Date of Award
2026-05-01
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
Advisor(s)
Sergio D. Iñiguez
Abstract
The long-term neurobiological consequences of adolescent antidepressant exposure remain poorly understood, despite the substantial increase in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescription rates in youth. Therefore, the goal of this dissertation was to determine whether adolescent exposure to the SSRI fluoxetine (FLX) produces lasting molecular and behavioral adaptations, using rodents as a model system. To do this, in Chapter 2, I assessed whether adolescent FLX exposure (postnatal day [PD] 35-49) alters signaling molecules associated with survival and synaptic plasticity (extracellular signa- regulated kinase [ERK]) within the adult prefrontal cortex (PFC) - a brain region that plays a central role in pain regulation. Protein quantification assays revealed that adult male rats (PD70) with a history of adolescent FLX exposure displayed sustained increases in phosphorylated ERK and its downstream effector molecules, along with elevated levels of the mammalian target of rapamycin protein. Furthermore, in Chapter 3, I examined whether adolescent FLX exposure alters sensitivity to thermal nociceptive stimuli in adulthood. Adopting the hot plate test, I found that adult female mice with a history of FLX exposure exhibited decreased latency to lick their hindpaw, a behavioral response indicative of increased thermal nociception. The data demonstrate that adolescent FLX exposure induces persistent molecular alterations within the PFC, while increasing nociceptive sensitivity in adulthood. Collectively, these findings highlight that adolescence is a vulnerable developmental window, during which serotonergic pharmacological interventions may recalibrate neural systems involved in affective regulation and sensory processing, in later life.
Language
en
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Copyright Date
2026-05
File Size
67 p.
File Format
application/pdf
Rights Holder
Anapaula Themann
Recommended Citation
Themann, Anapaula, "Fluoxetine Exposure During Adolescence Alters Prefrontal Cortex Signaling And Nociceptive-Related Behavior In Adulthood" (2026). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 4809.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/open_etd/4809