Animals Commons^™

Sex-Dependent Differences In Cardiac Function And Strain In Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy, Anna J. A. Webb, Bea O. Cabot, Aasish Chowdary, Wilhelm S. Smith, Benjamin Zeidler, Cortland H. Johns, Craig J. Goergen

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat many types of cancer. While effective, doxorubicin can cause cardiomyopathy, a disease affecting the heart muscle. Although the effects of doxorubicin on the heart are well studied, the mechanisms leading to cardiomyopathy are not well understood. Previous studies have used murine models to study the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin. These reports showed that cardiac dysfunction is more pronounced in male compared to female mice. The goal of this study is to further evaluate sex differences in doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy using 4-dimensional strain mapping techniques. In this study, both female and male C57Bl/6J mice …

Field Journal: The Excluded Middle, Carrie E. Kouts

Masters Theses

What does it look like to engage with organisms and landscapes at the periphery of anthropocentric value structures? How does one break the internalized myth that the “built” environment is excluded from the natural world? When does a hyper-mobile and hyper-commodified society confront the exponential crisis of animal death? Within this series of journal entries, field notes, collection observations, weird prose, and sensory musings, one will find questions on the nature of being human and the complex narratives of care we encounter in a world shared with more-than-humans. Each handwritten vignette and photograph from daily life weaves a non-linear and …

Exploring The Landscape Of Animal Advocacy In Egypt: Insights Into Stray, Wildlife, And Farmed Animal Rights, Yara Moussa, Wasseem Emam

General - Animal Protection

This article examines the landscape of animal advocacy in Egypt, a nascent and growing field in one of Africa’s largest economies and most densely populated countries. It focuses on three types of animal advocacy: 1) stray animal welfare, 2) wildlife conservation, and 3) farmed animal welfare. The paper critically analyses current practices and trends in each of these areas, highlighting the main challenges and opportunities facing the growth of the movement. Our research draws on insights from interviews with active animal welfare organizations, situating their practical experiences, daily operational struggles, as well as instances of success, within Egypt’s wider socio-economic …

Acetylcholine Release In The Dorsal Lateral Straitum During Social Approach Task, Taylor Good, Oyku Dinckol, Noah Wenger, Jake Caselli, Munir Gunes Kutlu

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Nicotine Decreases ACh Release in the DS leading to a Serenic Effect during Social Approach Task

Acetylcholine (ACh) regulates attention, learning, and stress responses (Benarroch E. E., 2012). The dorsal striatum (DS), essential for stimulus-response learning, is also linked to anxiety and compulsivity (Casado-Sainz et al., 2021). We used behavioral pharmacology and in vivo fiber photometry to study ACh responses during social approach tasks in the dorsal striatum. Male and female C57BL/6J mice underwent stereotaxic surgeries to inject a fluorescent ACh sensor (ACh.Sn.Fr) and implant fiber optic cannulas in the DS. Using in vivo fiber photometry, we tracked ACh release …

Mechanisms Of Behavioral Change In Hosts Of Toxoplasma Gondii: A Review, Olivia Grimsley

Senior Honors Theses

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a highly ubiquitous parasite that latently infects an estimated 33% percent of the global population. Toxoplasmosis is of obvious clinical significance due to the extremely high risks to the unborn who contract it congenitally. Less attention has been given to a more subtle aspect of latent infection, which is the behavioral alterations that are commonly experienced by those who contract the parasite. Infected individuals commonly display a variety of altered behaviors, such as increased aggression and risk-seeking behaviors, depression, higher tendency towards suicide and self-directed violence, a loss of fear response, and a greatly increased …

Investigating Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Signatures Of Opioid-Induced Risk-Taking Behavior, Cana Quave

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Opioid use disorder occurs alongside impaired risk-related decision-making, but the underlying neural correlates are unclear. We developed an approach-avoidance conflict task using a modified conditioned place preference procedure to study neural signals of risky opioid seeking in the prefrontal cortex, a region implicated in executive decision-making. Following morphine conditioned place preference, rats underwent a conflict test in which fear-inducing cat odor was introduced in the previously drug-paired side of the apparatus. While the saline-exposed control group avoided cat odor, the morphine group included two subsets of rats that either maintained a preference for the paired side despite the presence of …

Determining The Bioaccumulation Of Minor Cannabinoids In Zebrafish Larvae, Kamdyn A. Holt

