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Chronic Olanzapine Treatment Eliminates Cognitive Deficits Produced By Neonatal Quinpirole Treatment., Stephanie K. Thacker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

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. …