Small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels are expressed throughout brain regions important for long-term memory. They constrain the intrinsic excitability of neurons by enhancing afterhyperpolarization, shape glutamatergic synaptic potentials and limit induction of NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity. Behaviorally, SK channels modulate learning and memory encoding. It is hypothesized that SK channels influence cognitive symptoms of psychosis including executive functioning, working memory, and selective attention. Theories of psychosis currently posit that symptoms of psychosis are a result of dopaminergic hyperfunction, and glutamatergic dysregulation which can be induced following administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine. Initial experiments confirmed that sub-chronic treatment with KET produced significant impairment of object recognition memory, trace fear memory, and latent inhibition compared to SAL mice. A comparison of ketamine dosing regimens revealed the necessity for sub-chronic/chronic dosing on a consistent schedule with a wash out period, to obtain long-lasting attention and memory impairment. These experiments revealed for the first time that sub-chronic KET treatment elicited a new phenotype in male C57BL/6J mice: audible vocalizations. KET mice emitted audible vocalizations within 10 min of receiving KET injections, and vocalizations were detected up to 30 min after injection. Experiments conducted to determine the efficacy of SK channel agonists and antagonists on SK channels to modulate attention and memory in the ketamineinduced model of psychosis in C57BL/6J mice demonstrated for the first time that the SK2 channel activator, CyPPA, significantly reduced memory impairment and decreased the attention deficit of KET mice. A new method of analysis for trace fear conditioning freezing responses permitted a more accurate measurement of the ability of mice to discriminate the predicted delivery of shock during trace versus CS intervals. The application of the novel analytical method further demonstrated that KET mice failed to accurately discriminate these intervals, due to their impaired attention and acquisition of the trace conditioned response. This study examined the efficacy of SK channel drugs to rescue cognitive impairments in a pharmacological mouse model of schizophrenia. The results indicate that SK2 subunit activators and blockers, may provide a new therapeutic treatment for memory impairment and attention deficits seen in schizophrenic disorders. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fau.edu/oai:fau.digital.flvc.org:fau_64713 |
| Contributors | Rice, Claire A. (author), Stackman, Jr. Robert W. (Thesis advisor), Florida Atlantic University (Degree grantor), Department of Psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science |
| Publisher | Florida Atlantic University |
| Source Sets | Florida Atlantic University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 303 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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