biotechnology, participants should be able to:

• Describe one similarity between traditional cross-breeding and genetic engineering of plants.
• Give two limitations that are encountered with traditional cross-breeding of plants.
• Explain why genetic engineering is not limited in the same way as traditional cross-breeding.
• Define biotechnology in broad terms.
• List three plant applications of biotechnology.
• List the three areas of nutritional profiles that have been improved with biotechnology.

Modules:

• Lesson home
• Objectives - Basic Biotechnology
• Historical Uses of Biotechnology
• Basic Understanding …

The Use Of Animals In Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives, & Recommendations, Jonathan Balcombe

eBooks

Despite recent advances in technology and increasing societal concern for animals, animals continue to be exploited and killed in large numbers so that students can learn about their structure and function. Dissection may not be without its merits from an educational standpoint, if well implemented, but it appears from student surveys that it usually is not. When one considers the associated costs—animal suffering and death in the supply trade, disruption of wild animal populations, messages that tend to undermine rather than reinforce respect for life and concern for others, rising costs of animal carcasses (as compared with alternatives with longer …

Role Of KAtp Channels In Reduced Antinociceptive Effect Of Morphine In Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice, Vivek Sood, Ajay Sharma, Manjeet Singh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The nociceptive effect was measured using withdrawal latency in tail flick test in mice rendered diabetic by administering streptozotocin (200 mg/kg, i.p.). The antinociceptive effect of morphine (4 and 8 mg/kg, s.c.) and cromakalim, a KATP channel opener, (0.3, 1 and 2 micrograms, i.c.v.) was significantly reduced in diabetic mice. Moreover, co-administration of cromakalim(0.3 microgram) did not alter the reduced antinociceptive effect of morphine(4 mg/kg) in diabetic mice. Spleenectomy in diabetic mice restored the decrease in antinociceptive effect of morphine and cromakalim. Multiple dose treatment with insulin to maintain euglycaemia for 3 days in diabetic mice prevented the decrease in …

Effect Of Actinomycin D And Cycloheximide On Ischemic Preconditioning-Induced Delayed Cardioprotective Effect In Rats, Devinder Singh, Ajay Sharma, Manjeet Singh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of actinomycin D, a transcription inhibitor, and cycloheximide, a translation inhibitor, on the delayed cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning. Left thoracotomy was performed in anaesthetized rats at 4th/5th intercostal space and polypropylene suture (5-0) was employed to occlude left common coronary artery. Ischemic preconditioning was produced by four episodes of 5 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 5 min of reperfusion and thoracic cavity was sutured. Left thoracotomy was performed again after 24 hr of ischemic preconditioning and left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min followed by reperfusion for …

Arkansas Animal Science Department Report 1999, Zelpha B. Johnson, D. Wayne Kellogg

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Research Report No. 117 - A 12-Month Survey Of Coastal Recreational Boat Fishing Between Augusta And Kalbarri On The West Coast Of Western Australia During 1996-97, Neil R. Sumner, Peta C. Williamson

Fisheries Research Reports

A creel survey of recreational boat-based fishers on the west coast of Western Australia was conducted from September 1996 to August 1997 to provide information required by fisheries managers. The bus route method, where a survey interviewer visits all boat ramps in a district on the one day, was used. The time spent fishing, catch, demographic and attitudinal information was collected from boat crews returning to boat ramps at the completion of a fishing trip. The total marine catch (number of fish kept) was estimated for key recreational species. Whiting species (other than King George whiting) (564,000) and Australian herring …

The Role Of Brn-3.2 In Retinal Ganglion Cell Differentiation, Jerin Marie Wright

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Within the retina, the POU domain of transcription factors brn-3.0, brn-3.1, and brn-3.2 are present only in retinal ganglion cells. These genes are believed to be involved in establishing neural cell lineages in mammals. In this study brn-3.2 was examined by comparing the number of ganglion cells present during postnatal development in normal mice (+/+), in mice homozygous (-/-) for the brn-3.2 gene, and in adult mice with a heterozygous gene deletion (+/-) for brn-3.2. Optic nerve cross sections were imaged by electron microscopy, and axon profiles counted systematically by hand. These counts were then related to the nerve cross …

Neuronal And Metabolic Increases In Pedunculopontine Nucleus Of Parkinson's Rats, Jonathan Dennis Carlson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The theoretical mechanisms underlying the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are based on dysfunctional output from the basal ganglia projected to the cortex via the thalamus. However, the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and substantia nigra pars reticularis (SNr) as part of the basal ganglia, also project to the brainstem, in particular to the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). Both the STN and SNr have altered neuronal activity in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) Parkinson’s model rat. Thus, it is hypothesized that the PPN is altered in this model of Parkinson’s disease.

This hypothesis was examined by comparing the rates of glucose metabolism and spontaneous neuronal activity …

Maternal Modulation Of Neonatal Immunity, Omar R. Fagoaga

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Although the neonatal immune system is functionally immature, immune response capabilities are not the same in all newborns. The objective of this thesis was to determine development of immunocompetence and test the hypothesis that activation of maternal inflammatory immunity during pregnancy influences maturation of the neonatal immune system.

