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The Effects Of Alcohol On Bdnf And Cd5 Dependent Pathways, Andrew Jordan Payne
The Effects Of Alcohol On Bdnf And Cd5 Dependent Pathways, Andrew Jordan Payne
Theses and Dissertations
Alcohol represents the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Yet, despite its prevalent role in impeding human health, there is much to understand about how it elicits its effects on the body and how the body and brain change when an individual becomes physiologically dependent upon alcohol. The work presented herein represents an effort to elucidate the acute and chronic effects of alcohol on the nervous system. We investigate two specific protein pathways and their role in alcohol's effects on the body. The first begins with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which acts on TrkB, and ends …
Long-Term Opiate-Induced Adaptations In Lateral Paracapsular Neurons Of The Basolateral Amygdala, Sara Jane Werner
Long-Term Opiate-Induced Adaptations In Lateral Paracapsular Neurons Of The Basolateral Amygdala, Sara Jane Werner
Theses and Dissertations
Increases in basolateral amygdala (BLA) activity drive avoidance-seeking behavior that may be associated with stress induced drug seeking. Activity of BLA pyramidal neurons is regulated by local and paracapsular gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneurons. The lateral paracapsular interneurons (LPCs) border the external capsule, receive dense cortical/thalamic input and provide feed-forward inhibition onto BLA principle neurons. The GABAergic LPCs also express high concentrations of g-protein coupled µ-opioid receptors (MORs). Therefore, the effects of opiates on LPC activity and local GABA release were examined. Fluorescently double labeled LPCs were observed in glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) 65-mcherry/GAD67-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice. Whole-cell electrophysiology …