The participation of the Medial prefrontal cortex in reconsolidation and extinction processes of the aversive conditioned memory: possible interaction between glutamate - nitric oxide pathway and the endocanabinoids

• Grant number: 11/21921-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal researcher: Leonardo Resstel Barbosa Moraes
• Grantee: Daniel Gustavo dos Reis
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/17626-7 - Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the role of atypical neurotransmitters in neuropsychiatric disorders, AP.TEM

Abstract

For nearly a century the study of neural and biochemical mechanisms that concern the different processes of learning using Pavlovian aversive conditioning, which consists in associating a neutral stimulus (eg, sound or context) with an unconditioned stimulus (eg shock paws). Recently it has been observed a growing interest in the mechanisms involving the processes of reconsolidation and extinction of aversive memory, as therapies for the treatment of anxiety disorders based on these processes. Strong evidence shows that the ventral portion of the medial prefrontal cortex (vMPFC) is involved in the modulation of processes involving learning and memory, especially in the processes of expression and extinction of conditioned emotional response (CER). Apparently there is an interaction between glutamate, nitric oxide (NO) and the endocanabionóides vMPFC. This interaction appears to be important for the expression and extinction of the REC in several models, however, the study of this interaction in the pre-limbic portions (PL) and infra-limbic (IL) of vCPFM in the processes of reconsolidation and extinction of contextual aversive memory still not been studied. For that will be used Wistar rats that were previously submitted to the implantation of a radio-telemetry probe for recording autonomic activity and guide cannulas in the PL or IL portions of the vMPFC for drug administration. It will be used a conditioning to context protocol followed by reconsolidation or extinction sessions of the aversive memory. The administration of drugs that interfere with the action of endocannabinoids or glutamate-NO pathway will be made before the sessions reconsolidation or extinction. Finally, the day of the test will assess the effects of pharmacological manipulation of the processes of reconsolidation and extinction of contextual aversive memory.

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)

DOS REIS, DANIEL GUSTAVO; TRINDADE FORTALEZA, EDUARDO ALBINO; TAVARES, RODRIGO FIACADORI; AGUIAR CORREA, FERNANDO MORGAN. Role of the autonomic nervous system and baroreflex in stress-evoked cardiovascular responses in rats. STRESS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS, v. 17, n. 4, p. 362-372, JUL 2014. Web of Science Citations: 19.

ALVES, FERNANDO H. F.; GOMES, FELIPE V.; REIS, DANIEL G.; CRESTANI, CARLOS C.; CORREA, FERNANDO M. A.; GUIMARAES, FRANCISCO S.; RESSTEL, LEONARDO B. M. Involvement of the insular cortex in the consolidation and expression of contextual fear conditioning. European Journal of Neuroscience, v. 38, n. 2, p. 2300-2307, JUL 2013. Web of Science Citations: 11.