Honors Theses

Due to the increasing prevalence of cannabis product availability and usage in the modern United States, particularly among pregnant individuals, evaluating the bioaccumulation of minor cannabinoids to further understand the adverse effects of cannabinoids during early development is critical. This study quantitated the uptake of eight minor cannabinoids ((∆8-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆8-THC), ∆9-THC, ∆10-THC, cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC)) in zebrafish larvae following water-borne 2 µM exposures from 6 to 96 hours post fertilization (hpf). Larvae were homogenized at 96 hpf and analyzed using a gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method developed in this study. Bioconcentration …

An Exploration Of Behavioral Sex Differences Due To A Parkinsonian Gene, Pdr-1, In C. Elegans., Adriana Mulet Miranda, Mary B. Kroetz, Paul J. Kiser

Undergraduate Theses

Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system classified by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Males and females exhibit different symptoms however, the cause remains unknown. Through the use of a model organism, C. elegans, we will investigate an ortholog of a Parkinsonian gene, pdr-1, to explore whether or not there are statistical differences between the hermaphrodites and males through known behavioral assays such as Swimming Induced Paralysis and Basal Slowing Rate. In order to compare gender differences, we successfully conducted CRISPR, where we inserted the him-8 mutation, resulting in an increased population …

Investigating Mercury Contamination In Urban Fish: Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy And Histological Analysis For Environmental And Human Health, Indy L. Cockrill, Ross Andrew

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Mercury contamination in aquatic ecosystems is a pressing environmental and public health concern, particularly in urban areas where industrial runoff and wastewater contribute to heavy metal accumulation. This study investigates mercury presence in fish from Richland Creek in Nashville, TN, by analyzing histological changes in liver and muscle tissues. Mercury bioaccumulates in aquatic food chains, potentially leading to physiological damage in fish and posing health risks to humans who consume contaminated seafood. While prior research has established mercury’s toxic effects, there is a need for localized studies assessing its presence in urban waterways. The hope is to find histological abnormalities …

Longitudinal Changes In Aerodigestive Responses To Varying Nipple Properties In Infant Pigs, François D H Gould, Christopher Mayerl, Khaled Adjerid, Jessica Reibel, Nichole Charles, Chloe Edmonds, Rebecca Z German

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Coordination of respiration and swallowing is critical for survival in infant mammals and changes throughout infant maturation. Infants show sensorimotor feeding responses to changes in physical properties of nipples. Commercial nipples are promoted as improving aerodigestive coordination. However, it is unknown how nipple properties influence coordination of respiration and swallowing. Furthermore, how infant-nipple interactions change throughout maturation is not well understood. We designed and manufactured four silicone nipples of the same shape that varied in two parameters: nipple opening diameter and nipple stiffness. We used our validated infant pig model to test the impact of nipple parameters on aerodigestive coordination …

The Lungs Of The Finch: Three-Dimensional Pulmonary Anatomy Of The Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Castanotis), Aracely Martinez, Raul E. Diaz, Clinton A. Grand Pre, Brandon P. Hedrick, Emma R. Schachner

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The avian respiratory system has been an area of biological interest for centuries, with zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis) emerging in recent decades as a primary avian model organism popularized across numerous disciplines. The pulmonary system of birds is unique in that air moves unidirectionally through the gas-exchanging lung, and previous works have suggested anatomical constraints within the bronchial network that may be coupled to the inspiratory valving mechanism in Aves. We used µCT-based segmented models to visualize and describe the morphology of the zebra finch lower respiratory system and to examine intra- and interspecific differences of the bronchial tree with …

Reduced Set-Shifting Processing Speed In Male Rats Following Low Dose (10 Cgy) Proton Exposure, Hui Ho Vanessa Chang, Gyutae Kim, Kyu-Sung Kim, Richard A. Britten

Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases (CINID) Faculty Publications

Space radiation (SR) exposure poses significant biomedical risks, including effects on the central nervous system (CNS). These risks are particularly relevant to cognitive function during long-duration space missions. One critical cognitive skill is decision-making, which requires attentional set-shifting (ATSET)—the ability to quickly assess problems, evaluate options, and select the best actions. Previous studies have shown that exposure to However, the impact of low LET (< 1 keV/μm) protons, which significantly contribute to the total radiation flux astronauts encounter within spacecraft, on ATSET performance is unknown. To address this gap, we evaluated the effects of cranial irradiation with 10 cGy of 100 MeV/n protons (LET = 0.732 keV/μm) on ATSET performance in male Sprague-Dawley rats. We also investigated whether concurrent exposure to variable gravity (hypergravity step-up, step down, purported to have the same effect as exposure to microgravity (another major spaceflight stressor) exacerbated SR-induced cognitive deficits. Our findings indicate that proton exposure alone significantly impaired ATSET performance, as evidenced by decreased processing speed while performing compound discrimination reversal and extra-dimensional shifting. Notably, no additive or synergistic effects were observed when hypergravity was combined with proton exposure. The impact that low-dose proton exposure has on CNS functionality, particularly in reducing processing speed during complex tasks, warrant further investigation. If similar cognitive deficits were to occur in astronauts exposed to galactic cosmic rays, mission success and safety could be significantly compromised.

