2012- 21st Annual NC State Undergraduate Research Symposium

Session Time : 4/10/12 12:15 PM - 4/10/12 1:30 PM

Content Area : Microbiology

Poster Appointment: , -

Student Presenters :
Shinhae Yoon Biology

Mentors and/or Co-Authors :
Suk-won Jin Cardiovascular

Abstract Title : Understanding the role of blood flow in Registration of Hematopoietic development

Abstract :
Definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that are capable of self-renewal and production of all mature blood lineages arise during embryogenesis. Both the timing of HSC induction and the gene programs regulating this process are well conserved across vertebrate species. Additionally, factors that affect HSC specification during embryogenesis often function similarly in HSC maintenance and/or recovery after marrow injury. The identification of factors that regulate HSC induction during embryogenesis is of significant therapeutic interest. Blood flow is a regulator of HSC identity. The method that this experiment uses is dextran injection and drug-induced modulation of heart rate. To increase blood flow, epinephrine treatment modulates heart rate and increases HPCs with in Zebra-fish CHT. The zebrafish has a number of unique characteristics that makes it a fantastic species for investigating vertebrate development and for modelling human disease. This study uses epinephrine RT/ Q-PCR processes as well. For results, hematopoietic progenitors within Zebra-fish CHT are regulated by blood flow; decreased flow leads to increased HPCs and increased flow results in decreased HPCs.