Hippocampal neuronal morphology and spine density in a seasonally reproducing rodent, Richardson's ground squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorBrinkman, Benjamin
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorIwaniuk, Andrew N.
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-13T19:26:57Z
dc.date.available2020-01-13T19:26:57Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.degree.levelMastersen_US
dc.description.abstractBoth sex and reproductive status can alter the anatomy of brain regions within individuals. In mammals, these changes can be large in seasonally breeding species, but the extent to which fluctuations in brain region sizes are driven by neuron morphology has remained untested. I tested the hypothesis that sex-seasonal differences in hippocampus size are due, in part, to changes in neuronal morphology and spine density. Through analyzing Golgi-stained tissue from wild caught Richardson’s ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii), I found that season affects spine density in hippocampal neurons. In pyramidal cells, non-breeding squirrels had higher spine densities, but in granule cells non-breeding squirrels had lower spine densities. These seasonal effects on neuronal spine density likely reflect photoperiod, seasonal changes in stress, and activity levels in similar ways to studies of lab rodents. My results provide new insights into seasonal neuroplasticity in mammals and how it relates to their behaviour and environment.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/5653
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.proquest.subjectNeurosciences [0317]en_US
dc.proquest.subjectZoology [0472]en_US
dc.proquest.subjectMorphology [0287]en_US
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscienceen_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Neuroscienceen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en_US
dc.subjectAnimal behavioren_US
dc.subjectGolgi apparatusen_US
dc.subjectHippocampus (Brain)en_US
dc.subjectNeuroanatomyen_US
dc.subjectRichardson's ground squirrelen_US
dc.subjectSexual behavior in animalsen_US
dc.titleHippocampal neuronal morphology and spine density in a seasonally reproducing rodent, Richardson's ground squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Brinkman_Ben_MSC_2019.pdf
Size:
1.43 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
3.25 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Arts and Science, Faculty of
University of Lethbridge Theses