Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MSc)

Department

Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Diano Marrone

Advisor Role

Associate Professor

Abstract

Research suggests that the chronic hyperglycemia associated with type 2 diabetes impairs brain function a number of ways – including a reduction in adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (Beaquis et al., 2009; Lang et al., 2009;) and olfactory bulb (Lang et al., 2009; Ramos-Rodriguez et al., 2014). To investigate these impairments, Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were tested in both a radial arm maze and the social transmission of food preference (STFP), behaviours that depend on the integrity of the dentate gyrus and olfactory bulb, sites of profound adult neurogenesis (Altman & Das, 1965; Galef and Wigmore, 1983; Morris et al., 2012). On the radial arm maze, GKs showed increased latencies to complete the task, as well as decreased correct choices. During STFP, GKs were unable to successfully discriminate between the flavoured foods provided to them, resulting in unsuccessful establishment of a food preference following social interaction. Using immunohistochemical procedures, doublecortin- and Ki67- positive cells were quantified to provide a measure of neurogenesis, specifically cell proliferation and survival, in these regions. These findings reveal no significant differences in the number of doublecortin- and Ki67- positive cells in hyperglycaemic animals. For now, the current results limit the possible mechanisms for the behavioral impairments found in the presence of chronic hyperglycaemia.

Convocation Year

2019

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