Connexin 36 as a Regulator of Consummatory Behaviour
Citation
Export citationChristian, D. (2014). Connexin 36 as a Regulator of Consummatory Behaviour (Thesis, Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/8772
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/8772
Abstract
Gap junctions enable metabolic and electrical coupling of adjacent cells. Connexin 36 (Cx36) is a gap junction protein found predominantly in mammalian neurons. Because Cx36 is expressed in many areas involved in the regulation of food intake, its role in this was explored. I therefore investigated whether genetic knockout (KO) of Cx36 affects the intake of various sweet tastants during long-term concurrent feeding with bland chow, and affects intake of sweet tastants alone during short-term feeding. In addition, I investigated whether a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) would be altered by KO of Cx36. LiCl was injected intraperitoneally (IP) following exposure to a sweet novel tastant. 48 hours later mice were given a two-bottle preference test of tastant vs. water to determine aversive response. Cx36 KO animals consumed less sweet palatable tastants and consumed more bland chow during long-term intake. Sweet tastant consumption was similarly increased during short-term intake. This is suggestive of Cx36 being implicated in both reward mediated and homeostatic regulation. A CTA was enhanced by the KO of Cx36, potentially due to its role in the reward system, and/or an effect of hypothalamic endocrine nuclei implicated in the acquisition of a CTA. In summary, Cx36 may be involved in reward system response to sweet palatable food consumption, and the magnitude of aversive response. Cx36 may also be implicated in post-ingestive endocrine food intake and aversion regulation.
Date
2014Type
Degree Name
Supervisors
Publisher
University of Waikato
Rights
All items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Collections
- Masters Degree Theses [2427]