The expression of Hsf1 in the rat myometrium during pregnancy and labour

Heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1) is a protein known to be involved in both stress and developmental processes through the regulation of heat shock proteins. However, to date, no studies have been performed on examining its expression in the myometrium during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the uterus undergoes many structural and functional changes, and it also endures both mechanical and hormonal stresses. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis was to characterize the expression of Hsf1, and its associated factors in the uterus during pregnancy. Immunoblot analysis determined that Hsf1 protein expression was high early in gestation (day (d) 6) and then decreased significantly from mid gestation onwards (specifically when compared to d15, d17 and d22, p<0.05, n=5). Immunofluorescence analysis, demonstrated that Hsf1 was readily detectable in the myometrium but did not markedly change over gestation. Hsf1 was also localized mainly in the cytoplasm of myometrial cells, with some granular staining in the nucleus. Many related proteins of Hsf1 were also detectable in the myometrium, during pregnancy, such as PARP-1 and Hsf2. These results indicate that Hsf1 could play an important role early in gestation either to aid in myometrial cell proliferation or to upregulate expression of key genes necessary for subsequent myometrial differentiation.

Parasite-host interaction of the protoplast isolates of Entomophthora egressa with the eastern hemlock looper and the eastern spruce budworm

Hemocytes of the insects Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria and Choristoneura fumiferana did not adhere to the protoplasts of ~he fungus EntomoEhthora egressa. Hemocyte reaction for both insect species to test-particles was not suppressed by the protoplasts. The spherule cells of _-L. fiscellaria fiscellaria adhered to the spherical hyphal bodies and hyphae of ~· ~gressa. The granular cells of -c. fumiferana adhered to the hyphae of ~· egress~. Protoplasts exposed to papain were attacked by the granular ·cells of -c. fumiferana. Spent growth medium of both protoplast isolates produced paralysis when injected into -c. fumiferana larvae. Evidence suggests that heat-stable proteins may be involved. Protoplast isolates showed differences in the growth rates and regeneration sequences using coagulated egg yolk medium, a highly modified version of Grace's insect tissue . culture medium (MGM) and modifications of MGM and in the presence of C0₂. The isolates also differed in the changes that they induced in MGM composition during protoplast growth and in the rates of glucose utilization and protein secretion. The serum of c. fumiferana larvae contained protein(s) which we believe adhere to the cell membranes of the protoplasts of E. egressa. Evidence is presented for hemocyteplasn~ interaction in the presence of protoplasts. Components in the larval serum were found to influence protoplast growth patterns. The possibility of antiprotoplast serum activity is presented. Melanin, toxic levels of ninhydrinpositive compounds and antiprotoplast proteins may have been involved in this activity. The granular cells of -L. fiscellaria fiscellaria and Q• fumiferana adhered to the hyphae of ,Rhizopus ~i$rican~. Spores of Absidia repens and the bacteria Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus adhered to the granular cells of both species of· insects. The granular cells and plasmatocytes of -c. fumiferana were capable of phagocytosing -B. cereus. Adhesion of .A... . repens spores to c. fumiferana granular cells ~ . - was stimulated by N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine, moderately reduced by D-fucose, D-arabinose, D-mannose, D-galatose and sucrose and mildly reduced by D-glucose, D-fructose and trehalose. There was no evidence of humoral opsonins in larval hemolymph favoring test-particle-hemocyte interaction. Granular cells of c. fumiferana exposed to papain had reduced affinities for A. repens spores.