Animal Experimentation and Research Commons^™

Effect Of Traditional Versus Fenceline Weaning On Lamb Stress, Emma N. Sutton, Kenneth P. Coffey, Eva Wray, Derico Setyabrata, Bryan Kutz, Shawna Weimer

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Stress in sheep can negatively affect productivity and increase their susceptibility to illness and parasites. The traditional method of weaning lambs is the abrupt separation of lambs from their dams. An alternative method of weaning, fenceline weaning, where offspring are separated from their dams by a single fence but retain visual and auditory contact, has been found to reduce stress in cattle and may also reduce stress in sheep. The objectives of this study were to evaluate body weights, fecal egg counts, and behavior to determine if traditional or fenceline weaning has lower stress associated with weaning in lambs. The …

Multimodal Imaging Of Protein-Based Biomaterials For Delivering Chemo-Agent Cargo For Glioblastoma Treatment In A Murine Model, Orin Mishkit

Dissertations and Theses

Protein-based self-assembling biomaterials, known as Thermo-Responsive Assembled Proteins (TRAP), present meaningful potential as drug delivery carriers. These materials enable the controlled, slow release of poorly soluble chemotherapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin (Dox), while potentially reducing systemic off-target effects. In collaboration with multiple NYU labs, this study evaluated the efficacy of two TRAP variants—TRAP and F-TRAP—as drug delivery carriers in a xenograft mouse model of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

The primary objective was to compare the effectiveness of TRAP-loaded Dox (TRAP-DOX) to free Dox in achieving tumor extravasation and accumulation, facilitating sustained drug release. We hypothesized that the leaky vasculature of GBM …

Investigating The Presence Of Individuality And Behavioral Syndromes In Northern Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon Piscivorus), Joshua Lowy

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Within the last 15 ̶20 years, research on behavioral syndromes has seen a surge in prominence and popularity in behavioral ecology, revealing that many animals exhibit individually consistent behavioral tendencies. Behavioral syndromes occur when behavioral traits are correlated with one another within the same context or across different contexts. Despite new appreciation for the ecological, evolutionary, and conservation implications of behavioral syndrome data, the taxonomic breadth of studies is uneven. Snakes are underrepresented within squamate reptiles and, among venomous species, only two rattlesnakes (Crotalus) have been investigated for evidence of behavioral syndromes. My study investigates individuality and the presence of …

Effects Of Diet Composition On Physical Parameters In Danio Rerio, Isabella Hemphill

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

With the use of zebrafish as a common model organism for human health, the reduction of confounding variables in their care is key. Many commercialized zebrafish diets are available for purchase, but each one consists of a different ratio of these crucial macronutrients. This study aimed to determine the effects long-term diets high in one macronutrient would have on the morphometrics, heart, liver, and protein content of zebrafish. Four diets were fed over a period of almost two years- high lipid, high carb, high protein, and a control diet. The control diet was the standard feed used in this lab, …

Effects Of Energy Drinks On Crayfish Physiology, Melyna Sweeney

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Energy drinks have become the drink of choice among many college students due to the rush of energy it provides via the megadose of caffeine (Vercammen et al. 2019). Because of their newfound popularity, there is much research to be done about the effects on human physiology. Energy drinks are known to increase endurance in muscles of rat subjects (Imagawa et al. 2009) and stimulate enhanced “alertness” (Smit & Rogers, 2002). The purpose of this research was to uncover the potential effects that energy drinks have on metabolic rate and/or stress responses in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), with the …

Impact Of Tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) On Daphnia Magna Heart Rate, Ashley Cosgrave

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Marijuana (Cannabis) is currently federally illegal within the United States and classified as a Schedule I drug. This leaves a large research gap on the impacts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use. Daphnia magna are frequently used as a model organism for the human heart and toxicology screenings due to their myogenic heart, similarities in physiological pathways, and sensitivity to toxins. As such, in order to bridge the research gap and uncover potential use of Daphnia magna as a model organism for humans in regard to impact on heart rate, we hypothesized that if Daphnia magna possess CB1 receptors or an equivalent …

An Edna Assessment Of The Diamond Darter (Crystallaria Cincotta) In Its Current And Historic Distribution Range, Cameron Moore Layne

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Environmental DNA (eDNA) can serve as a useful monitoring tool for cryptic and imperiled freshwater stream fishes. eDNA can fill knowledge gaps regarding species’ distribution, site abundance, and habitat usage. The last known stronghold of the Diamond Darter (Crystallaria cincotta) in the Elk River of West Virginia provides an excellent test case to examine the utility of this non-invasive method of surveying rare species. Diamond Darters are one of the most newly recognized freshwater fishes in North America and are among the most imperiled U.S. fishes, having been federally listed as endangered in 2013. The cryptic behavior and limitations of …

