Browsing by Subject "Serum deprivation"
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Item Serum Deprivation Induces Apoptosis of Retinal Ganglion Cells Utilizing Mitochondrial Signaling Pathways(2003-12-01) Charles, Irma E.; Victoria Rudick; Raghu Krishnamoorthy; Ganesh PrasnnaCharles, Irma E., Serum Deprivation Induced Apoptosis of Retinal Ganglion Cells Utilizing Mitochondrial Signaling Pathways. Master of Science (Biomedical Sciences), December 2003, 90 pp., 10 illustrations. Apoptosis is the genetically regulated death of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in which there is a blockade of retrograde transport. This blockade results in the loss of neurotrophic growth factors that are essential for the survival of the RGCs. This study uses several different techniques to determine mechanisms underlying apoptosis in rat RGCs deprived of growth factors. An established line of transformed RGC was subjected to serum deprivation for 2-6 days and compared to RGC cells maintained in 10% FBS to study the cellular changes that occur as a result of the treatments. The results show that serum deprivation for 48 hours resulted in a 50% cell loss due to apoptosis. Apoptotic death was associated with activation of caspases 3, 8, and 9 along with increased levels of Bax and death receptors 3 & 4. These results indicate that serum deprivation results in RGC death via mitochondrial and also extrinsic pathways.Item Serum-Deprivation: A Model for Lens Cell Differentaition(2001-12-01) Ong, Marcia; Garner, Margaret; Agarwal, Neeraj; Roque, RouelOng, Marcia., Serum-Deprivation: A Model for Lens Cell Differentiation. Master of Science (Biomedical Sciences), December, 2001, 154 pp., 2 tables, 36 illustrations, bibliography, 91 titles. The purpose of thisi project was to develop an in vitro cell culture system in which mammalian lens epithelial cells differentiate into lens fiber cells. METHODS. Primary cultures were grown from lens epithelium explants obtained from bovine lenses and propagated in Minimum Essential Medium containing 10% calf serum. Subsequently, cell cultures were maintained in MEM supplemented with either 4%, 3% or 1% calf serum and left undisturbed for 21 days. Immunofluorescence experiments and Western Blot analysis were performed in order to determine expression of lens fiber-specific protein expression within these cells. RESULTS. The following lens fiber-cell markers, MP-26, beta and gamma crystalline and filensin were expressed in immunofluorescence micrographs and Western Blots, and cells propagated in 10% serum (high) did not express the fiber cell markers. CONCLUSIONS. Cultured lens epithelial cells maintained in reduced serum conditions differentiate into fiber cells.