Lymphocytes in blood and spleen were immunophenotyped by flow cytometric analysis to determine differentiation characteristics, and splenocytes were assessed for cytokine production capabilities. In normal Th2-prone outbred (CD-1) mice, an adult repertoire of naïve lymphocytes has developed by day 10 and memory cells by day 20, in blood and spleen. However, in …

Effect Of Obturation And / Or Coronal Seal On The Success Of Root Canal Therapy : An In Vivo Histologic Investigation, Douglas Snider

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Numerous studies have examined coronal leakage with in vitro protocols. A search of the literature showed the absence of a long term in vivo, histologic study, examining the effect of coronal and/or radicular leakage on periradicular health.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of obturation and / or coronal seal in preventing the formation of periradicular lesions in dogs over time. The study was conducted on six beagle dogs. Premolars were cleaned and shaped. Sixteen roots in each dog were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups of equal size. Group one was obturated using …

The Timing And Pattern Of Myogenesis In Hymenochirus Boettgeri, Matthew T. Smetanick, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Differences in the relative timing of homologous developmental events among closely related species, known as heterochronies, may provide valuable clues in understanding evolutionary relationships (McKinney, 1988; McNamara, 1995). Examining the timing of myogenic events is a relatively easy and effective method for finding heterochronic events. For example, whether muscle proteins and myofibrils appear before or after multinucleation can be determined through histological techniques (Kielbowna, 1981). Simple observations of live specimens can pinpoint functional landmarks such as first twitch (spontaneous or due to external stimuli) and first heartbeat.

Development Of The Suprarostral Plate Of Pipoid Frogs, Rafael O. De Sá, Charles C. Swart

Biology Faculty Publications

The rostral region of nonpipoid tadpoles has two sets of cartilages, the cornua trabeculae and the suprarostral cartilages, whereas the rostral region in pipoid larvae is occupied by a single and continuous cartilage, the suprarostral plate. The homology of this region in pipoid and nonpipoids tadpoles has been controversial. We examined the early formation and development of the suprarostral plate using serially cross-sectioned specimens of Rhinophrynus, Xenopus, and Hymenochirus. We conclude that the cartilaginous structures present in the rostral area of pipoid and nonpipoid larvae are homologous. Furthermore, we found two different developmental patterns among pipoid larvae. The chondrocranium …

Insulinlike Growth Factor 1- And 2-Augmented Collagen Gel Repair Of Facial Osseous Defects, James S. Toung, Roy C. Ogle, Raymond F. Morgan, William H. Lindsey

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

BACKGROUND: Defects of the facial bone structure are common problems for the facial plastic surgeon. Native type 1 collagen gels (T1CGs) have been shown to mediate repair of facial critical-size defects in rat models.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of T1CG augmented with insulinlike growth factor (IGF) 1, IGF-2, and a combination of IGF-1 and IGF-2 on the repair of facial critical-size defects in a rodent model.

METHODS: Twenty-four retired male breeder Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals. Facial critical-size defects were created by removing the nasalis bones with a bone-cutting drill. Defects were treated with …

Arkansas Animal Science Department Report 1998, Stacey Gunter

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Research Report No. 113 - Catch, Effort And The Conversion From Gill Nets To Traps In The Peel-Harvey And Cockburn Sound Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus Pelagicus) Fisheries, Roy Melville-Smith, Mark Cliff, Sonia M. Anderton

Fisheries Research Reports

Over the last few years, there has been considerable interest on the part of commercial fishers to move away from using gill nets, the traditional method for fishing for blue swimmer crabs in Western Australia (WA), to fishing with traps. Blue swimmer crab fisheries in WA are regulated by effort controls and most gill net fishers are restricted to hauling 1,000 metres (1,200 metres in the case of Cockburn Sound) of gill net per day.

The fieldwork in this study was initiated in March 1994 in Cockburn Sound and in January 1996 in the Peel-Harvey Estuary. It was aimed at …

Osteological Analysis Of The Killifish Genus Cynolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), Marcelo Loureiro, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Relationships among the species of the annual fish Cynolebias are unclear. An analysis of the variation and utility of osteological characters for phylogenetic analysis was done using cleared and double-stained specimens representing 21 species of Cynolebias. This analysis showed that some of the characters previously used to diagnose this genus and some of the species are polymorphic. Osteologically, Cynolebias can be diagnosed by the following synapomorphies: (1) triangular-shaped parietal, (2) vomer positioned ventral to the parasphenoid, (3) long ventral process of the dentary, (4) teeth on fourth ceratobranchial, and (5) teeth on first epibranchial. In addition, characters that help …

Research Fundamentals: V. The Use Of Laboratory Animal Models In Research, Brian J. O'Neil, Jeffrey A. Kline, Keith Burkhart, John Younger

Biomedicine and Animal Models in Research Collection

Animal research has provided important information about many aspects of the pathophysiology of human disease. Well-performed animal studies can determine the potential benefit of many proposed therapeutic interventions, and experimental results from animal studies have served as the basis for many landmark clinical trials. Many animal research models are described in the research literature, and choosing the appropriate model to answer a research question can be a daunting task. Even more challenging is developing a new model when none of the existing systems are relevant to the proposed question. This article was prepared by members of the SAEM Research Committee …