Investigating The Role Of Prostasin In Angiogenesis: A Chorioallantoic Membrane Model Approach, Zaima Aline

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Prostasin, also known as PRSS8 or CAP1, is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored extracellular serine protease involved in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Prostasin expression is observed during key phases of trophoblast invasion and placental development, critical steps in embryo implantation in Rhesus monkeys. This suggests a role for prostasin in extracellular matrix remodeling and tissue invasion, both essential for a healthy pregnancy. Moreover, prostasin appears vital for development as studies in mice show that a germline knockout of the gene leads to significant placental defects and eventual embryonic death, highlighting its importance in vascular and structural development within the placenta.

Building …

Development Of An Injectable Chitosan-Based Bioink For Enhanced Bone Fracture Healing Via Msc-Derived Osteogenesis, Zeina H. Adel, Jana A. Hassan, Hala H. Muhammed, Haneen M. Elsaeid, Raghad M. Nasr, Ahmed M. Deghidy

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Worldwide, bone fractures are a major public health concern and, there is an urgent requirement to create new treatments to accelerate the rate of the bone healing process. This research mainly relies on creating a hydrogel that satisfies the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and makes it a suitable medium to differentiate into osteogenic cells. We combine the BM-MSCs with a chitosan polymer-based hydrogel, infused with PVA to enhance bone healing, this unique mixture forms " Bioink ". We induced a closed fracture model in the rat's right humerus, followed by injection of a single dosage of bioink. On …

Hyperglycemia Causes Differential Change In Macrophage Population In The Lacrimal Gland, Conjunctiva And Cornea, Saleh Alfuraih, Amy Tran, Lois Kim, Rais Ansari, Ajay Sharma

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Due to its location, the ocular surface is exposed to environmental microbes. Innate immune cells including macrophages are first line defense against infections. In vitro exposure to high glucose as well as diabetes-associated hyperglycemia has been shown to affect innate immune cell function and population. The present study was designed to examine the effect of diabetes-associated hyperglycemia on the lacrimal gland, conjunctiva and cornea macrophage population, phenotypic changes and cytokines/chemokines.

Methods: Mouse model of Streptozotocin-induced diabetes was used to induce hyperglycemia. Immunostaining for CD11b and F4/80 was performed to stain macrophages in whole mount cornea, conjunctiva and 50 µm …

Enhanced Glucose Production In Norepinephrine And Palmitate Stimulated Hepatocytes Following Endurance Training, Ken D. Sumida, Vera M. Lordan, Casey M. Donovan

Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Articles

Enhanced hepatic gluconeogenesis plays an important role in exercise glucose homeostasis when hepatic glycogen stores are depleted. Livers from trained animals demonstrate greater rates of gluconeogenesis in the presence of elevated substrate with and without hormonal stimulation. Training has been reported to have a particularly profound impact on norepinephrine-stimulated gluconeogenesis, but this was only demonstrated in the presence of other gluconeogenic hormones. Here we reexamine the impact of endurance training on norepinephrine-stimulated gluconeogenesis in the absence of any other hormones. Isolated hepatocytes from trained and untrained rats were incubated in 6 mM lactate with various concentrations of norepinephrine (0 nM–20 …

Bile Duct Ligation-Induced Cirrhosis Does Not Alter The Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability To Sucrose In Rats, Mohammad K. Miah, Ulrich Bickel, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Contradictory results have been reported about the effects of liver diseases on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability to markers. For instance, both an increase and no change in the BBB permeability to BBB markers sodium fluorescein and Evans blue have been reported in experimental cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats. These contradictory effects might be due to inherent limitations of these markers and/or methodological issues. Here, we investigated the time course of the impact of BDL in rats on BBB permeability using a recently developed stable isotope labeled marker [¹³C]sucrose, which is expected to be …

Informing Management Of American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) In The Carolinas: Evaluating Novel Fish Passage Approaches And Acoustic Tracking Methods, Margaret Gaither

All Theses

Acoustic telemetry is a valuable tool for fisheries scientists to study the movements and migratory behaviors of aquatic organisms. A critical assumption of this method is that tagged fish exhibit similar behaviors and survival rates as their untagged counterparts. To investigate this, we conducted a 12-week laboratory study on adult American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) using gastroesophageal insertion of acoustic transmitters. We implanted 80 fish with dummy transmitters and monitored tag retention and survival. Our analysis, employing a mixed effects Cox’s proportional hazards model, revealed no significant differences in survival between tagged and control fish, regardless of sex. Additionally, …

