Date of Award
Spring 5-2020
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Biological Sciences
Department
Biological Sciences
Major Professor
Bernard Rees
Second Advisor
Nicola Anthony
Third Advisor
Mary Clancy
Abstract
Although the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) orchestrates molecular responses to low oxygen, the amount of HIF-1α protein expressed during hypoxia varies among species, individuals, and tissues. This study measured HIF-1α protein levels along with several physiological and behavioral variables in the estuarine fish Fundulus grandis under normoxia (> 7 mg l-1 dissolved oxygen) and hypoxia (1 mg l-1 dissolved oxygen). Fish under hypoxic conditions had higher tissue levels of HIF-1α, hematocrit, blood glucose, blood lactate, frequency of aquatic surface respiration (ASR), and lower activity than normoxic controls. Under hypoxia, HIF-1α abundance in gill was positively correlated with body mass, HIF-1α abundance in liver was positively correlated with blood lactate, and HIF-1α abundance in brain was negatively correlated with time the fish was quiescent. Therefore, this work reveals that heterogeneity in HIF-1ɑ protein in tissues of fish is related to select physiological and behavioral variables under hypoxia.
Recommended Citation
Harris, Jasmine, "Physiological and behavioral correlates of HIF-1 alpha protein levels in the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis" (2020). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2748.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2748
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biology Commons, Cellular and Molecular Physiology Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.