Dissertation
The role and interaction of the AT4 and cholinergic systems in the nucleus basalis of meynert (NBM): effects on spatial learning
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
12/2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005705
Abstract
These experiments were designed to reveal clues regarding the
relationship between the AT4 and cholinergic systems in cognitive processing.
Degeneration of the cholinergic system has been hypothesized to play a
significant role in Alzheimer.s disease (AD) and other dementias. The NBM is a
major cholinergic area, containing a dense number of cholinergic cell bodies in
addition to sending widespread projections to the neocortex. It is apparent that
other neural systems are involved in the devastation of this disorder. Thus,
further understanding of the neural relationships underlying normal and abnormal
cognitive processing is imperative for the development of therapeutics to treat
cognitive ailments. Therefore, the omnibus objectives of these studies were
designed to investigate the following: 1) Is the AT4 system present in the NBM,
and if so, does it play a role in cognitive processing? 2) What is the role of the
cholinergic system in the NBM, and do these systems interact or are they
autonomous systems? Findings revealed that: 1) blockade of muscarinic,
nicotinic or AT4 receptors in the NBM produced significant impairments in the
acquisition of the water maze task; 2) activation of the nicotinic system in the
NBM reversed the AT4-antagonist induced effects; 3) activation of the muscarinic
system with carbachol did not overcome AT4 antagonist-induced defecits; and 4)
The AT4 agonist, Nle1-AngIV was capable of overcoming water maze acquisition
deficits produced by cholinergic blockade in the NBM. Based on the collective
findings of these experiments it is evident that 1) the AT4 system does play a
functional role in cognitive processing via the NBM, probably a modulatory role of
the cholinergic system, and 2) a complex relationship exists between the
cholinergic and AT4 systems in this area. Possible explanations for the specific
interaction between these two systems are discussed.
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Details
- Title
- The role and interaction of the AT4 and cholinergic systems in the nucleus basalis of meynert (NBM)
- Creators
- Wendy L. Wilson
- Contributors
- Jay Wright (Chair)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Psychology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 101
- Identifiers
- 99901054940901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation