Thelma Anderson Lovick | University of Bristol - Inglaterra

• Grant number: 16/50418-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Agreement: Newton Fund, with FAPESP as a partner institution in Brazil
• Principal Investigator: Janete Aparecida Anselmo Franci
• Grantee: Janete Aparecida Anselmo Franci
• Visiting researcher: Thelma Anderson Lovick
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Bristol, England
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During the visit we will begin work on 4 studies: 1. Basic science 1. Develop a new high throughput behavioral model of PMS in female rats for use in screening drugs with potential to alleviate symptoms of PMS in women. Lovick will work with the collaborators to design the experimental protocols, to be carried out by the student. Once the experimental work begins, Lovick will work closely with the student at the start, to identify and help solve methodological problems. 2. Basic science 2. Effects of drugs to prevent or alleviate the estrous cycle psychopathology using rat models. Lovick will initially work with the collaborators to design the protocols for drug testing. We will start using the stress-induced ultrasound test, which we have previously shown to be sensitive to estrous cycle phase in rats. Later but will also confirm results in a second model, depending on the outcome of Experiment 1. We will start using by testing intermittent low dose fluoxetine (based on our previous work). We also have a number of other candidate compounds to test. 3 Clinical studies 1. The role of estrogen - relationship between luteal phase estrogen, progesterone development of PMS. Lovick will bring the assay kits for this work from the UK, where they are cheaper and more readily available than in Brazil. We already have the salive samples stored. We anticipate this work, including analysis of data, will be completed during the visit. 4. Clinical studies 2. Clinical trial of low dose luteal phase fluoxetine on development of symptoms of PMS. His translational study is based on our recent work on rats (Lovick et al., paper submitted). Lovick will initially work with the clinical collaborators to refine and finalize the protocol for data collection. We anticipate recruitments of participants will start during the visit. Lovick will also spend 1-2 weeks at Univ. of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal in the laboratory of Dr. Vanessa de Paula Soares Rachetti for discussions about future collaboration. In 2015, Lovick and Soares Rachetti began a successful collaboration linked to the work in Ribeirão Preto (Soares Rachetti et al. 2016, J Psychopharmacol30 1062-1068). (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)

FIGUEIREDO, REBECA MACHADO; DE CARVALHO, MILENE CRISTINA; BRANDAO, MARCUS LIRA; LOVICK, THELMA ANDERSON. Short-term, low-dose fluoxetine prevents oestrous cycle-linked increase in anxiety-like behaviour in female rats. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, v. 33, n. 5, p. 548-557, MAY 2019. (14/50829-4, 16/50418-0)