Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

Summer 8-31-2014

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology - (M.S.)

Department

Federated Department of Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Jorge P. Golowasch

Second Advisor

Farzan Nadim

Third Advisor

Gal Haspel

Abstract

Motor pattern-generating networks depend on neuromodulatory inputs to regulate the network activity. The pyloric network of the Cancer borealis stomatogastric ganglion (STG), a rhythmic motor pattern-generating network, requires modulatory inputs to generate this activity. When neuromodulatory inputs are removed, the pyloric network falls silent. However, patterned pyloric activity recovers spontaneously in about 24 hours in organ culture. To determine if synthesis of new proteins are involved in the recovery of pyloric activity after prolonged elimination of neuromodulators, translation inhibitors are tested on the recovery process of pyloric activity in C. borealis. In vitro experiments are conducted; the STG is exposed to the protein synthesis inhibitor Cycloheximide (CHX) and the transcription inhibitor Actinomycin D (ACD). The results suggest that early transcription and late protein synthesis play an important role in the recovery process of the rhythmic activity in the pyloric network of the crab STG. Late protein synthesis probably involves ion channels, since it is known that ionic conductance changes are affected by decentralization, which compensate for changes in the neuromodulatory environment of the pyloric network.

Included in

Biology Commons

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