Cardiorespiratory pattern and awake-sleep state in male and female rats exposed to...
| Grant number: | 12/19966-0 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | September 01, 2013 - August 31, 2015 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology |
| Principal Investigator: | Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão |
| Grantee: | Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil |
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NE) are known to play critical roles in neurodevelopment, cardiorespiratory control and sleep-awake state and these roles may be sex-specific. 5-HT is involved in nervous maturational processes even at the fetal stage, being an important modulator of respiratory rhythm. The serotoninergic receptors 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A are found in the respiratory neurons and they play a key role in this process. Additionally, this receptors are related to hypercapnic and hypoxic responses. Early antidepressant exposure that inhibit serotonin re-uptake (SSRI) in male rats results in long-lasting behavioral effects as well as a reduction in expression of the 5-HT synthetic enzyme (tryptophan hydroxylase) in the raphe nuclei and of the 5-HT transporter (SERT) within their cortical efferent fibers. Such exposure to SSRI not only upregulates the 5-HT raphe system, but also downregulates the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (NE-LC) system since 5-HT inhibits LC function. Therefore, the goal of the present study is to evaluate the possible long-lasting effects of an exposure to SSRIs during a critical period of the development, prenatal period, on cardiorespiratory control system and sleep-awake state of male and female rats. (AU)