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Blair_Dissertation_Edits 4.11.18.pdf (1.67 MB)

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Luteinizing hormone in the central nervous system: a direct role in learning and memory

Blair, Jeffrey A
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4219-5577
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1523397060445531

Abstract Details

2018, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / School of Biomedical Sciences.
Ovariectomy and concurrent loss of estrogens impair spatial memory and synaptic plasticity. However, ovariectomy is also followed by a stark increase in peripheral levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), an aspect that is associated with a marked decrease of brain LH levels. Since we recently discovered a correlation between brain LH levels and spatial memory, we hypothesized that after ovariectomy brain LH would decrease. Additionally, we hypothesized that restoring LH signaling in the CNS with an analogue, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), would ameliorate spatial memory deficits due to ovariectomy. We ovariectomized C57Bl/6J mice at 3 months of age, infused artificial CSF or hCG (3 or 30mIU/day) to the lateral ventricle at 6 months of age and trained mice to perform the Morris water maze task. Our data show that hCG treatment increases ERK phosphorylation, synaptophysin and rescues ovariectomy associated deficits in spatial memory on the probe trial of the Morris water maze task. Additionally, we treated primary neuronal cultures with 300mIU hCG, which increased the number of secondary neurites and branch points, an aspect that may be linked to the ability of hCG to increase ERK phosphorylation in vivo. Together, our data suggest that LH signaling is able to restore spatial memory deficits and increase the complexity of the dendritic arbor.
Gemma Casadesus (Committee Member)
Eric Mintz (Committee Member)
Kristy Welshhans (Committee Member)
Srinivasan Vijayaraghavan (Committee Member)
Aaron Jasnow (Committee Member)
Aging; Biology; Biomedical Research; Neurobiology; Neurosciences
luteinizing hormone, hCG, luteinizing hormone receptor, cognition, spatial memory, dendritic spine density, neuronal plasticity, ovariectomy, menopause

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Blair, J. A. (2018). Luteinizing hormone in the central nervous system: a direct role in learning and memory [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1523397060445531

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Blair, Jeffrey. Luteinizing hormone in the central nervous system: a direct role in learning and memory. 2018. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1523397060445531.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Blair, Jeffrey. "Luteinizing hormone in the central nervous system: a direct role in learning and memory." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1523397060445531

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1523397060445531
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© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.