Date of Award

4-2014

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Christine Byrd-Jacobs

Second Advisor

Dr. John Spitsbergen

Third Advisor

Dr. Karim Essani

Keywords

Zebrafish, microglia, deafferentation, olfactory bulb, phagocytosis

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The major goal of this study was to investigate a microglial response following deafferentation in the adult zebrafish, Danio rerio, olfactory bulb. Microglia were identified in the olfactory bulb using the 4c4 antibody and phagocytic-dependent labeling (DiA). Microglia responded to both methods of deafferentation namely, permanent (cautery) and temporary (Triton X- 100). On one and three days following both permanent and temporary deafferentation there was a significant increase in microglia in the treated olfactory bulb. At five and seven days after permanent and temporary deafferentation there was no longer a significant difference between the treated and untreated olfactory bulbs, indicating that a microglia response occured following permanent and temporary deafferentation. This study has established the foundation for future microglia studies in the degeneration and reinnervation processes in the adult zebrafish olfactory bulb.

Share

COinS