The Local Modulatory Effects of Androgens on GABA- and Cholinergic Signalling in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex of Male CD-1 Mice

Date

2015-01-09

Authors

Reid, Brandon R.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Guelph

Abstract

This thesis investigates the modulatory effects of androgens on local GABA- and cholinergic signalling within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Androgens play an integral role in cognition; however, specific effects in the mPFC are not well defined. Furthermore, hormone replacement therapies to treat various age-related diseases are increasingly more common, the full implication of which are not entirely understood. Androgens are already shown to affect dendritic morphology in the mPFC. Here, the influence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and androstanediol (3α-diol) on local signaling in the mPFC are evaluated using pharmacological interventions in various electrophysiological experiments. Neither DHT nor 3α-diol directly influenced cholinergic signalling in layer VI pyramidal cells. However, both DHT and 3α-diol significantly decreased GABAergic responses, possibly through AR-dependent means. The work in this thesis serves to better define the effects of androgens in the mPFC by showing a decrease in sensitivity of layer VI pyramidal cells to GABA.

Description

Keywords

Electrophysiology, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, CD-1, Androgen, Dihydrotestosterone, Androstanediol, DHT, GABA, GABAA, Cholinergic, Voltage-clamp, Whole-cell Recording, Mouse

Citation