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THE EFFECTS OF ORAL COCAINE ON THE CIRCADIAN TIMING SYSTEM

Amicarelli, Mario Joseph
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1406227527

Abstract Details

2014, MS, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences.
The disruptive effects of cocaine on circadian-regulated functions, such as endocrine, physiological, and behavioral rhythms, are well understood. However, the experiments presented here are the first to explore the effects of long-term (weeks to months) cocaine exposure on the circadian system. This study was undertaken to investigate the actions of long-term cocaine administration on circadian parameters in mice, including photic entrainment, free-running period, and phase shift analysis. Cocaine was provided in drinking water in order to maintain continuous administration during scheduled and forced regimens. Chronic cocaine caused disruptions in the phase angle of entrainment, as well as intrinsic free-running period. Specifically, mice maintained under a skeleton photoperiod (a one minute pulse of dim light delivered daily) receiving forced cocaine entrained quickly to the light pulse at activity onset. Conversely, water controls entrained slowly to the light pulse at activity offset, resulting in a 180° shift in the phase angle of entrainment compared to the cocaine-treated mice. Next, mice exposed to only 21 days of chronic cocaine exhibited a significantly longer free-running period compared to controls. Mice with a cocaine-insensitive serotonin transporter (SERT) exposed to 21 days of chronic cocaine did not exhibit a significantly altered free-running period compared SERT mutant water controls. Additionally, SERT mutant mice displayed a significantly shorter free-running period compared to cocaine-treated wild-type mice. Finally, acute i.p. injections of cocaine in SERT mutant mice produced insignificant phase delay shifts compared to saline-treated SERT mutant mice. These cocaine-induced disruptions of clock timing could produce chronic physiological and psychological stress, contributing to abuse and dependence. Also, the effects of cocaine on the SCN are likely due to inhibition of SERT.
J. David Glass, PhD (Advisor)
John Johnson, PhD (Committee Member)
Jennifer Marcinkiewicz, PhD (Committee Member)
57 p.
Biology; Neurobiology; Physiology
SCN; Cocaine; Circadian Rhythm; Light; Mouse

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Amicarelli, M. J. (2014). THE EFFECTS OF ORAL COCAINE ON THE CIRCADIAN TIMING SYSTEM [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1406227527

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Amicarelli, Mario. THE EFFECTS OF ORAL COCAINE ON THE CIRCADIAN TIMING SYSTEM. 2014. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1406227527.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Amicarelli, Mario. "THE EFFECTS OF ORAL COCAINE ON THE CIRCADIAN TIMING SYSTEM." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1406227527

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2014, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License THE EFFECTS OF ORAL COCAINE ON THE CIRCADIAN TIMING SYSTEM by Mario Joseph Amicarelli is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.