Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Biology

Seizure activity is the primary symptom in a common but very serious neurological disorder known as epilepsy. Brain glycogen is utilized for neuronal function, prompting us to investigate the role of brain glycogen during seizure activity in mouse models. Seizures were induced with Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in both wild-type mice and mice lacking brain glycogen (MGSKO/GSL30 mice). A time course of brain glycogen utilization after onset of seizure activity revealed a reduction of brain glycogen in wild-type mice. The glycogen synthase activity ratio increased after onset of seizure activity, while the glycogen phosphorylase activity ratio remained constant. Brain and blood glucose levels increased after seizure onset in wild-type mice. Despite lacking brain glycogen, MGSKO/GSL30 mice exhibited acute seizure activity. No differences were observed in seizure intensity, onset time, and duration between genotypes. These findings suggest that brain glycogen is important, but not required for PTZ-induced acute seizure activity in mice. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Biology

There is no abstract available for this dissertation. / Human Performance Laboratory

Thirty-eight female Wistar rats were studied to determine the response of citrate synthase (CS) and glycogen (GLY) to two similar programs of endurance training. Animals were randomly assigned to one of three groups: run-trained (RUN), swim-trained (SWIM) or sedentary control (CON). The treadmill trained animals ran at a speed of 27 m/min. up an eight degree incline. The swim-trained animals swam with 2% of body weight attached to their tails. The duration of the exercise protocols was 2 hours/day, the frequency 5 days/week and the length of the training regimen was 10 weeks. Liver GLY content (mmoles/g) for the exercise trained groups was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than CON. There were no significant differences between RUN and SWIM animals in the GLY levels of the hindlimb muscles. The GLY levels of the forelimb muscles were significantly greater (p0.01) in the SWIM animals compared to the RIJN animals, apart from the pectoralis (EEC). The CS activity in the soleus (SOL) and red -vastus (RV) of the RUN animals was significantly larger (p <; 0.01) than SWIM. The plantaris (PLANT) of the SWIM animals had significantly greater CS activity than the RUN animals. In the forelimb muscles, only -the deltoid (DEL) of the SWIM group was higher in CS activity than the RUN groups. The results of this study indicate that the mechanisms responsible for increased GLY storage in skeletal muscle are under independent control to those factors governing the changes in the oxidative enzyme CS. Differences in muscle GLY levels and CS activity between RUN and SWIM rats can be explained by contrasting mechanics in these two (nodes of exercise and the resulting fiber recruitment patterns.