Production Objectives And Trait Preferences Of Smallholder Farmers In The Philippines: Implications For Designing Breeding Schemes Utilizing Indigenous Swine Genetics, Joy Banayo, Kathlyn Louise Manese, Kaito Furusho, Madeline Kingan, Justine Ayomen, Marcelino Saliw-An, Karina Marie Nicolas, Kayvin Joel Petipit, Dorothy Pagbilao, Vea Roven Arellano, Rene Santiago, Flomella Caguicla, Arnolfo Monleon, Giselle Perlas, Giselle Perlas, Rea Palma Ortego, Sharon Singzon, Agapita Salces, Takahiro Yamagata

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Profit maximization is not the only production objective in farming. For smallholder farms worldwide, family sustenance often takes priority, with production being viewed more as savings-oriented than market-oriented. Furthermore, market pressures can lead to the mismanagement of indigenous livestock resources, increasing their risk of genetic erosion. To ensure the long-term conservation of the Philippine native pig, this study aimed to determine the various types of native pig farmers and define the intervention strategies for each type. A total of 432 native pig farmers representing seven provinces in the Philippines (Benguet, Kalinga, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Marinduque, and Eastern Samar; n …

The Role Of Wt1 In Müllerian Duct Development, Jace Aloway

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

WT1 is a zinc finger transcription factor widely expressed in the urogenital system. Human mutations of WT1 lead to pediatric nephroblastoma as well as frequent differences of sex development (DSDs). Previous studies have suggested that WT1 acts as an activator for Amhr2, a necessary component of typical male differentiation. We used the mouse as a model to investigate the role of WT1 in sex development, where we deleted Wt1 in the Müllerian duct (MD) mesenchyme using a novel conditional null reporter allele, Wt1 flox-RFP. This allele utilizes the Cre-lox system to delete exons 8 and 9 of Wt1 …

Dog Sniffing Biomechanic Responses In An Odor Detection Test Of Odorants With Differing Physical Properties, Lydia Burnett, Nicholas Hebdon, Pete A. Stevens, Monica Moljo, Lindsay D. Waldrop, Lauryn Degreeff

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Dogs are utilized in forensic science for their extensive scent detection capabilities. They are often considered the “gold standard” in field detection for targets such as illicit drugs and explosives. Despite their prevalence in the field, relatively little is known about how dogs interact with and transport volatile organic compounds through their olfactory system. In this study, two groups of dogs were utilized – Sport detection dogs (n=19) that participate in the National Association of Canine Scent Work and have achieved advanced standing through training and successful search competitions and law enforcement explosive detection dogs (n=8) which were included for …

A Protocol For Immunostaining Of Macrophages In Whole-Mount Mouse Cornea, Conjunctiva, And Lacrimal Gland, Saleh Alfuraih, Dhruv Patel, Wonsuk Choi, Karthikeyan Ramasamy, Rais Ansari, Ajay Sharma

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The healthy lacrimal functional unit contains a resident macrophage population. Here, we present a protocol for immunofluorescent staining of macrophage markers, CD11b, F4/80, and CD206, in whole-mount mouse cornea, conjunctiva, and 50-μM-thick lacrimal gland section. We describe steps for dissection, fixation, permeabilization, and blocking. We then detail procedures for the detection and spatial localization of macrophages through immunostaining and confocal imaging. This approach circumvents the need to obtain thin tissue sections and acquire macrophage images from each tissue section.

Growth And Mobility Of Physella Acuta Under Individual And Combined Acetaminophen And Salinity Exposure, Rhea Wilder, Jason Doll, Daniel Elias

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Global climate change, driven by rapid population growth and anthropogenic activities, presents an urgent challenge to aquatic ecosystems. Salinity intrusion threatens water quality and availability for human and wildlife populations. At the same time, due to the demand for pharmaceuticals, these pollutants are increasingly detected in freshwater environments, with acetaminophen being one of the most prevalent. This research analyzed the individual and combined effects of salinity (2.5 g/L) and acetaminophen (488 μg/L) on Physella acuta. Overall, we observed reduced snail movement under elevated salinity and no effects on growth or movement with acetaminophen alone or in combination with salinity. …

Boar Sperm Performance In Polystyrene Transport Cool Box Under Various Storage Conditions And Holding Times [Rsearch Note], Santiago T. Peña Jr., Bianca Therese P. Ymas, Mark Edd B. Janier, Heherson A. Luza

