Cassia Rubio-Turtle
Research Mentor: Tyler Huycke
Mentor Department: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, LSA
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 5 (2:00 PM – 2:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 124
Abstract
Intestinal development is an extensively studied topic; however, less is known about villi formation and structure maintenance. This research aims to understand the mechanisms underlying the formation of adult intestinal villi, with a specific focus on identifying the molecular pathways that regulate this process. By investigating these regulatory pathways, this project addresses gaps in preexisting knowledge with new findings of villi formation and integrity. Tissues were sectioned using a vibratome and imaged with confocal microscopy. Immunofluorescence staining techniques were used to visualize epithelial cell boundaries (E-Cadherin) and cell nuclei (DAPI) in developing and adult intestinal tissues, such as E-cadherin and DAPI. Collected microscopy images were further analyzed using Fiji. Both adult and fetal mouse tissues were obtained through humane euthanasia and dissection. Preliminary data suggest that the WNT signaling pathway plays a role in regulating intestinal villi formation. At this stage of the project, results primarily rely on imaging and pattern analysis. Additional data collection and analysis, and functional studies of the WNT pathway are ongoing with the hope of contributing to a broader understanding of the signaling mechanisms involved in intestinal tissue development and organization. Identifying the role WNT pathway in intestinal villi formation may provide insight into gastrointestinal development and disease, especially in cases where this pathway is disrupted. This research has the potential to inform studies of intestinal disorders and support advances in medical and biological research.
