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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Reciprocal Thyroidal/Melatonin Influences During Development
- Sponsor Organization: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
- Project Title: RECIPROCAL THYROIDAL/MELATONIN INFLUENCES DURING DEVELOPMENT
- Project Focus: ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS
- Description: Metamorphosis is a developmental process that is characterized by
changes in formand physiology of non-reproductive structures to allow
for the occupation of newecological niches. In amphibians, the
internal and external changes of metamorphosis occur in temporal
relationships that appear to depend on a progressively-rising level
ofthyroid hormones in the blood. Moreover, the rate at which
metamorphic events occuris also influenced by environmental factors
such as the daily changes of light anddarkness. Since melatonin, a
hormone produced and secreted by the pineal gland,plays a major role
in signaling photoperiodic changes, Dr. Wright will determinewhether
it interacts with thyroid hormone in the regulation of the metamorphic
process. Using both in vitro and in vivo approaches, she will examine
the influence of circadianrhythms on the reciprocal interactions
between melatonin and thyroid hormones in thedevelopment of the
tadpole. Amphibians serve as primary models for embryologicaland
developmental studies and the vast majority of what we have learned
about thedevelopmental biology of amphibians is directly applicable to
our understanding ofhuman development. Therefore, these results are
likely to provide new insights into therole of hormones in early
development. Moreover, the findings will be related toconservation of
biological diversity since identifying the environmental and
hormonalfactors that influence development may help in understanding
the recent global declinein amphibian populations. Dr. Wright is
supervising this research at an undergraduateinstitution and,
therefore, a major goal of this project is to introduce students into
thescientific process and to prepare them for professional scientific
careers.
- References:
- Category: MODELS
- Subcategory: BASIC RESEARCH
- Keywords for Experimental System/Species: AMPHIBIANS, IN VIVO, LABORATORY STUDIES
- Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: NEUROLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, HORMONE MEASURES, PHYSIOLOGY, BREEDING
BEHAVIOR,THYROID HORMONES, MELATONIN, GROWTH, METAMORPHOSIS
- Chemical Agents: Thyroid Hormones
- Performing Institution: Our Lady of Elms College
- Contact: Mary L Wright, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 413 594-2761
Ext:298
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