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

When transporting highly valuable boar semen samples over long distances, it is crucial to ensure that boar semen is stored ideally at approximately 15 – 17°C to minimize the impact of cold shock and oxidative damage on sperm quality. This study evaluated the performance of a commercially available semen and embryo polystyrene transport cool box, BotuFLEX®, in preserving the quality of extended boar semen under different storage conditions and holding times. Boar ejaculates were extended at 1:1 or 1:3 using a commercial mid-term extender, stored in a BotuFLEX® semen cool box, and examined 24 vs. 48 h thereafter (Experiment 1; …

The Effect Of Acute Social Isolation On Neural Molecular Responses In Components Of The Social Decision-Making Network, Patricia C. Lopes, Madeleine Chang, Faith Holloway, Biola Fatusin, Sachin Patel, Chandler Siemonsma, Morgan Kindel

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Prolonged or chronic social isolation has pronounced effects on animals, ranging from altered stress responses, increased anxiety and aggressive behaviour, and even increased mortality. The effects of shorter periods of isolation are much less well researched; however, short periods of isolation are used routinely for testing animal behaviour and physiology. Here, we studied how a 3 h period of isolation from a cagemate affected neural gene expression in three brain regions that contain important components of the social decision-making network, the hypothalamus, the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala, and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, using a gregarious bird …

Stress Granule Formation Helps To Mitigate Neurodegeneration, M. Rebecca Glineburg, Evrim Yildirim, Nicolas Gomez, Genesis Rodriguez, Jaclyn Pak, Xingli Li, Christopher Altheim, Jacob Waksmacki, Gerald M. Mcinerney, Sami J. Barmada, Peter K. Todd

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Cellular stress pathways that inhibit translation initiation lead to transient formation of cytoplasmic RNA/protein complexes known as stress granules. Many of the proteins found within stress granules and the dynamics of stress granule formation and dissolution are implicated in neurodegenerative disease. Whether stress granule formation is protective or harmful in neurodegenerative conditions is not known. To address this, we took advantage of the alphavirus protein nsP3, which selectively binds dimers of the central stress granule nucleator protein G3BP and markedly reduces stress granule formation without directly impacting the protein translational inhibitory pathways that trigger stress granule formation. In Drosophila and …

Assessment Of American Tannin-Free Grain Sorghum As Feedstuff For Poultry: Nutrient Composition, Amino Acid Digestibility And Bird Performance, Santiago Sasia

All Dissertations

Given the rising cost of poultry diets, alternative ingredients like sorghum are crucial for maximizing returns without compromising product quality. Sorghum's drought tolerance and adaptability, along with its nutritional profile, make it a viable corn substitute. This dissertation examines the nutrient composition, amino acid digestibility, and performance of poultry fed with American tannin-free grain sorghum. Chapter II evaluates the impact of sorghum-based diets, with or without phytase superdosing, on broiler performance, including body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Results indicate that sorghum can replace corn without adverse effects on broiler performance. Chapter III explores the partial …

Microplastic Accumulation In The Marsh Periwinkle (Littoraria Irrorata), Sarah Keaton, Hannah Lukhard, Eli Windy, Manar Hasan

DePaul Discoveries

Contamination of oceans by microplastics (mm) currently poses a major threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Recent attention towards this issue has raised questions about the extent to which microplastics have accumulated in the environment, and has led to an increase in studies on the effects of microplastics in various organisms. However, levels of contamination in protected natural areas are still largely unexplored, yet can offer an important empirical perspective on the issue. In addition, little is known about the potential effects of microplastics on behavior in the field. This research was conducted within the protected ACE Basin National …

Spatial And Abiotic Effects Of Urbanization On Small Mammal Communities, Bri Casement

Master's Theses

Urbanization, the phenomenon of increasing human population density and artificial structures, is known to decrease the richness, abundance, and diversity of native wildlife populations, fragment natural areas, and increase human and human-commensal animal interactions with wildlife. Dynamics of species persistence in habitat fragments is often understood in the framework of island biogeography theory (IBT), with habitat fragments being analogous to oceanic islands. Despite the conceptual similarities between oceanic islands in IBT and urbanized habitat fragments (fragment size, fragment age, and distance to immigration sources), there are important differences. In urban fragments, the matrix is not completely impassible, habitats within fragments …

Antidepressant Effect Of Enzymatic Porcine Placenta Hydrolysate In Repeated Immobilization Stress-Induced Ovariectomized Female Mice, Minsook Ye, Sharon Nguyen, Min Ju Kim, Jee Sun Hwang, Gun Won Bae, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Insop Shim

