Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

855

Date

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Psychology

Concentration

General Psychology

Committee Chair

Helen Sable

Committee Member

Charles Blaha

Committee Member

Randy Floyd

Abstract

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are a very stable environmental contaminant. Perinatal exposure to PCBs leads to a depletion of dopamine (DA) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Dopamine depletion in mPFC, in turn, leads to inhibitory-control problems. This study investigated the link between perinatal exposure to PCBs, the effect of this exposure on DA levels in the mPFC, and inhibitory-control problems during adulthood using a rodent model. Significant effects of PCB exposure were found for physiological measures and on inhibitory control performance using a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding task (DRL) task. Microinjections of bupropion into mPFC appeared to dose-dependently improve performance, but this effect was not influenced by PCB dose. Thus, it appears drugs administered to enhance/sustain the action of DA released from the presynaptic terminal provide little therapeutic value at correcting the inhibitory control deficits that occur following perinatal exposure to PCBs.

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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