37 research outputs found
Effects of Hawthorn and Epicatechin on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Metabolic Rate in Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni
No full textHawthorn extract is a homeopathic substance advertised to lower hypertension, heart rate, and metabolic rate in humans. The suspected active ingredient is an oligomeric procyanidin called epicatechin which is thought to stimulate the release of nitric oxide to increase vasodilation and oxygen diffusion to the muscles. In this study, nine Mississippi map turtles will be divided into three groups: a control group (physiological saline injection), a hawthorn experimental group (500 mg/kg hawthorn extract injection), and the epicatechin experimental group (32.58 mg/kg epicatechin powder in physiological saline injection). The turtles will receive injections every other day over the course of four weeks. Metabolic rate, heart rate, and blood pressure will be measured before starting the injections, at the end of week two, and at the end of week four. A FMS field metabolic system will be used to assess the turtles’ standard metabolic rate at 25oC and a BIOPAC unit with electrode leads and a pulse transducer will provide electrocardiograms (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG). F-tests and T-tests will be used to determine if there are differences between the control and experimental groups. We hypothesize that there will be a statistically significant lowering of the metabolic rate, blood pressure, and heart rate of the experimental groups compared to those of the control group, and that the epicatechin powder will have a similar effect on cardiac function and metabolic rate to that of the hawthorn extract
The Effects of Intermittent Fasting Diet at Different Stages of Circadian Rhythm on Mus musculus on Metabolic Rate, Glucose and Ketone Levels, and Overall Body Fat Loss
No full textIntermittent fasting (IF) diets are popular weight loss regimens that are thought to promote heart health, fight inflammation, and reduce risk of cancer. For humans, fasting periods typically take place during the night with feeding periods during the day. However, it is unknown if this is the best fasting method in relation to a mammal’s circadian rhythm. Using laboratory mice (Mus musculus), we will study the efficacy of the IF diets at different points within a daily circadian rhythm. Mice will be placed in three groups: mice feeding ad libitum, mice fasting overnight, and mice fasting during the day. Metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, urine glucose and ketone levels, and overall weight change of the three groups will be quantified over a seven week period. Glucose and ketone levels will be tested using 96 well colorimetric assay kits. A flow-through respirometer will be used to test metabolic rate and respiratory quotient. If the time of day at which fasting occurs results in changes in lipid metabolism then we should observe significant differences in metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, urine glucose and ketone levels, and body weight between the daytime and nighttime fasted mice
The Impact of Intermittent Fasting Intervals on Autophagy: A Quantitative Analysis of Microtubule-Associated Protein Light Chain 3B (LC3) Expression
No full textHumans in modern society typically consume food at least three times daily. Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary strategy implemented to break the typical human eating pattern. During IF, individuals go for extended time periods with no food. Autophagy, derived from Latin for “self-consume”, is a cellular mechanism that involves the breakdown and recycling of damaged or dysfunctional cellular components, including proteins, lipids, and organelles. This process helps to conserve energy and raw materials during nutrient deprivation in order to sustain the fitness of cells. Research in mice has demonstrated that starvation can upregulate autophagy in cells. In order to test whether or not scheduled fasting periods lead to increased autophagy, three groups of mice consisting of short fasting (4 hours), long fasting (8 hours), and no fasting (ad libitum food) will be used. At the end of the three weeks, the liver and cardiac tissues of each mouse will be analyzed for concentration of light chain 3B (LC3), a microtubule associated protein that plays a critical role in autophagy. LC3 is responsible for the formation and function of autophagosomes, intracellular transport vesicles bound to lysosomes, which are upregulated during autophagy. We hypothesize that extended fasting durations will lead to a significant upregulation of LC3, potentially enhancing autophagic processes as a cellular response to nutrient deprivation. Determining whether or not IF upregulates autophagy is essential for elucidating its therapeutic potential in the prevention and management of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cardiovascular pathology
Investigating the Potential for Antidepressant-Induced Worsening of Depression in the C. elegans Model System