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

When postmenopausal women are under stress conditions, this exacerbates mood disorders and issues with neuroimmune systems. The porcine placenta is known to relieve menopausal depression in clinical trials, but its underlying mechanisms for depression and anti-inflammatory functions remain poorly defined. The present study was designed to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of enzymatic porcine placenta hydrolysate (EPPH) on LPS-induced levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), corticosterone (CORT), and pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, the neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells was evaluated to examine the effects of EPPH on neurite growth. To mimic …

Hepatic Lrp-1 Plays An Important Role In Amyloidosis In Alzheimer's Disease Mice: Potential Role In Chronic Heavy Alcohol Feeding, Devaraj V. Chandrashekar, G. Chuli Roules, Nataraj Jagadeesan, Urvashi R. Panchal, Adenike Oyegbesan, Oghenetega E. Imiruaye, Hai Zhang, Jerome Garcia, Kamaljit Kaur, Sanda Win, Tin A. Than, Neil Kaplowitz, Moom R. Roosan, Derick Han, Rachita K. Sumbria

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Methods

Baseline Characterization Of Semen From Philippine Native Chickens: Banaba, Joloano And Paraoakan, Darcy Pamulaklakin, Carla Alilie Junsay, Consuelo Amor Estrella, Percival Sangel

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The study aimed to characterize and establish baseline data on the quantity and quality of fresh avian semen utilizing a sample of Philippine native roosters. Twenty-two heads each were acquired from breeds Banaba, Joloano, and Paraoakan. The baseline data analysis revealed significant variations in semen volume among different genetic groups, with Banaba displaying the highest volume, followed by Joloano and Paraoakan. Banaba also exhibited the highest semen pH value of 7.27 when compared to the other two genetic groups (P < 0.05). Across various genetic groups of native chickens, the majority of semen samples demonstrated a thick and creamy consistency and color (42.6%), followed by thin and creamy (32.9%), with a statistical significance of P < 0.05. Furthermore, variations in sperm concentration were observed among genetic groups, with Paraoakan having the highest sperm concentration, followed by Banaba and Joloano (P < 0.05). When the semen from Banaba and Joloano native roosters were extended in Ringer’s solution, it exhibited good motility, with more than 50% of spermatozoa in motion, even after six hours of extension. In contrast, the pooled extended semen from Paraoakan native roosters displayed poor motility, particularly after eight hours of extension (P < 0.05). The study also showed that storage temperatures did not significantly affect all the sperm quality parameters of Banaba and Joloano. However, for Paraoakan, samples stored at low temperatures of 5 – 10ºC had significantly higher percent motile and progressive sperm, and lower percent static sperm than those stored at room temperature (22 – 25ºC) (P < 0.05).

Positron Emission Tomography In Oncology And Environmental Science, Samantha Delaney

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The last half century has played witness to the onset of molecular imaging for the clinical assessment of physiological targets. While several medical imaging modalities allow for the visualization of the functional and anatomical properties of humans and living systems, few offer accurate quantitation and the ability to detect biochemical processes with low-administered drug mass doses. This limits how physicians and scientists may diagnose and treat medical issues, such as cancer, disease, and foreign agents.

A promising alternative to extant invasive procedures and suboptimal imaging modalities to assess the nature of a biological environment is the use of positron emission …

Development Of A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure) Using The Bess Beetle, Sreya Maddali

Honors Theses

Participating in scientific research has increasingly been important in helping students develop necessary science learning skills, like critical thinking. One way of introducing students to these experiences is a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE). CUREs enable students to improve in similar ways to internships and are more accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. The goal was to create a CURE centered around ecological genetics, using the Bess Beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus) as the focal organism of a 16-week course. This species was selected because of its wide geographic range and divergent genetic lineages based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) …

Cis-Regulatory Mechanisms Through Stages Of Erythroid Regenration, Yichao Zhou

Theses & Dissertations

Produced by steady state erythropoiesis, erythrocytes serve as vital regulators of metabolism and life by delivering oxygen to all the cells and tissues. Under acute anemia, steady state erythropoiesis is not sufficient to produce enough erythrocytes, leading to distinct mechanisms needed to regenerate large numbers of mature erythrocytes rapidly. Erythroid regeneration occurs in four stages: activation, expansion and differentiation, resolution, and post-resolution, according to the dynamics of erythrocyte numbers and progenitor activity. Erythroid regeneration throughout this timeline requires some critical extracellular cues, but the intrinsic molecular mechanisms needed to accelerate and decelerate the activity of erythroid progenitors in anemia and …