DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/HVRV-GA17

Defense Date

2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Physiology and Biophysics

First Advisor

Javier Gonzalez-Maeso

Abstract

The symptoms of schizophrenia have been categorized into three subsets including positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Although atypical antipsychotic use has shown promising reduction in positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucination, delusions and flat affect, the cognitive subset of symptoms remains and has an adverse impact on those affected. Chronic treatment with the atypical/secondary antipsychotic clozapine is one example that has ameliorated hallucinations and delusions but results in cognitive memory deficits. When chronically given in conjunction with the HDAC inhibitor, SAHA, the cognitive memory deficits of mouse models decline. HDAC2KO mice were bred and used in chronic treatments with either vehicle or SAHA and compared to WT mice, in order to analyze whether differential gene expression was occurring in an HDAC2 dependent manner. The expression of various genes involved in brain function were evaluated using RT-qPCR to determine potential differential regulation. The results showed differential expression of the following genes: Abhd16a, Gbf1, Itch, and Ube2g1. These genes are all involved in various neuronal functions.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

12-13-2017

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