Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Maxellende Ezin, Ph.D.

Abstract

Neural crest cells are a transient, migratory embryonic population that contribute to multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular system, craniofacial skeleton, peripheral nervous system, and enteric nervous system. Because neural crest development depends on tightly regulated signaling environments, disruption of developmental pathways can lead to congenital defects across multiple tissues. This thesis investigates neural crest development across embryonic organ systems, with a focus on serotonergic signaling, embryonic psilocin exposure, and sacral neural crest contributions to enteric development. Pharmacological disruption of 5-HT2B/2C signaling using 1-methylpsilocin altered cardiac morphogenesis in the chicken embryo, producing ventricular abnormalities, disrupted trabeculation, circulatory defects, and abnormal cardiac valve morphology. These findings suggest that serotonin receptor signaling contributes to normal cardiac remodeling and valve development. In addition, embryonic exposure to psilocin, the active serotonergic metabolite of psilocybin, altered multiple developmental outcomes. Psilocin treatment produced valve-specific cardiac morphology phenotypes, including tissue gaps in the tricuspid valve. Psilocin also increased embryonic head and eye area at low concentration, while fasciculation frequency remains unchanged. Finally, this thesis examines sacral neural crest contributions to enteric nervous system development, providing insight into progenitor-like cell populations of the sacral neural crest. Overall, this work highlights neural crest cells as developmentally-sensitive populations with broad clinical relevance and emphasizes the importance of studying serotonergic compounds in embryonic contexts as the clinical use of these chemicals expands.

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Available for download on Monday, July 09, 2029

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