Publication Date

1982

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Lints, Carlton E.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Noradrenaline; Serotonin; Spasms; Brain chemistry

Abstract

Numerous pharmacological studies have suggested that brain norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) are inhibitory with respect to audiogenic seizures. Also, it has been suggested that mice genetically prone to audiogenic seizures may have a deficit in the functioning of one or both of these transmitter systems. The studies comparing the brain levels of NE and 5-HT in seizure prone and seizure resistant mice have thus far produced contradictory results. This study was undertaken to compare the endogenous levels as well as the turnover of NE and 5-HT in six discrete regions of the brains of seizure prone (DBA) and seizure resistant (C57) strains of mice at their age of peak seizure susceptibility. The brains were dissected into cerebellum, hindbrain (included pons and medulla), inferior colliculus, superior colliculus, diencephalon (included thalamus and hypothalamus), and telencephalon. Although no significant differences between the two strains were found in the levels or turnover of these amines in the six regions studied, the data suggest that a more detail investigation of monoamine turnover should be carried out. The results are discussed in the light of the prevalent theories of audiogenic seizure susceptibility.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

vi, 72 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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