Frontier in Physiology: Abstract Guidelines

Please follow the instruction on abstract submission. 02/02/2010

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY

30th ANNUAL FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY (FIP) SYMPOSIUM

APRIL 15th, 2010

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: Deadline March 12, 2010

All graduate students, post-docs and 4th year project students welcome!

The abstract is limited to 300 words and should strictly follow the sample provided below.  Please electronically submit your abstracts in WORD format to fip.abstract.gasp@gmail.com

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF

ABSTRACTS
FRIDAY MARCH 12th, 2010

Please check most appropriate box:

LEVEL OF TRAINEE

[  ] MSc student    [  ] PhD student    [  ] Post-doc    [  ] Undergraduate

PREFERENCE FOR PRESENTATION

[  ] Oral   [  ] Poster  [  ] Either

RESEARCH GROUPING

[  ]  Reproduction & Development   [  ]  Cardiovascular  [  ]  Endocrine & Diabetes
[  ]  Brain Research & Integrated Neurophysiology

SAMPLE Abstract

REGULATION OF STEROID RECEPTOR COACTIVATOR-1 MRNA IN THE FETAL GUINEA PIG HIPPOCAMPUS.
E. Setiawan1, D. Owen1, S.G. Matthews1,2,3. Departments of Physiology1, Obstetrics and Gynecology2, and Medicine3, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A8.
Glucocorticoid action in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is mediated by the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Transcriptional activation of target genes by GR is in turn dependent on the presence of coactivators, such as steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1). SRC-1 is ubiquitously expressed in the hippocampus and much of the brain. SRC- 1 interacts with GR in a ligand-dependent manner to enhance transcription. There is little published on SRC-1 expression in the brain during development or its regulation by glucocorticoids. We hypothesized that: 1) SRC-1 mRNA expression in the fetal hippocampus would change as a function of gestational age and, 2) hippocampal SRC-1 mRNA expression would be altered by prenatal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids. Results: 1) Fetal guinea pig brains were collected at gestational day (gd) 40 (neurogenesis), 50 (rapid brain growth) and 60 (myelination). 2) Pregnant guinea pigs were treated with vehicle, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg), or betamethasone (1 mg/kg) at gd 40/41, gd50/51, and gd60/61. Fetal brains were collected on gd62 and analyzed for SRC-1 mRNA by in situ hybridization. SRC-1 mRNA levels were detected by in situ hybridization. During fetal development, males showed a significant decrease with advanced gestational age in SRC-1 mRNA in hippocampal regions CA1/2, CA3 and CA4. Females show a similar trend towards decrease in these subfields but values did not reach significance. In contrast, SRC-1 mRNA levels increased significantly in the dentate gyrus of the gd 60 animals as compared to gd 40 and 50 in both sexes (p-values < 0.0001). Hippocampal SRC-1 protein levels correlated closely with mRNA expression. In the GC exposed fetuses, no significant effects were observed in any of the treatment groups. These findings suggest that while there may be spatio-temporal regulation of SRC-1 expression, SRC-1 does not appear to be directly regulated by glucocorticoids.
(This study was funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research - SGM: MOP- 49511 and DO: PREA, MD/PhD Studentship.)

Frontier in Physiology: Call for Abstract

Participate and share your work with your physiology colleagues. 02/02/2010

Dear Members of the Physiology Department,

On behalf of the Graduate Association of Students in Physiology, it is my pleasure to invite you to participate in the 30th Frontiers in Physiology research day to be held April 15, 2010.  

Students are expected to present their work at this event. FIP is a great way to showcase your work and hone those presentation skills. Abstract submission is now open and will close on March 12, 2010; attached you will find abstract submission guidelines. Please e-mail your abstract to fip.abstract.gasp@gmail.com.

Judging of posters and oral presentations by faculty, post-doctoral fellows and research associates would be most appreciated. Should you be able to help with the judging, please reply to our judging coordinators, Nathalie Goodfellow and Kathy Li (nathalie.goodfellow@utoronto.ca).
We look forward to hearing from you!
 
Éliane Proulx
Frontiers in Physiology Chair
Graduate Association of Students in Physiology

GASP Seminar Series: The Light After the Tunnel

Keep motivated through stories from your faculties. 12/1/2009

Drs. Milton Charlton, Michelle French, and Martin Wojtowicz will share their stories about how to keep motivated in research. Come out to learn from the wise, enjoy free food, and get to know your faculty!

Date: December 9th, 2009

Time: 12 - 1 pm

Location: Physiology Seminar Room (MSB3231)

Food and Drinks provided

GASP New Website

Now substantially improved and simplified. 11/30/2009

It's Finally Here. We will keep you posted on events organized by GASP and U of T. Come out to our pubnights and specials events to destress from your lab routine!