Impaired generation of high-frequency oscillations in a rat model of schizophrenia

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Impaired generation of high-frequency oscillations in a rat model of schizophrenia Lauren Harms1*, Deborah Hodgson1, William Fulham1, Markku Penttonen2, Ulrich Schall1, Juanita Todd1 and Patricia Michie1 1 University of Newcastle, Australia 2 University of Jyväskylä, Finland Background: Schizophrenia patients have an impaired capacity to generate high-frequency gamma (>30Hz) oscillations. Gamma oscillations play an integral role in cognition and their reduction in schizophrenia is a candidate neurophysiological mechanism underlying cognitive impairments. The neurobiological and behavioural implications of disrupted gamma oscillations can be best understood using an animal model. Methods: MIA was induced in Wistar rats by administering pregnant rats with Poly (I:C), a viral mimic, at gestational day 19. The offspring grew to adulthood, when they underwent surgery to implant EEG electrodes. A wireless telemetric headstage was fixed to the rat's head and the EEG recorded while rats were exposed to auditory steady-state white noise clicks, presented at a range of frequencies (10-50Hz). Recordings were made from three separate drug-free sessions, then rats were administered MK-801, an NMDAR antagonist, over three separate sessions at escalating doses (0.1, 0.3, 0.5mg/kg). Oscillatory power and inter-trial coherence were extracted for each stimulus frequency. Results: MIA-exposed rats demonstrated a reduction in frontal 50Hz aSSRs. MK-801 dose-dependently reduced these 50Hz aSSRs. Conclusions: MIA in rats altered the trajectory of brain development, affecting systems responsible for the generation of high-frequency gamma oscillations. MK-801, a NMDAR antagonist that also indirectly impairs inhibitory neurotransmission also was found to reduce 50Hz oscillatory activity, perhaps indicating that both MK-801 and MIA are affecting similar neurobiological pathways. Further experiments will focus on the cognitive and neurobiological correlates of MIA-associated reductions in gamma oscillations, with the ultimate goal of furthering our understanding of the neurobiology underlying cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Keywords: Schizophrenia, EEG, gamma oscillations, animal model, maternal immune activation Conference: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Jul - 31 Jul, 2014. Presentation Type: Poster Topic: Sensation and Perception Citation: Harms L, Hodgson D, Fulham W, Penttonen M, Schall U, Todd J and Michie P (2015). Impaired generation of high-frequency oscillations in a rat model of schizophrenia. Conference Abstract: XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00207 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 19 Feb 2015; Published Online: 24 Apr 2015. * Correspondence: Dr. Lauren Harms, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia, lauren.harms@newcastle.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Lauren Harms Deborah Hodgson William Fulham Markku Penttonen Ulrich Schall Juanita Todd Patricia Michie Google Lauren Harms Deborah Hodgson William Fulham Markku Penttonen Ulrich Schall Juanita Todd Patricia Michie Google Scholar Lauren Harms Deborah Hodgson William Fulham Markku Penttonen Ulrich Schall Juanita Todd Patricia Michie PubMed Lauren Harms Deborah Hodgson William Fulham Markku Penttonen Ulrich Schall Juanita Todd Patricia Michie Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.