Publication Date
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Debra Mayes, Ph.D. (Advisor); Adrian Corbett, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Nancy Bigley, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Females are more protected than males from neurodegenerative diseases until they go through menopause when this protection drops dramatically. It has been hypothesized that this neuroprotection is hormone-dependent. The current study characterized cell signaling molecules downstream of estrogen receptor beta that are known to play a role in memory, PKC, ERK, and connexin-43, in regions of the brain associated with memory decline in an attempt to elucidate significant changes that occur post-estrus. Total whole cell lysates were compared to isolated mitochondrial protein because mitochondrial function is known to be altered during aging. As hypothesized, protein concentrations differed depending on age, gender, and brain region. Additionally, many of these changes occurred within mitochondria but not within whole cell lysates indicating that these are epigenetic alterations. These findings accentuate the complexity of aging and provide insight into the gender-specific cellular processes that occur throughout this process.
Page Count
127
Department or Program
Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology
Year Degree Awarded
2018
Copyright
Copyright 2018, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
