Manipulation of the cytokine network and the effects on sleep patterns and performance of mice in the multiple trial inhibitory avoidance task

• Grant number: 11/11902-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Débora Cristina Hipólide
• Grantee: Lia Assae Esumi
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Among the functions assigned to sleep, stands out its participation in learning and memory processes. Studies already have shown that sleep deprivation impairs the consolidation of memories. However, the mechanisms involved in this effect have not been clarified yet. Recent data indicate the involvement of immune system components in memory impairment induced by sleep deprivation. We suggest the involvement of cytokines, given its relationship with learning and memory processes. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of cytokines network manipulations on memory impairment induced by sleep deprivation. In this study, we will use IL-12 and IL-10 knockout mice, and the wild type C57BL/6J. The animals will be sleep deprived by the gentle handling method for 6 hours after the acquisition phase of the memory task. For the memory evaluation the animals will be submitted to the novel object recognition task, and the sleep pattern will be established by electrocorticography and electromyography recordings. It will also be performed the quantification of cytokines in serum and spleen by ELISA, and the analysis of hippocampal gene expression through real-time PCR method. Thus, the project aims to verify if manipulations in the cytokines network influences the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation on memory. The project also proposes to verify if these manipulations alter the sleep pattern, and if these changes are responsible for the memory impairment. Finally, the project aims to determine whether sleep deprivation alters the expression pattern of hippocampal and peripheral production of cytokines.