Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

938

Date

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Biology

Committee Chair

Charles A Lessman

Committee Member

Judith A Cole

Committee Member

Bill A Simco

Abstract

Kaushik, Gayathri. M.S. The University of Memphis. August/2013. Ovarian dynamics in zebrafish (Danio rerio): A study of growth, vascularization, and estrogenic effects in follicle-enclosed oocytes in vivo. Major Professor: Dr. Charles A. LessmanThe timeline of follicle-enclosed oocyte growth and development is not known. To study this, mature female zebrafish, Danio rerio, were injected intraperitoneally with the marker trypan blue (TB). Ovaries were removed at different time post injection. Then, oocyte diameter and TB uptake were determined from brightfield and fluorescence microscopy images, respectively. TB uptake increased steadily up to 48 hours post injection and declined subsequently. In Tg(fli1:EGFP)y1 zebrafish that express green fluorescent protein in endothelial cells, ovarian blood vessel diameter was greater in larger oocytes and unaffected by in vitro treatments with vasoactive agents. In the transparent zebrafish, casper, oocytes naturally cycled between growth and regression in vivo. Exogenous estradiol and tamoxifen both disrupted the cycle and maintained ovaries in the regressed phase. Surprisingly, stopping the hormone treatment, restored the natural cycle. Together, these studies provide the foundation and tools for future experiments on oocyte development in zebrafish.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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