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