Agonistic behavior is a critical aspect of animal behavior that is essential for survival and reproduction. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key neurotransmitter that has been shown to regulate a wide range of behaviors in both insects and mammals. In insects, NO has been demonstrated to modulate aggression, mating, feeding, and many other behaviors. In […]
C22: Phenotypic characterization of Foxe3 knockouts and a streamlined protocol for fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)
Foxe3 is a DNA-transcription factor (TF) that is vital to the normal development of the lens. The lens is a structural component of the eye that is responsible for transmitting and focusing light onto the retina. Here we examine the role that Foxe3 plays in regulating networks of genes that are essential for cellular differentiation. […]
C21: Changes in Interior Alaskan Flying Insect Biomass
In recent decades, there has been a notable decline in flying insect biomass levels. Since insects act as key contributors to various ecosystem services, it is important to understand changes in biomass levels for conservation purposes. Unfortunately, areas around the globe lack historical data on flying insect populations. This study attempts to establish a baseline […]
C19: Regulation of Lysozyme Expression and Activity by the Fragile X Mental Retardation Gene
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a genetic disorder involving mutation of the Fragile X mental retardation (FMR1) gene, accounts for up to 50% of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) cases. While many studies have examined cognitive deficits associated with FXS, effects on the immune system have not been well-researched. ASD patients are reported to have increased blood […]
C18: Effects of Invasive Amur Honeysuckle on Spring Wildflowers
Invasive species, those being species that spread and thrive when outside of their native habitat, are a big issue in wildlife areas today. Amur honeysuckle, the focus of my research, is a particular problem in the Eastern United States. Compared to most native plants, Honeysuckle will leaf out sooner and keep leaves longer into the […]
C16: Moth Diversity and Abundance in an Old Growth Eastern Deciduous Forest
Flying insect biomass is rapidly declining, despite insects being the most abundant and diverse group of animals on the planet. Research is only now revealing the extent of this ongoing decline, as most entomology-based research has remained focused on pest species in the past. It is vital that we begin to examine the extent of […]
C15: The Role of Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons in Fentanyl Consumption
The opioid epidemic is a significant public health crisis in the United States with a growing number of overdoses related to illicit opioids such as fentanyl. Ohio, in particular, has been greatly affected. One of the neural circuits implicated in opioid-related behaviors is the mesolimbic dopamine system –a reward pathway involving the ventral tegmental area […]
C14: The Effects of Early Life Stress on Alcohol Drinking Behavior in Mice
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex psychiatric disorder affected by both genetic and environmental factors (Mayfield et al., 2008; Tawa et al., 2016; Young-Wolff et al., 2011). One such environmental variable that strongly correlates to the development of AUD and alcohol abuse is early life stress (ELS) (Guinle & Sinha, 2020; Sinha, 2001). ELS […]
C12: The Effects of Sucrose on Chat-MOR Knockout Mice in an Operant Conditioning Chamber
The mesolimbic dopamine pathway is important for reward and motivation. However, neurobiological mechanisms behind these behaviors are complicated. This animal study gives us insight about how such mechanisms work. Here, we test how mu opioid receptors (MORs) expressed on cholinergic interneurons mediate the reward seeking behaviors for a natural reward (sucrose) to investigate the possible […]
C11: Testing a Novel Ligand for Non-dreadd Mediated Effects
The aim of this study is to lay the foundation for the development of a novel paradigm to study the effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) released from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) on fear and anxiety responses in rodents. The BNST is a stress-responsive, sexually dimorphic brain region and repeated, low-level activation […]