Project Summary

Subramaniam Apparsundaram, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of the University of Kentucky, proposes examining gender differences in schizophrenia and depression by looking in mice at the effects of estrogen on the cholinergic, dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitter pathways. The three pathways have been implicated in the two disorders. He plans on focusing on the function and expression of the presynaptic choline, dopamine and norepinephrine transporters before, one hour and 24 hours after the administration of estrogen in the mice. The transporters influence neurotransmitter availability in the brain. To delineate the estrogen receptor subtype involved in estrogen-mediated responses, he will use mice missing either the estrogen receptor α or the estrogen receptor β. Results should provide insights into estrogen regulation of presynaptic transporters, and may have implications in the use of hormones for preventing and treating schizophrenia and depression.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS\Mood Disorders/Schizophrenia

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