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The role of the vasopressin 1b receptor in the regulation of sensorimotor gating

Dhakar, Monica B.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1302269033

Abstract Details

2011, MS, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / School of Biomedical Sciences.
The neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (Avp) plays an important role in the regulation of variety of social behaviors such as aggression, paternal care, social memory, and social motivation. Two types of receptors mediate these central effects: the vasopressin 1a receptor (Avpr1a) and the vasopressin 1b receptor (Avpr1b). Through the use of Avpr1b knockout mice (-/-) a critical role of the Avpr1b in the regulation of social behavior has been identified. Mice that lack the Avpr1b have impaired aggression, altered social recognition and reduced social motivation. In humans, Avp has also been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. One of the features of some neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, are deficits in sensorimotor gating, i.e., the ability to filter incoming sensory, cognitive and motor information. Deficits in sensorimotor gating can be modeled in animals by administering psychotomimetics and measuring prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. The objective of my thesis work was to examine the role of the Avpr1b in sensorimotor gating. PPI was assessed in male and female Avpr1b -/- and Avpr1b +/+ mice after injection of the following psychotomimetics: amphetamine, apomorphine and MK-801. We found that male Avpr1b -/- mice have significantly more disrupted PPI when treated with MK-801, which is a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, as compared to Avpr1b +/+ mice; no genotypic differences were found in females. These data suggest that Avpr1b’s modulation of the PPI neurocircuitry is likely via the glutamatergic system. We also found that Avpr1b -/- male mice have increased expression of NMDAR2A subunit expression in the hippocampus as compared to Avpr1b +/+ mice. It is likely that this alteration in the composition of NMDA receptors might be contributing to the PPI deficits seen in Avpr1b -/- mice following administration of a NMDA receptor antagonist.
Heather Caldwell, PhD (Advisor)
Eric Mintz, PhD (Committee Member)
John Johnson, PhD (Committee Member)
103 p.
Neurosciences
sensorimotor gating; vasopressin 1b, knockout, schizophrenia

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dhakar, M. B. (2011). The role of the vasopressin 1b receptor in the regulation of sensorimotor gating [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1302269033

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dhakar, Monica. The role of the vasopressin 1b receptor in the regulation of sensorimotor gating. 2011. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1302269033.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dhakar, Monica. "The role of the vasopressin 1b receptor in the regulation of sensorimotor gating." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1302269033

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1302269033
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.