No full textIn 2018, over 70.9 million antidepressant items were prescribed, with about 9.5% of adult Americans struggling with some form of depression each year. An effective and widely used class of drugs to combat depression symptoms are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Unfortunately, the most prescribed SSRIs, fluoxetine (under the brand name Prozac), can induce considerable side effects. According to the national library of medicine, 30.4% of patients who take the common SSRI fluoxetine will develop acute worsening of depression (Ungvari et al., 2019). These symptoms may manifest as fatigue, reduced sexual drive, and/or decreased metabolic rate. While research has been performed on worsening depression due to SSRIs in humans, it is unclear whether the cause is psychological or pharmacological due to biases with self-reporting. We will use hermaphroditic Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism because they have serotonin receptors similar to those found in humans. We will expose C. elegans to fluoxetine and perform several behavioral and physiological tests to assess symptoms of depression. These exams will evaluate heart rate (a general indicator of baseline health), reproductive drive, and responses to stress and external stimuli. Each test was selected from the DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder in humans. If C. elegans develop the aforementioned symptoms, we can conclude fluoxetine intake manifests in physiological reactions. If few to none of the symptoms are present, it would indicate that the depression with fluoxetine is more psychologically than physiologically based
The Effects of Chronic Nicotine Exposure on Skeletal Muscle Function in Lithobates pipiens
No full textNicotine influences skeletal muscle by binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) at the neuromuscular junction. At these receptors, nicotine mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, initiating depolarization of muscle fibers. This depolarization activates voltage-gated calcium channels, followed by the release of calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Once released, calcium binds to regulatory proteins and initiates the actin-myosin interactions that cause muscle contractions. Relaxation occurs when calcium pumps begin to move the ions back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Chronic exposure to nicotine has been shown to desensitize muscles by disrupting their baseline membrane potential. In this study, groups of leopard frogs will be separated into control (no nicotine), medium, and high nicotine exposure groups for 3 weeks. Dosages will be determined by percentage change in metabolic rate, with a 3-6% change for medium dose and a 6-12% change for high dose. To administer the nicotine, the leopard frogs will have 1 mL of control or nicotine solution applied to their seat patch daily. The seat patch is an area of highly vascularized skin that is particularly absorptive. Following exposure, direct muscle stimulation using a force transducer and BIOPAC software will be used to assess both the change between electrical threshold and maximal muscle response as well as the time taken to reach complete muscle fatigue. It is expected that the chronic exposure to nicotine will negatively affect threshold and maximal response, as well as decrease the time taken to reach muscle fatigue
The Effects of Exposure to β-Estradiol on Metabolic Rate and Malate Dehydrogenase Activity in Lithobates catesbeianus
No full textDecline of amphibian populations can be partially attributed to pollution of aquatic habitats. Amphibians readily absorb soluble molecules from their environment through their skin, making them sensitive to pollutants. Estrogen (β-Estradiol) is a female steroid hormone that has become a micropollutant in American water systems. As a pollutant, estrogen has been found to cause reproductive, muscular, and immune system dysfunctions in amphibians, but its effect on metabolism is yet to be explored. One of estrogen's many functions is binding with estrogen receptors on promoter sequences in the Nuclear Respiratory Factor-1(NRF-1) gene, promoting transcription. The protein translated from NRF-1 is a cofactor required to produce mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). TFAM transcribes mitochondrial DNA and produces the electron transport subunits used in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The production of TFAM and OXPHOS subunits causes mitochondria to increase metabolic rate and divide. In this study, bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) will be divided into a control group and two experimental groups (exposed to 0, 15, or 30 ng/L of estrogen, respectively). Metabolic rate will be measured before exposure, two weeks after exposure, and 4 weeks after exposure. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is an enzyme that can be used as a marker for a tissue’s ability to utilize the citric acid cycle. After 4 weeks of exposure, MDH assays will be performed in muscle tissues to determine if enzymatic activity has changed. If estrogen increases TFAM production in bullfrogs, we hypothesize that their metabolic rate and MDH activity will be higher than observed in controls
Effects of Tea Tree Oil on Metabolic Rate and Reduction of Reactive Oxygen Species in Mus musculus
No full textMelaleuca oil, commonly known as Tea Tree Oil (TTO), has been a homeopathic treatment shown to reduce inflammation and prevent bacterial or fungal infections while promoting wound healing in mammals. The TTOs mechanism of antiinflammatory action has been shown to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in mice. However, TTO's ability to decrease ROS over a range of concentrations is unknown. We hypothesize that mice exposed to higher concentrations of TTO will result in lower levels of oxidative stress measured by a Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The assays will quantify the transcription of genes controlling mechanisms that reduce ROS. The mice will be divided into experimental groups: high exposure to TTO (820 ppm), low exposure to TTO (410 ppm), and control with no TTO exposure. The three groups will be exposed to UVB light six hours a day to ensure the mice are experiencing oxidative stress and to increase the production of ROS. Urine will be collected from mice to quantify the presence of oxidative stress using the TBARS assay. Metabolic rates will be measured each week using a Field Metabolic System (FMS). Information from this data can then be used to help evaluate the appropriate concentration levels of TTO required for effectiveness as a homeopathic treatment
