Regulation and insulin signaling in amygdala of control and obese animals: effects in food intake, anxiety, metabolic inflammation and reticulum stress

• Grant number: 11/17673-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Patrícia de Oliveira Prada
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Condes Areias
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity is a pan-endemic increasing pathology occuring worldwide. Therefore, the study of the molecular mechanism of obesity is quite relevant nowadays .The insulin has anorexigenic effects that reduces body weight . Main studies have been showing the insulin signaling in the hypothalamus. However, recent studies have reported insulin signaling in other brain regions of central nervous system, such as, the amygdala. This area integrates the reward circuity, the control of anxiety and perhaps it is associated with food intake regulation. The amygdala expresses insulin receptor (IR), but the insulin signaling in this area is unknown. Firstly, the expression and the level of phosporylation (IR/IRS/PI3q/Akt/Foxo1) protein and the modulation of food intake after insulin stimulus in the amygdala in the control animals will be investigated. Furthermore, it will be checked if the farmacological block of insulin pathway with LY24002 in the amygdala could alter the food intake in this area. The amygdala is an important brain region to control anxiety but its mechanisms are unclear. Consequently, it will be observed if the insulin stimulus in the amygdala in the control animals alter which will be measured by two tests: Elevated Plus Maze and Open Field Test. The consumption of high fat diet has been associated with insulin resistance in the hypothalamus by the activation of hypothalamic IKK/IkB/NFkB and elevated endoplasmatic reticulum stress. Nevertheless, there are no evidence that obesity causes insulin resistance in the amygdala. This will be investigated and if confirmed the alteration of metabolic inflamation markers, IKK/IkB/NFkB, and endoplasmatic reticulum stress in the amygdala of animals fed with high fat diet will be studied.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

AREIAS, Maria Fernanda Condes. Regulação da ação e sinalização de insulina em amígdala de animais controles e obesos: efeitos na ingestão alimentar, via inflamatória e stress de retículo endoplasmático. 2012. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Campinas, SP.