Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Psychology
Date of Award
8-2008
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Russell W. Brown
Committee Members
Wallace E. Dixon Jr., Otto Zinser
Abstract
Neonatal administration of quinpirole produces significant increases in D2 receptor sensitivity that persists into adulthood. This phenomenon, known as D2 receptor priming, is consistent with pathology in schizophrenia. Rats were administered quinpirole or saline postnatally and raised to adulthood. In adulthood, rats were administered d-amphetamine sulfate or saline every other day and were placed in a locomotor arena where activity was measured over 7 trials. Results showed that D2-primed rats receiving amphetamine were higher in locomotor activity across all days of testing compared to other groups. This effect was more prominent in males than in females. After sensitization, cerebrospinal fluid was taken via microdialysis from the nucleus accumbens core and was analyzed for dopamine content. Analysis revealed D2 priming produced a 300% increase of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core in response to amphetamine compared to controls. These results suggest that increases in D2 sensitivity may lead to increased reaction to amphetamine in psychotic individuals.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Cope, Zackary Adam, "Amphetamine Sensitization and in vivo Microdialysis of the Nucleus Accumbens Core of Adult Male and Female Rats D2-Primed as Neonates." (2008). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1953. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1953
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.