| Dissertation |
Thesis (M.Sc.) --NUI, 2012 at Department of Anatomy, UCC. |
| Summary |
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is one of the most abundant peptides in the central nervous system. Five receptors (Y1, Y2, Y4, Y5 and Y6) are known to mediate the action of NPY. NPY has been implicated in a wide variety of cerebral functions: learning and memory, feeding behaviour, epilepsy-related neuroprotection, regulation of anxiety and responsiveness to stress and fear. Four regions of the brain closely related to these cerebral functions are the amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex. NPY Y1 and Y2 receptors are densely expressed in the hippocampus, amygdala and cortex, three regions of the brain that are intensely related with mood disorders, stress responses and memory processing. A mood stabilizing drug of particular interest in recent times is valproate. Valproate has anticonvulsant properties and is the drug of choice for primary generalized epilepsies and is also approved for the treatment of partial seizures. Another use of valproate is for the treatment of bipolar disorder. However, it has been used in other psychiatric disorders; borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia but with little clinical data to recommend as treatment. Animal studies have indicated models of depression benefit from NPY administration, producing antidepressant-like effects resulting in NPY levels to rise. The effect of valproate on NPY expression was tested on the four previously mentioned brain regions. Three mouse strains C57/Bl6J, C3H and DBA/2J were grouped. The first group received a three day treatment of valproate injected intraperitoneally, the second a three day treatment of saline injected intraperitoneally (control group) and the third group (null) did not receive treatment. The regions were dissected and tested for NPY expression. After valproate treatment there was a reduction of NPY expression in the amygdala of C57/Bl6 and C3H. Other brain regions exhibited no significance. When the null treatment groups were compared against each other there was a significant decrease in NPY expression in the prefrontal cortex of DBA/2J mice. |
| Subject |
Valproic acid -- Therapeutic use.
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Nervous system -- Drug Therapy -- Diseases.
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| Collection |
Theses Masters
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Theses Anatomy Department
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| Description |
189 p. : ill. ; 30 cm. |
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