Factors Contributing to Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) Susceptibility in Columbia Spotted Frogs (Rana luteiventris)
No full textThe fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) (Figure 1.) is the known causal agent of chytridiomycosis, a disease responsible for catastrophic amphibian declines across the world (Crawford et al. 2010). Bd is a saprotrophic fungus and is one of two known species within its Order understood to parasitize vertebrates (Rosenblum et al. 2010). In amphibians, Bd is able to penetrate and reproduce within the epidermis, leading to fungal infection throughout the skin (Berger et al. 2005). Susceptibility to Bd infection varies significantly between amphibian species and individuals and is influenced by many factors that may play a role in disease resistance, including the effect of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), cutaneous bacterial communities, and various environmental parameters. The goal of this preliminary research project is to illuminate the cumulative, multifaceted impact of these factors on frog survival (Figure 2.). For this project, Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris) were used as the model organism due to their relative resistance to lethal Bd infection
Ethanol Induced Apoptosis in Zebrafish Embryos and Prevention Through Sulforaphane Exposure
No full textAbstract only.Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are severe developmental disorders that are present in 2 out of every 100 children born in the US. FASDs are caused by exposure to ethanol in the womb, which triggers the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) that interfere with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and glutamate metabolism. Both are essential for the regulation of synaptogenesis during development. Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes that prevent ROS damage. Nrf2 expression can be increased with exposure to sulforaphane, a small molecule drug, and has been shown to prevent damage from oxidative stress when organisms are exposed to environmental toxins. Oxidative stress, which causes FASDs, through damage to mRNA, tRNA and glutamate metabolism, leading to apoptosis. Increased expression of Nrf2 has also been demonstrated to protect against tRNA associated damage. Both oxidative stress and damage to RNA contribute to apoptosis in the neural crest. Apoptosis leads to many of the defects in FASDs. Because Nrf2 protects against damage from oxidative stress, sulforaphane exposure, which upregulates Nrf2, will likely protect against apoptotic neurodegeneration. To examine this, a group of zebrafish embryos will be exposed to ethanol (1.25%), an additional group will be exposed to ethanol and sulforaphane (40μM), and a control group will be exposed to neither. If Nrf2 protects embryos from apoptotic neurodegeneration, then zebrafish embryos exposed to sulforaphane and ethanol will exhibit reduced apoptosis compared to zebrafish embryos exposed to only ethanol
The Effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol on Metabolism in Lithobates pipiens
No full text11-Hydroxy-Tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC) is the primary psychoactive metabolite of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a compound found in Cannabis. The effect of THC of mammalian vertebrates has been well studied, but the effect on amphibian physiology remains largely unexplored. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has receptors that bind to THC, specifically CB1 and CB2 receptors, which play a critical role in modulating physiological processes, including metabolism, immune response, and cardiovascular function. The presence of CB1 receptors have been found in amphibians but the presence of CB2 is unknown. This study aims to investigate the impact of 11-OH-THC on standard metabolic rate at 20°C in leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens). The experimental group will be dosed with 0.5 mg THC per kg frog and the control group will be ‘sham’ injected with saline. The exposure will be followed by metabolic rate measurements. Data will be statistically analyzed to determine if there are significant differences between groups. Findings from this research may contribute to a better understanding of cannabinoid receptor functions in non-mammalian vertebrates. Amphibians are ectothermic organisms and their metabolic rate is highly sensitive to environmental changes, making them an ideal model to study the role of THC on metabolic regulation. By exploring metabolic responses of amphibians to Cannabis, this research will provide valuable insights into the evolutionary conservation of ECS functions. Ultimately, this study aims to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of cannabinoid expression and its impact on vertebrate physiology, specifically metabolic regulation, bridging gaps between cannabinoid research in mammalian and non-mammalian species