Gene Expression In Relation To Bone Fractures In Throughbred Racehorses, Anna M. Rauber-Ramos

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Evidence that fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses are outcomes of chronic bone microdamage has led to extensive research into identifying horses at increased risk of fracture. This includes the use of biomarkers and messenger RNA (mRNA) as a measure of bone turnover. Previous research has found expression differences in horses with fractures compared to controls. Utilizing pre-race whole blood samples collected over an 18-month period from Thoroughbred racehorses in Southern California, RNA-sequencing was conducted on horses with bone fractures and race-matched controls to identify differences in gene expression. Focusing on third metacarpal (MC3) and proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) fractures, differentially expressed …

Man With An Itchy Back, Katherine Schaffer, Nevin Adamski, Brittany Ambrose, Kathleen Anderson

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

[First paragraph] A 61-year old man with no significant past medical history presented with painful bug bites on his lower back 1 day after a 1.5-week-long visit to Africa. He noticed bug bites on his lower back 3 days ago; since then, they have increased in size and become more painful. He was prescribed doxycycline at urgent care earlier that morning and had taken 1 dose. He is taking prophylactic medications for malaria and has had no fever at home. Vital signs, exquisitely tender papular lesions with a central punctum and surrounding erythema in the bilateral paralumbar regions.

Contact Pathway Factors As Potential Modifiers Of Bleeding Related To Factor Xi Deficiency, Ivy R. Han, Leah Rosenfeldt, Courtney Young, Bal Krishan Phd, Rachel Cantrell Phd, Cassie Sprague, Mousa Kharnaf, William Abplanalp, Joseph Palumbo Md

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Factor XI (FXI) deficiency, also known as Hemophilia C, is characterized by mild to moderate bleeding symptoms. However, the factors that modify bleeding severity in FXI deficiency are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether components of the contact activation pathway can act as modifiers of bleeding in the context of FXI deficiency. Using a tail vein transection (TVT) model in rats, we assessed bleeding in four experimental groups: wild-type Sprague-Dawley rats, Prekallikrein knockout (PKK^-/-) rats, rats treated with a FXI-inhibiting antibody, and PKK-/- rats treated with the FXI antibody.

Under anesthesia, each rat underwent a …

Chronic Administration Of A Cannabis-Derived Mixture At An Antihyperalgesic Dose Does Not Significantly Enhance Hepatotoxicity Or The Development Of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis In Male Mice, Kim B. Pedersen, Tomislav Jelesijevic, Tamara M. Morris, Sarah M. Melton, Ashley S. Henderson, John F. Glenn, Gregory J. Davenport, Martin J.J. Ronis, Peter J. Winsauer

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cannabis and cannabinoid mixtures have been linked to a variety of health benefits including pain mitigation, suppression of nausea produced by chemotherapeutic agents, anti-inflammatory effects, and effects on energy homeostasis, glucose, and lipid metabolism. The latter properties have led to the suggestion that these products could have therapeutic effects on the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) - a severe type of liver pathology in obese and diabetic patients. However, varying agonist and antagonistic properties of different cannabinoids on the endogenous cannabinoid system make prediction regarding hepatic effects and diet interactions difficult. The current study was designed to examine hepatic …

The Role Of Floodplain Complexity In Wood Turtle Habitat Use, Laura S. Deming

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Wood turtles occupy cold, low-gradient riverine habitat throughout the northeastern United State and southeastern Canada. Stream alterations, such as dams, channel straightening, and floodplain development have diminished the natural hydrologic and sedimentation regimes that result in complex channel and floodplain geomorphology. Studies throughout the species’ range have quantified many aspects of their habitat, but none have quantified components of geomorphology of wood turtle sites. The goal of this study was to explore the role of stream channel and floodplain geomorphology in wood turtle habitat use, with specific objectives to (1) quantify components of stream channel and floodplain geomorphic complexity, (2) …