INVOLVEMENT OF SEROTONERGIC SYSTEM AND HIPPOCAMPAL NEUROGENESIS IN THE ANTIDEPRESSANT-LIKE EFFECT CAUSED BY ANTAGONISTS OF NOCICEPTIN RECEPTOR

• Grant number: 11/20381-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Norberto Cysne Coimbra
• Grantee: Andre Twardowschy
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recent works using animal models of depression suggest an important role of nociceptin peptide and its receptor (NOP) in the modulation of mood disorders. Several studies have been demonstrated that serotonergic projections from the median raphe nucleus to the dorsal hyppocampus (HIPd) are closely related to the helplessness learned in animals and the depression in men. The down-regulation of neurogenesis in central nervous system especially in the hippocampus was implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related mood disorders. Moreover, a recent study demonstrated that the microinjection of antagonists of NOP receptor in the HIPd produced antidepressant-like effect in two animal models of depression. Take in account these recent findings, the present work has the main goal to verify the serotonergic role in dorsal hyppocampus and median raphe nucleus, as well as in the interaction between these nuclei, on the antidepressant-like effect of the NOP receptor antagonist (J-113397), using the animal model of depression known as modified forced swim test. To add more detailed data and clarify the present study, it will be verified the oscillation of the level of monoamines on encephalic nuclei caused by microinjections of J-113397. It will also be verified whether the chronic treatment with J-113397 promotes hippocampal neurogenesis.

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)

DE FREITAS, RENATO LEONARDO; BOLOGNESI, LUANA IACOVELO; TWARDOWSCHY, ANDRE; AGUIAR CORREA, FERNANDO MORGAN; SIBSON, NICOLA R.; COIMBRA, NORBERTO CYSNE. Neuroanatomical and neuropharmacological approaches to postictal antinociception-related prosencephalic neurons: the role of muscarinic and nicotinic cholinergic receptors. BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, v. 3, n. 3, p. 286-301, MAY 2013. (11/20381-3, 08/00531-8, 07/01174-1)