Poon, Shui-Kei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-98). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract (in English) --- p.ii / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowledgement --- p.vi / Table of content --- p.vii / List of figures --- p.x / Symbols and abbreviations --- p.xii / Chapter 1 General Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Structure of ovarian follicles --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Folliculogenesis and its control --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- History of inhibin discovery --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Inhibin and its related proteins --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Inhibin --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Structure --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Function --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Signaling --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Expression --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Regulation --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives of the present study --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Spatiotemperoal Expression Profiles of Inhibin a in the Zebrafish Ovary / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Animals --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Chemicals --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Separation of oocytes and follicular layers --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Isolation of ovarian follicles --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- RNA isolation and reverse transcription --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Real-time and semi-quantitative RT-PCR quantification of expression --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Data analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Validation of semi-quantitative RT-PCR quantification --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Tissue distribution of inha expression --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Localization of inha expression within the ovarian follicle --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Further evidence for inha expression in the follicle layer --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Stage-dependent expression of inha in the ovarian follicles --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Regulation of Inhibin a Expression in vitro and in vivo and the Effect of Inhibin on Final Oocyte Maturation / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Animals --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Chemicals and hormones --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Preparation of goldfish pituitary extract --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Ovarian fragment incubation --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Preparation of spontaneously matured follicles --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Intra-peritoneal injection --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- RNA isolation and reverse transcription --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Real-time and semi-quantitative RT-PCR quantification of expression --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Data analysis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Validation of semi-quantitative RT-PCR quantification --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Temporal change of basal inha expression in cultured ovarian fragments --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Effect of pituitary extract on the expression of inha --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Effects of recombinant zebrafish FSH and LH on inha expression --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Effect of forskolin on inha expression --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- Involvement of PKA and p38MAPK in the pituitary extract and forskolin-induced up-regulation of inha expression --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Effect of recombinant zfFSH on the expression of inha in vivo --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Effects of inhibin on the basal and DHP-induced final oocyte maturation --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.54 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- General Discussion --- p.71 / References --- p.78

Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-02

Graduation date: 1997

Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-91).

Clitellate annelids display conserved mechanisms of segmental ectodermal and mesodermal patterning. These tissues are generated by asymmetric divisions of large stem cells called teloblasts, elongating the ectoderm and mesoderm of the embryo. Each teloblast-derived lineage makes highly stereotyped contributions to the leech: the N, O, P, and Q contribute specific neurons, epidermis, and other ectodermal tissues along the ventral-to-dorsal axis of the embryo, respectively. The N and Q ectodermal lineages appear to be specified autonomously, but specification of the O and P lineages depends upon interactions with other, neighboring teloblast lineages. Until quite recently, there have been precious few teloblast lineage-specific markers, and virtually no molecular candidates for genes influencing the proper differentiation of any of these lineages. Here, I explore the possibility that members of the Pax-Six-Eyes absent-Dachshund network are involved in leech ectodermal patterning. I show that the leech Helobdella sp. Austin has two Pax6 paralogs, and demonstrate that Hau-Pax6A is expressed early in a subset of N-derived cells and O-derived cells. Next, I demonstrate that an ortholog of the six gene family, Hau-six1/2a, is expressed in the P lineage. I show through a series of cell ablations that Hau-six1/2a expression is regulated by neighboring teloblasts in a manner consistent with P fate induction, hinting that this transcription factor may be involved in P specification. The identification of these genes is a first step towards dissecting the molecular mechanisms of ectodermal teloblast differentiation in the leech embryo. The evolutionary context of the deployment of these genes is also discussed. In the appendices, I present two projects on the evolution of pigment patterns in Danio rerio and its relatives. In the first, I show that the larval melanin-containing pigment cells of Danio nigrofasciatus are uniquely redeployed into the adult pigment pattern, in contrast to seven related fishes. In the second, I show that variation in yellow pigment cell populations in different danio species may be dependent on variable signaling through the receptor tyrosine kinase fms pathway. / text

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2003. / Document formatted into pages; contains 119 p. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2005 Aug. 19.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-206). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Villanova University, 2009. / Biology Dept. Includes bibliographical references.