Involvement of rats medial prefrontal cortex on the aversive response observed in Vogel conflict test: a possible NMDA receptors, nitric oxide and endocannabinoid system pathway

• Grant number: 09/03187-9
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: August 01, 2009 - July 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Resstel Barbosa Moraes
• Grantee: Leonardo Resstel Barbosa Moraes
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is a limbic structure involved with both autonomic and behavior responses associated with defensive reactions. The MPFC is particularly involved with anxiety-behavior in rats. It is the ventral portion of MPFC (vMPFC) which is responsible by its influence on the aversive responses modulation. Data using local neurotransmission unselective inhibition of vMPFC showed anxiolytic-like effect in the Vogel conflict test. However, there are no results about which vMPFC- neurotransmitters are involved with this aversive behavior evoked by Vogel model.Among the neurotransmitters present in the vMPFC, glutamate has been described to have an important role on autonomic and behavior modulation during defensive reactions. Moreover, this modulation by glutamate is associated to nitric oxide (NO) through nitric oxide syntheses activation. Finally, the endocannabinoid system present in the vMPFC has been described to be involved with modulation of anxiety-behavior, possible by glutamate release modulation through pre-synaptic CB1 activation. Therefore, in the present work the hypothesis to be tested is that interaction between glutamatergic and nitrergic system in vMPFC could be modulating the aversive response observed during Vogel conflict test. Moreover, CB1 receptors present in this cortical area would be modulate this aversive response too. Thus, rats will have microinjected into the vCPFM glutamatergic antagonist, NO synthesis inhibitor and NO scavenger and drugs which interfere with endocannabinoid system and tested in the Vogel conflict test. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HOTT, SARA C.; GOMES, FELIPE V.; ULIANA, DANIELA L.; VALE, GABRIEL T.; TIRAPELLI, CARLOS R.; RESSTEL, LEONARDO B. M. Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis NMDA receptors and nitric oxide modulate contextual fear conditioning in rats. Neuropharmacology, v. 112, n. A, SI, p. 135-143, JAN 2017. Web of Science Citations: 9.

SCOPINHO, AMERICA A.; ALVES, FERNANDO H. F.; RESSTEL, LEONARDO B. M.; CORREA, FERNANDO M. A.; CRESTANI, CARLOS C. Lateral septal area alpha(1)-and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors differently modulate baroreflex activity in unanaesthetized rats. Experimental Physiology, v. 97, n. 9, p. 1018-1029, SEP 2012. Web of Science Citations: 4.