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Cortisol Receptor Sensitivity As A Risk Factor For Depression, Michela Michielli

Honors Theses

In 2020, the World Health Organization reported over 264 million people across the world were suffering from depression. Studies have demonstrated that one source of depression is a hormonal imbalance involved in the stress response. Cortisol is a stress hormone regulated by the Hypothalamic-Anterior-Pituitary (HPA) Axis. Its effects on the stress response and other metabolic activities in the body are exerted through the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (GR and MR respectively).

Our research has examined mutations known as single-nucleotide-polymorphisms (SNPs) relating to cortisol-receptor sensitivity and the behavior of cortisol in the body to investigate the link between cortisol activity and …

A Comparison Of The Magnitude Of The Mental Health Benefits Of Exercising Outdoors Vs Exercising Indoors: A Review, Greta M. Rueschmann

MSU Graduate Theses

Many people in the United States suffer from poor mental health which can lead to suicide, self-harm, or negative effects on job performance and relationships. Not everyone can afford traditional therapy nor feels comfortable with it. With a greater emphasis placed on taking care of one’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, there should also be a greater emphasis placed on finding alternative types of therapy that can be matched to individuals based on their personalities and preferences. One such alternative is outdoor exercise. This review was conducted to examine whether exercising or performing physical activity outdoors results in greater …

Cross Sensitization Of Depressive-Like Behavior Through Two Depression Related Paradigms: Maternal Separation And Its Effect On The Forced Swim Test In The Guinea Pig, Amanda Danielle Schreibeis

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Separation and Its Effect on the Forced Swim Test In the Guinea Pig Early-life stress such as parental neglect, absence, or abandonment, has been hypothesized to increase the susceptibility for developing depression later in life via sensitization of stress-responsive physiological systems (e.g., pro-inflammatory cytokines, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). Guinea pigs offer a potential model, but study has been limited to behavioral observations obtained during maternal separation tests. This thesis examined the generalization of this response by asking whether it would cross-sensitize to behavior in another depressive-related paradigm, the forced swim test. In three experiments, pups underwent three forced swim trials, in shallower …

Anti-Depressive And Anti-Obesity Changes Following Either Dietary Isoflavone Treatment Or Injection Treatment With The Isoflavonoid Equol: Positive Response Dependent On Animal Age And Ovarian Status In Female Long Evans Rats, Crystal Blake

Theses and Dissertations

Two conditions associated with ovarian depletion are increased potential for depressive episodes and increased abdominal weight gain. In five different experiments we examined the effect of soy-containing diets or equol injections on depression, serotonin levels, weight gain (BW) and white adipose tissue (WAT) deposition of female Long-Evans rats in various stages of life. Rats were intact, ovariectomized or experienced natural ovarian failure (NOF). While this paper will present each experiment, only experiment 5 is outlined here due to space limitations. From conception the rats were exposed to either a soy-rich (Phyto-600) or low-soy diet (Phyto-low). Animals experienced NOF at approximately …