Elizabeth Luger

E-mail: elizabeth.luger@und.nodak.edu
Majors: Indian Studies/Psychology
Graduate Interests:
Mentor: Dr. Van Doze
Expected Graduation Date: May 2010

Honors & Awards
• Ronald E. McNair Scholar
• Dean's List fall 2008

Conferences

• Experimental Biology 2008

Presentations
• REU Summer program August 2007


About me:Presently I am a senior at UND and I major in both Indian studies and psychology. I am looking forward to graduating in May 2010 and going to graduate school for clinical psychology. I was originally born in Fort Yates, ND but have gone to school in Grand forks, ND since kindergarten. I'm the middle daughter with two older sisters and two younger sisters. I enjoy cooking with friends, reading, and visiting my family.

Abstract Title:
A adrenergic receptor activation reduces anxiety and depression in mice

Abstract :
Norepinephrine (NE), an endogenous neurotransmitter, is involved in cognition as well as anxiety and depression. NE mediates its actions through the activation of adrenergic receptors (ARs). This study explored the effects of increased activation on anxiety and depression in mice. Different sets of mice with varying degrees of expression and activation were used in behavioral tests for anxiety and depression. The mice sets included transgenic mice
with increased expression, transgenic mice with a knockout of the, mice treated with the agonist cirazoline, and groups of normal control mice. The tail suspension and forced swim tests were used as model s of depression and the light/dark, marble burying and elevated plus-maze tests were used as measurements of anxiety. In addition, the open field test was used to determine the mobility of these animals. It was found that mice with increased activation, in comparison to normal mice, demonstrated less anx iety or depression in several of these models. The mobility of these animals was similar. These results suggest that activation of the reduces anxi ety and depression in mice without affecting their mobility. This research project was supported by ND EPSCoR through NSF EPS-0447679, NSF CAREER 0347259, NSFREU Site 0639227, REFUNDU Program, and NIH P20 RR016741 from the NCRR.