| Grant number: | 16/25840-0 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Start date: | November 01, 2017 |
| End date: | October 31, 2019 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems |
| Principal Investigator: | Roberto De Pasquale |
| Grantee: | Roberto De Pasquale |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Associated researchers: | Silvana Chiavegatto |
Abstract
During the postnatal development of the nervous system, the synapses of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are in a critical period with high capability of long-term potentiation (LTP). Within this time window, the PFC neurons establish many new connections, thus designing the primordial neural circuitry. It has become known that chronic stress reduces the efficacy of LTP, as well as dendritic proliferation and the formation of nine synapses in the PFC. Also, it is known that stressors modify the post-synaptic effects of serotonin, one of the principal modulators acting during the the critical period throught the facilitation of LTP in excitatory synapses of limbic and cortical regions. Our hypothesis is that stress exposure during the early postnatal period modifies serotonergic modulation of glutamatergic synapses of PFC, thereby reducing the occurrence of LTP during the critical period. As a result of this exposure the PFC functions would be impaired, predisposing the nervous system to the development of neuropsychiatric diseases in adulthood. The project proposes to use electrophysiological techniques, molecular biology and behavioral tests to study the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in this process. (AU)
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