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Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Theses/Dissertations

2021

Dopamine

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

The Effects Of 17alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate On The Development Of The Mesocortical Dopamine Pathway And Cognitive Behavior, Melanie Lolier Jan 2021

The Effects Of 17alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate On The Development Of The Mesocortical Dopamine Pathway And Cognitive Behavior, Melanie Lolier

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation examined the complex developmental impact of the clinically relevant synthetic progestin 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) on medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) development. In rodents, the effects of 17-OHPC are subtle, but significant. In the Chapter II, we observed that 17-OHPC abolishes sex differences in dopaminergic fiber innervation and alters microglia phenotype in the prelimbic and infralimbic areas by the end of the first postnatal week. In the third chapter, the overall effect of 17-OHPC on the ontogeny of dopaminergic fiber innervation and synaptic bouton density were used to characterize the timing and duration of treatment effects in the mPFC. In …


Behavioral, Endocrine, And Neural Responses To Stress In Postpartum And Nulliparous Rats : Potential Mechanisms Of Postpartum Stress Resilience, Joanna Medina Jan 2021

Behavioral, Endocrine, And Neural Responses To Stress In Postpartum And Nulliparous Rats : Potential Mechanisms Of Postpartum Stress Resilience, Joanna Medina

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Major depressive disorder is one of the most pervasive psychiatric illnesses in the United States. Women are at greater risk for developing depression, particularly during their childbearing years. Approximately 17% of new mothers develop postpartum depression within 4 weeks after parturition. The risk for postpartum depression is even greater in women who do not breastfeed or stop breastfeeding early. Major depressive disorder and postpartum depression share the same symptomology and common etiological bases. Dysregulated stress responses, dopamine activity, and neuroinflammation are recognized mechanisms for depression. The transition to motherhood encompasses physiological and behavioral adaptations in the brain essential for ensuring …