Gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) in vivo: modulation of kappa opioid receptor in the striatum of nuliparous and primiparous female rats and their implications in maternal behavior

• Grant number: 13/03912-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Teodorov
• Grantee: Elizabeth Teodorov
• Host Institution: Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição (CMCC). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The technique of RNA interference (RNAi) offers great potential not only for silencing of target genes in vitro, but also has proved to be a novel therapeutic strategy based on an efficient silencing of a target gene in vivo, such as in therapy for tumors and other types of genetic disorders and viral infections, as well as validate animal models for studies of diseases affecting the central nervous system and other disorders. In general, the expected result is a decrease in protein production, since it promotes suppression of translation processes, called post-transcriptional gene silencing which occurs in a sequence-specific. Recent studies in our laboratories have been evaluating the molecular biology of the opioid receptors in brain of rats according to the physiological/reproductive state and molecular modulations induced by pharmacological treatment with opioidergic agonists, which evidencing an important function of kappa-opioid receptor when evaluating maternal behavior and physical and neurobehavioral development of the offspring. Moreover, studies with selective opioidergic antagonists not have been efficient, making it difficult to understand the real role of each subtype of opioid receptor in this context. This project aims to complement these studies and standardize, validate and implement the technique of RNAi in vivo in our laboratory to produce knockdown animals for kappa opioid receptor in the striatum and thus further elucidate the role molecular biology of opioid receptors in the modulation of maternal behavior in female rats. (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)

NASCIMENTO, AMANDA F.; ALVES, GLAUCIE JUSSILANE; MASSOCO, CRISTINA O.; TEODOROV, ELIZABETH; FELICIO, LUCIANO F.; BERNARDI, MARIA MARTHA. Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sickness Behavior in Lactating Rats Decreases Ultrasonic Vocalizations and Exacerbates Immune System Activity in Male Offspring. NEUROIMMUNOMODULATION, v. 22, n. 4, p. 213-221, 2015. (13/03912-0, 09/51886-3)

REIS-SILVA, THIAGO M.; COHN, DANIEL W. H.; SANDINI, THAISA M.; UDO, MARIANA S. B.; TEODOROV, ELIZABETH; BERNARDI, MARIA MARTHA. Prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure affects sexual dimorphism in different germlines of mice with a depressive phenotype. Life Sciences, v. 149, p. 129-137, MAR 15 2016. (13/03912-0, 09/51886-3)