Interrogating Adult Neural Stem Cell Plasticity using a Zebrafish Model

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2017-04-01
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Lo, Nelson Indiana
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Genetics, Development and Cell Biology

The Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology seeks to teach subcellular and cellular processes, genome dynamics, cell structure and function, and molecular mechanisms of development, in so doing offering a Major in Biology and a Major in Genetics.

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The Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology was founded in 2005.

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University Honors Program

The Honors project is potentially the most valuable component of an Honors education. Typically Honors students choose to do their projects in their area of study, but some will pick a topic of interest unrelated to their major.

The Honors Program requires that the project be presented at a poster presentation event. Poster presentations are held each semester. Most students present during their senior year, but may do so earlier if their honors project has been completed.

This site presents project descriptions and selected posters for Honors projects completed since the Fall 2015 semester.

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Genetics, Development and Cell Biology
Abstract

Stem cells are a promising option for human medical therapy. While pluripotent embryonic stem cells have an almost unlimited differentiation potential to become any type of cell, multipotent adult stem cells have a much more limited ability to differentiate. In order to better understand how adult stem cells choose their fate, two main factors were investigated: intrinsic versus extrinsic influences. This was accomplished by implanting rat adult hippocampal progenitor/stem cells (AHPCs) - which normally differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes - into zebrafish embryos during the blastula stage, an environment with almost unlimited potential for stem cells. These embryos were then allowed to grow to three or five days post-fertilization (dpf), at which point they possess a developed nervous system and are free-swimming. The fish were then imaged using fluorescence microscopy to monitor the fate and localization of the AHPCs in relation to the embryo. The results showed a majority of the AHPCs migrating to the outer eye region (38.5%), central nervous system (26.7%), and superficial skin layer (20.7%). Immunolabeling procedures to identify differentiated cell-types revealed the highest percentage of transplanted AHPCs were TuJ1-labeled (73.4%), which distinguishes immature neurons. No significant difference in AHPC survival between 3 dpf and 5 dpf were found. This preliminary analysis reveals that these brain stem cells are likely influenced by intrinsic cell machinery - regulation of gene expression - than their environment when choosing their fate. Through this knowledge, adult stem cells and their cell regulation behaviors can be further investigated to potentially find similar drug options that may mimic the regulation of their expression.

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