Honors Thesis Archive
| Author | Alexa Bell |
|---|---|
| Title | Effects of N-acetyl Cysteine on Gene Expression in OCD-Induced Mice |
| Department | Biology |
| Advisor | Michelle Mcwhorter |
| Year | 2022 |
| Honors | University Honors |
| Full Text | View Thesis (363 KB) |
| Abstract | Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is very common, affecting about 2% of the world’s population. Currently, there are very few effective treatments for OCD including medications such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and varying therapies. N-acetyl cysteine, an over-the-counter supplement, has been implicated as a potential treatment for OCD. This experiment tested how N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) affects OCD-induced mice, specifically looking at isolated gene involvement. qPCR was used to analyze the gene expression on Nrxn1, Gfap, Reep3, Grm1, and Grm2. By studying the specific gene expression in NAC-treated, OCD-induced mice we hope to gain a better understanding of this correlation and the implications this may have for ongoing OCD treatment as well as gain a better understanding of the neurological pathways that affect OCD. Nrxn1, Gfap, and Reep3 showed minimal amounts of expression even in normal mice, suggesting there may not be a relationship between these genes and OCD, or that these genes are low expressing genes across all groups, not just the OCD treated groups. Grm1 and Grm2 had larger amounts of expression, with decreasing expression between 1-week and 3-week treatments of NAC+RU suggesting a relationship between OCD and glutamate receptors. Futures studies could focus on researching interactions between OCD and other glutamate receptors such as Grm3 and Grm5. |
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