Aishini
Singh
Sponsor: Anna Denicol, D.V.M.,Ph.D. Animal Science A greater understanding of the development of ovarian follicles is critical to develop better strategies for fertility preservation and infertility treatments. However, the lack of an optimized protocol for follicle isolation presented a barrier in this field of research. We developed a streamlined and efficient mechanical method of preantral follicle isolation from bovine ovaries that consistently yields a greater number of follicles in a shorter time compared to previous protocols. This protocol consists of serial steps of cutting, homogenizing, and filtering the ovarian tissue for the obtention of small ovarian follicles in preantral stages and measuring between 40 and 300 µm. This method will be used to investigate the presence of the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) receptor, which is known to have a critical role in the development of later stage follicles. Although EGF has been used in culture media for the growth of preantral follicles in vitro, the presence of its receptor in bovine follicles has not been defined. Confirming the presence of the EGF receptor in preantral follicles will be the initial step of investigation of the cellular roles of this factor, and will create a broader understanding of early folliculogenesis. Investigation of the dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal activity underlying the development of tau pathology following traumatic brain injury in a Drosophila model
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Aishini Singh
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One of the major hallmarks of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a leading cause of neurological deficits and a risk factor for many neurodegenerative diseases, is the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain. Tau is a microtubule- associated protein, which upon hyperphosphorylation is thought to self-associate and form aggregates correlated with neurodegeneration. The series of events that cause tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in response to injury are not well established. We studied the behavioral effects on Drosophila melanogaster as a consequence of tau pathology induced by TBI. Subjecting flies expressing human tau to TBI led to an increase in inter-male aggression prior to copulation. To uncover the mechanism through which tau pathology leads to increased aggression post-TBI, we acutely activated dopaminergic neurons we identified as contributors to this increased aggression. Activation of this subset of dopaminergic neurons mirrored the increase in aggression seen in flies expressing tau following TBI. Along with the hyperactivity seen in the locomotion assay, these results indicate that TBI in the presence of human tau leads to neuronal hyperactivity. Ultimately, we hope to uncover the neuronal mechanisms through which TBI contributes to tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation, and leads to alterations in brain function and behaviors. UC Davis 34 th Annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference 156 Characterizing Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) Individuality: A Study on Intraspecific Variation of Cognition Lauren Sique
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UC Davis / Molecular & Cellular Bio / 2023
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Aishini Singh