Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Moore, Jon

Abstract

Early development and adolescence are critical periods for humans and rodent brain development which makes teenage drug use particularly worrisome. We previously demonstrated that dendritic spine density increased following METH training in adult animals. Given the importance of these critical periods for neuronal development and the importance of dendritic spines for memory formation the first aim was to examine basolateral amygdala (BLA) spine density in mice postnatal day 16-20 and 28-35. Furthermore, the effect of METH training on BLA dendritic spine density in adolescent animals was also examined. We found that there were no significant differences in the spine density between P16-20 and P28-35 animals. Also, METH training did not significantly impact the dendritic spine density in adolescents. While previous studies showed a significant increase in dendritic spine density after METH training in adults, this initial dataset indicates that there is no significant effect on spine density in adolescents within the BLA.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

35 p.

Identifier

FA00012623

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