Data of histochemical studies suggest that THs exert significant influences on myelination and the process of neuron degenerations leading to deficit in brain development. Results of IHC in this study are not fully matched to gene transcription results. It indicates that gene transcriptions may not be synonymous with gene translation. The ratio of RNA transcripts to proteins may differ among genes. It suggested that the transcriptional and morphological studies are supplementary to each other. / In this study, hypothyroidism was induced by different regimens. They are 0.05% methimazole (MMI), 0.02% MMI plus 1% NaC1O4, and 0.1% propyl-thiouracil in drinking water of mother rats from day 16 of their pregnancies, postnatal day 1 or day 4 to day 24. The replacement therapy was done by giving either a single s.c. injection of 300 nM T4 18 hrs before sacrifice on postnatal day 16, or by giving s.c. daily injections of 1.5 ng T3 plus 9 ng T4 per gram body weight from postnatal day 11 to 15. Olfactory bulb (OB), hippocampus (H) and cerebellum (CM) and in some cases also cerebral cortex (CX) were studied. The axon guidance molecules and their related genes, Galpha proteins, RGSs and small GTPases mRNA levels were examined with Real-Time quantitative RT-PCR. Special staining on sagittal frozen brain sections with histochemical and immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques were also studied. / It is well established that neonatal hypothyroidism causes defective development of the brain. As signals for synaptogenesis, growth factors and their receptors regulate the gene expression of the growth cone proteins and axon guidance molecules, and control the differentiation of neurons during brain development. Galpha proteins are signal transducers and regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins are recently identified family of proteins that dampen G protein-coupled receptor-mediated signaling by accelerating the intrinsic GTPase activity of Galpha proteins. They play important roles in determining the intensity and specificity of signaling pathways in brain and their adaptations to synaptic activities. / The transcript abundance of some genes, such as Galphai1, Galphai2, Galphaol, Galphas, RGS 2, - 4, -5, -7, -8, -12, -16, -17, Mfn2, TRalpha1, TRbeta 1, Rheb, Rhes, Dexras1, Plexin1, Citron-Kinase, GAP-43, CRMP1, CRMP3, CRMP4 and CRMP5 in CM; Galpha12, Galphai3, G alphaol, Galphaolf, Galphaq, RGS 5, - 7, -8, -16, cdc42, Rhes, TC10, Dexras1, Citron-Kinase, TRalpha1, CRMP2, Wnt7A, Sema3A and GAP43 in OB and Galpha12, Galphai1 , Galphai2, Galphao2, RGS 5, -8, - 16, Mfn1, Mfn2, TRalpha1, Rhes, TC10, Dexras1, Citron-Kinase, GAP-43, CRMPI1, CRMP4, CRMP5 and Gda in H; TRalpha1, CRMP1, CRMP4, CRMP5, Plexin1, Plexin2, Gda and GAP-43 in CX are significantly altered in the neonatal hypothyroid rats. Of note, the mRNA levels of several genes were normalized by TH replacement therapy. Close correlations were found among various Galpha proteins, RGS genes, small GTPases and some axon guidance molecules in a brain- region- specific manner. Our results indicate certain direct or indirect transcriptional effects of the THs on the expression of brain development-related genes and these effects are probably under both temporal and spatial regulations during brain development. / by Yan, Ran. / "January 2007." / Advisers: Michael S. C. Tam; Chun Cheung Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-09, Section: B, page: 5776. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-238). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Thesis (PhD (Biomedical Sciences))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / The use of medicinal plants in the management of various health problems date back to the ancient times. However, only in recent years, researchers are starting to focus on the use of natural plant products as alternative treatment in disease control. Basella alba (Ba), commonly called Ceylon or Indian spinach is one of such medicinal plants, wildly cultivated and consumed mostly as vegetable. Studies have established many beneficial effects of Ba, including androgenic effects as well as antidiabetic effects which have been described in rats following oral administration of the leave extract. However, the actual mechanisms underlying the antihyperglyceamic effect of Ba have not been reported in any study and little or no research details are yet available on the potential beneficial effects of Ba in reproductive dysfunction resulting from diabetes mellitus. This study was aimed at investigating the mechanisms underlying the antidiabetic effect of Ba and the possibility of a role for the plant in correcting diabetic-induced reproductive dysfunctions in male Wistar rats. The first part of the study involved comparing of three different solvent extracts of Ba leaves namely ethyl acetate, methanolic and aqueous extracts for their antioxidant potentials, after which the aqueous extract was selected for further use in the experiments. Animal experimentation involved male rats (n=40) aged 8-10 weeks, randomly divided into four equal groups as follows: Healthy Control, Diabetic Control, Healthy Treatment and Diabetic Treatment. Diabetes was induced via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55mg/kg) and all animals subsequently received treatment via gavage (Rats in Control groups received 0.5ml/100g normal saline daily and treatment groups received 200mg/kg plant extract daily) for a period of four weeks. Fasting blood sugar and body weights were recorded weekly throughout the study. Animals were sacrificed upon completion of the treatment and blood samples and tissues collected for further analysis which included computer aided sperm analysis, Luminex® technology and enzyme-linked immunosorbent hormonal assays, inflammatory cytokine assays, analysis of oxidative stress markers and Histopathological analysis. The single intraperitoneal injection of a high streptozotocin dose resulted in hyperglycaemia, weight loss, subnormal sperm parameters, negative balance of inflammatory cytokines and endogenous antioxidants and degenerative changes in the pancreas, testes and epididymis as observed in the diabetic control rats. Oral administration with the aqueous extract of Ba for four weeks in diabetic treatment rats led to a significant reduction in blood sugar and improvement of sperm parameters by modulating the production of gonadal hormones, in vivo antioxidants and inflammatory cytokines. There was also significant recovery of normal islet histology and reduction in testicular and epididymal degeneration in the diabetic treatment rats when compared to their diabetic control counterparts. It was concluded from the findings of this study that the antidiabetic and profertility effects of Ba are largely dependent on the modulation of in vivo production of antioxidants, gonadal hormones and inflammatory cytokines, probably stimulated by one or more phytochemical component(s) that can be isolated in the aqueous extract of the plant

Chan, Lai Shan. / Thesis submitted in: Dec. 2008. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-152). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.I / PUBLICATIONS --- p.II / ABBREVIATION --- p.III-IV / INDEX OF FIGURES --- p.V-IX / INDEX OF TABLES --- p.X / ABSTRACT (English) --- p.XI-XIII / ABSTRACT (Chinese) --- p.XIV / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1-22 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.23-49 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS --- p.50-97 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.98-117 / BIBLIOGRAPHY / APPENDIX

Bibliography: leaves 186-211.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. College of Veterinary Medicine. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : [98]-101).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987.

published_or_final_version / Anatomy / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Pharmacology and Pharmacy / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy