Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

6214

Date

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Psychology

Concentration

General Psychology

Committee Chair

Deranda B Lester

Committee Member

N Melloni Cook

Committee Member

Randy G Floyd

Abstract

Growing research indicates oxytocin may be involved in relieving anxiety and attenuating the rewarding effects of psychostimulants. The present study investigated the effects of subchronic oxytocin treatments on mesolimbic dopamine transmission in areas associated with anxiety (amygdala) and addiction (nucleus accumbens, NAc). Using in vivo fixed potential amperometry, stimulation-evoked dopamine release was recorded either in the amygdala or NAc in oxytocin pretreated mice. During dopamine recordings, mice received a drug challenge of either oxytocin, the dopamine reuptake blocker nomifensine (psychostimulant), or saline. In the amygdala, dopamine release was decreased following the oxytocin challenge but only in oxytocin pretreated mice. In the NAc, baseline dopamine release was decreased and the dopaminergic response to nomifensine was decreased but only in oxytocin pretreated mice. Together these results provide neurochemical support for previous behavioral studies suggesting oxytocin may be useful at treating aspects of anxiety and drug abuse.

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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