Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Psychology

Date of Award

5-2005

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Russell W. Brown

Committee Members

Michael L. Woodruff, Otto Zinser

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of chronic olanzapine treatment on cognitive performance and neurochemical function in a rodent model of schizophrenia. Animals were neonatally treated with quinpirole, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, or saline. Quinpirole treatment produces an increase of dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity that extends into adulthood, known as D2 receptor priming, similar to a phenomenon that occurs in schizophrenia. These same rats were treated in adulthood for 28 days with olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, or saline. Dopamine D2- primed rats demonstrated significant deficits on a cognitive task that were alleviated by olanzapine treatment. Brain tissue analysis revealed that D2-primed animals demonstrated a significant decrease in the neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampus and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the frontal cortex. Olanzapine treatment alleviated the decrease in NGF. The results suggest that olanzapine eliminates cognitive impairment and may have neuroprotective properties in the hippocampus of D2-primed rats.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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