Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

1376

Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Psychology

Concentration

General Psychology

Committee Chair

Charles Blaha

Committee Member

Helen Sable

Committee Member

James Whelan

Abstract

This study examined the function of D2 autoreceptors under the influence of a selective dopamine D2 receptor agonist (quinpirole) and antagonist (sulpiride). Inhibition of medial forebrain bundle (MFB) stimulation-evoked dopamine release by activation of D2 autoreceptors was investigated in the nuclues accumbens (NAc) of urethane-anesthetized mice using fixed potential amperometry. Trains of electical stimulation (5-40 pulses at 15 Hz) were applied to the MFB to endogenously activate D2 autoreceptors. Systemic administration of sulpiride blocked D2 autoreceptor-mediated inhibition of dopamine release in the NAc. Intra-NAc microinfusion of quinpirole by itself did not affect D2 autoreceptor-mediated inhibition of dopamine release. However, following pretreatment with sulpiride, intra-NAc microinfusions of quinpirole were effective in augmenting D2 autoreceptor-mediated inhibition of dopamine release. Together, these results suggest that short-term blockade of D2 autoreceptors in the NAc by a selective D2 receptor antagonist enhances the response of these receptors to a selective D2 agonist.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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