This study evaluated the effects of chronic olanzapine treatment on cognitive performance and neurochemical function in a rodent model of schizophrenia. Animals were neonatally treated with quinpirole, a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, or saline. Quinpirole treatment produces an increase of dopamine D2 receptor sensitivity that extends into adulthood, known as D2 receptor priming, similar to a phenomenon that occurs in schizophrenia. These same rats were treated in adulthood for 28 days with olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, or saline. Dopamine D2- primed rats demonstrated significant deficits on a cognitive task that were alleviated by olanzapine treatment. Brain tissue analysis revealed that D2-primed animals demonstrated a significant decrease in the neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampus and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the frontal cortex. Olanzapine treatment alleviated the decrease in NGF. The results suggest that olanzapine eliminates cognitive impairment and may have neuroprotective properties in the hippocampus of D2-primed rats.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2168 |
| Date | 07 May 2005 |
| Creators | Thacker, Stephanie K |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright by the authors. |
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