Theses/Dissertations - Psychology and Neuroscience
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Browsing Theses/Dissertations - Psychology and Neuroscience by Subject "Alcohol."
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Item Acute alcohol produces ataxia and cognitive impairments in aged animals : a comparison between young adults and aged rats.(2013-05-15) Novier, Adelle.; Diaz-Granados, Jaime L.; Matthews, Douglas B.; Psychology and Neuroscience.; Baylor University. Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience.Aging in both humans and rodents appears to be accompanied by physiological changes that increase biological sensitivity to ethanol intoxication; however, animal models designed to investigate the behavioral significance of increased alcohol sensitivity have yet to be established. The present study sought to determine if acute ethanol administration produces differential effects on motor coordination and spatial performance in adult and aged rats. Findings revealed a dramatic increase in ethanol induced ataxia and cognitive impairment in aged animals relative to young adults as evaluated by several behavioral tasks. Importantly, the heightened deficits seen in aged animals were not due to differential blood ethanol levels. Possible neurophysiological mechanisms are proposed to explain the age-related increase in sensitivity to motor- and cognitive-impairing effects of ethanol. Given the high prevalence of alcohol use among the elderly, increased vulnerability to alcohol-induced deficits may have a profound effect on injury and quality of life in this population.Item PKCγ expression in adolescent and adult rats : evidence for a cerebellar mechanism underlying age-dependent motor impairments produced by acute ethanol.(John Wiley & Sons., 2010-12) Van Skike, Candice E.; Diaz-Granados, Jaime L.; Matthews, Douglas B.; Psychology and Neuroscience.; Baylor University. Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience.Adolescents are less sensitive to ethanol-induced motor impairments compared to adults; however, a definitive mechanism underlying this difference has not been identified. Compared to wild-type littermates, PKCγ knock-out mice exhibit reduced motor sensitivity to ethanol; it is plausible that adolescent rats also have reduced PKCγ expression in brain regions responsible for motor function, specifically the cerebellum and cortex. Reduced PKCγ expression in these regions may govern the age-dependent motor impairments produced by ethanol. The current study analyzed membrane-bound PKCγ expression in adolescent and adult rats 40 minutes after an acute ethanol or saline injection. Western blot analysis indicates adolescent rats have reduced PKCγ expression in the cerebellum and cortex compared to adults. It is concluded that PKCγ expression may be part of a larger mechanism regulating the age-dependent motor impairments produced by acute ethanol administration.