Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Chapter 9 Post

This chapter focuses on cell communication. Cell communication is defined as the process through which cells can detect and respond to signals in their environment. Cell communication is vital to our survival and involves an extraordinary diversity of signaling molecules and cellular proteins that are devoted to this process.


I actually find cell communication very interesting. This video shows an animation of cell communication. It was very well made and its explained very clearly. The major concept of cell communication is shown in a way that relates what we're learning to real life. Without cell communication, we wouldn't be here. Every bodily function relies on a myriad of signals from cell communication.

Apoptosis is programmed cell death. This article talks about leptin-deficient mice that are obese and infertile. The author believed dysfunctions of the ovaries were related to leptin-deficiency. Different mice with homozygote, heterozygote, or wild-type were obtained for analysis. The results were that compared with control ovaries with corpora lutea, ob/ob ovaries lacked corpora lutea, follicular atresia was at a higher rate; lipid droplets accumulated in follicle cells and in the oocyte with damaged mitochondria; the basement membrane of follicles was thickened. LOX-1 and CD36 expressions were comparable for all three groups. Ob/ob ovaries showed significantly higher levels of TLR4 and cleaved caspase-3 than the ones from the control groups. The high LC3-II/I ratio in the WT and ob/+ ovaries was related to the presence of corpora lutea. The StAR protein was lower in the ob/ob ovaries signifying reduced steroidogenesis. The conclusions were excessive lipid storage causes disorders of ovarian function in ob/ob mice. The local lipid overload leads to advanced follicular atresia with apoptosis and defect steroidogenesis. They suggest that the changes in lipid metabolism lead to increased oxidative stress and thereby, they are an important reason of anovulation and infertility.

This video shows signal transduction. It does a pretty good job of explaining everything and how its works. It gets relatively into detail without over analyzing signal transduction. It was sweet, simple, and got to the point.
 

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