Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Williams, Lakiesha N.

Committee Member

Rashmir-Raven, Ann

Committee Member

Pulakat, Lakshmidevi

Committee Member

Liao, Jun

Date of Degree

8-11-2012

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Biomedical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Abstract

Equine hyperelastosis cutis (HC or HERDA), a connective tissue disorder in American Quarter Horses, results in hyperelastic skin with poor wound healing. Similar conditions are found in many species and all forms display decreased skin tensile strength. Fibroblasts produce collagen and elastin fibers, forming networks, providing the dermis with strength, and elasticity. This study aims to carry out a 3-part evaluation between horse skin fibroblast (cells from horses affected with HERDA, cells from horses that are carriers of HERDA (recessive HERDA gene), and cells from horses that are normal (neither affected or carriers of HERDA); Studies include: 1. Cell proliferation assay 2. Apoptosis analysis of fibroblasts 3. Mechanobiology of stretched fibroblast. Studies have shown cellular deformation to have an overall effect on mechanical properties of healthy and unhealthy tissues. This investigation provides a micromechanical evaluation of HC/HERDA in an effort to quantify the cellular level differences between each condition.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/18651

Comments

Apoptosis (Cell death)||Mechanical stretching of cells||Cell proliferation||Fibroblast||Hyperelastosis cutis (HC)/ Hereditary Equine Derma

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