Sex-specific neuroinflammatory effects of chronic social isolation and hyper-palatable diet in adolescent rodents
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Date of Award
Summer 8-1-2024
Document Type
Applied Project
Degree Name
Master of Science in Research Psychology (MS)
Department
Psychology
Supervisor
Dr. Phillip Baker
Second Reader
Dr. Jessica Fossum
Third Reader
Dr. Jenny Lee Vaydich
Keywords
neuroinflammation, sex differences, behavioral neuroscience
Abstract
Literature has supported the impact of both social isolation and exposure to high fat-high sugar (“hyperpalatable”) diets on neuroinflammation and behavior in rats. Historically, these behavioral impacts are shown to differ between the sexes. This ongoing research project seeks to examine the relationship between these variables during peri-adolescence and adult neuroinflammatory responses within brain regions associated with cognition, memory, and behavior. Utilizing immunohistochemical staining of microglia, this study proposes that male and female rats will exhibit key differences in neuroinflammatory activation in response to peri-adolescent stress and hyperpalatable diet.
Recommended Citation
Estrella, Liberty, "Sex-specific neuroinflammatory effects of chronic social isolation and hyper-palatable diet in adolescent rodents" (2024). Research Psychology Theses. 23.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/rpsy_etd/23