03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

Apoptosis: Measuring the Apoptosis: Measuring the Seasonal Cycle Of Ovarian Seasonal Cycle Of Ovarian

Growth & Regression in the Growth & Regression in the American Crow (American Crow (Corvus Corvus

brachyrhynchosbrachyrhynchos)

Coventry DoughertyCoventry Dougherty

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus First Reported CaseFirst Reported Case

westnilemaps.usgs.gov/ usa_avian.html

TransmissionTransmission

www.oar.noaa.gov/.../archive/spot_westnile.html

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

American Crow DietsAmerican Crow Diets

OmnivorousOmnivorous

Seeds and fruitsSeeds and fruits

Marine and terrestrial Marine and terrestrial organismsorganisms InsectsInsects

Small mammalsSmall mammals

www.jonesctr.org/.../ food_plot_study.html

Bird eggs or nestlingsBird eggs or nestlings

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

Reproductive BiologyReproductive Biology American Crows are seasonalAmerican Crows are seasonal breedersbreeders

Starling Breeding CycleStarling Breeding Cycle

Dawson & Goldsmith, 1983

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

Purpose of StudyPurpose of Study

The mechanism regulating ovarianThe mechanism regulating ovarian growth and regression is unknowngrowth and regression is unknown

HypothesisHypothesis Change in ovarian sizeChange in ovarian size is due to apoptosisis due to apoptosis

Goal: To gain an understanding of the Goal: To gain an understanding of the molecular & cellular processes molecular & cellular processes regulating ovarian growth & regression regulating ovarian growth & regression

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

ApoptosisApoptosis(Programmed Cell Death)(Programmed Cell Death)

http://www-micro.msb.le.ac.uk/3035/kalmakoff/baculo/pics/Apoptosis.gif

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

MethodologyMethodology

Tissue processingTissue processing ~ Embedding~ Embedding ~ Sectioning~ Sectioning

Tissue acquisitionTissue acquisition ~ CA Dept. of Fish~ CA Dept. of Fish and Gameand Game

instruct.tri-c.edu/lfamian/ Ovarian%20Cycle.htm

Tissue analysisTissue analysis ~ Follicle state~ Follicle state ~ ICC~ ICC ~ TUNEL~ TUNEL

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

Preliminary DataPreliminary Data A trend towards increasing ovarian massA trend towards increasing ovarian mass

Change in Ovary Mass

March 2004 April 20040.0

0.1

0.2

Month

March: n = 11March: n = 11April: n = 11April: n = 11

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

Expected ResultsExpected Results

Change in ovary massChange in ovary mass

TUNELTUNEL

ICCICC ~ Bcl-2~ Bcl-2 ~ caspase-3~ caspase-3

Expected Results

0102030405060708090

March April May June July August

Month

Perc

enta

ge o

f cel

ls

unde

rgoi

ng c

hang

e TUNEL

caspase-3

Bcl-2

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

ConclusionConclusion WNVWNV OmnivorousOmnivorous

Broader ImpactBroader Impact ~ species-specific~ species-specific contraceptivecontraceptive

Mechanism regulatingMechanism regulating ovarian growth and ovarian growth and regressionregression

03 May 2004 Coventry Dougherty Biol 466H Presentation

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Howard Hughes Medical InstituteHoward Hughes Medical Institute

Dr. Kelly A. Young, California State University, Long BeachDr. Kelly A. Young, California State University, Long Beach

Dr. A. Z. Mason, California State University, Long BeachDr. A. Z. Mason, California State University, Long Beach

HHMI Program CoordinatorsHHMI Program Coordinators Dr. Margaret Merryfield & Cecilia Arriaza, California State Dr. Margaret Merryfield & Cecilia Arriaza, California State

University, Long BeachUniversity, Long Beach

Lab PartnersLab Partners Kim Jenkins & Chantelle Moffat-Blue, California State Kim Jenkins & Chantelle Moffat-Blue, California State University, Long BeachUniversity, Long Beach