Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Beulig, Alfred

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

This experiment is a continuation of Dr. Alfred Beulig’s past theses and personal research, which were attempting to determine if certain chemicals have an effect on cognition. The principal question for this experiment is whether the chemicals proposed as anxiolytics in previous work have any effect on cognition in goldfish. Cognition is considered to be the process of acquiring knowledge through experience and physical senses. There are many potential effects on cognition and links have been found to chemicals that alter functions such as in the senses, in decision-making, and in problem solving. In this experiment a neuro-active steroid, known as Allopregnanolone and a blocker to this steroid, Isoallopregnanolone were used to determine whether these substances have effects on cognition and/or on anxiolysis. Goldfish were used as subjects to determine whether the drugs had an impact on two-way active avoidance learning. Subjects were dosed according to weight and were tested consecutively for twenty days. Allopregnanolone has previously been demonstrated to have anxiolytic effects similar to those presumed to be due to SSRI’s such as fluoxetine (Prozac™). Isoallopregnanolone, an epimer to Allopregnanolone, has been demonstrated to be a blocker at receptors for Allopregnanolone. The hypothesis tested was that Allopregnanolone has a positive effect on avoidance behavior through its effect on reducing stress by different means than elevation of serotonin in the synaptic cleft. Results show that there is a significant positive effect on avoidance behavior by Isoallopregnanolone but not Allopregnanolone. Further, in a behavioral measure of anxiolysis, Allopregnanolone showed the greatest effect. These results suggest that a certain level of stress is associated with good performance in twoway active avoidance conditioning, and anxiolysis reduces stress below these levels.

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