| Grant number: | 12/12444-8 |
| Support type: | Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate |
| Effective date (Start): | November 20, 2012 |
| Effective date (End): | November 19, 2013 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems |
| Principal Investigator: | Vagner Roberto Antunes |
| Grantee: | Hildebrando Candido Ferreira Neto |
| Supervisor abroad: | Javier Stern |
| Home Institution: | Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Local de pesquisa : | Georgia Regents University, United States |
| Associated to the scholarship: | 10/05037-1 - Role of purinergic receptors of paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in the neurogenic hypertension, BP.DR |
Abstract The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) is considered an important integrative center for autonomic, respiratory and neuroendocrine regulation. It is well known that PVN neurons that project to the RVLM express P2 purinergic receptors, and thus the purinergic signaling in these neurons may contribute to modulate sympathetic activity. Moreover, several evidences indicate the existence of a strong interaction between the purinergic and glutamatergic transmission at the hypothalamus level, and both ATP and glutamate may be released by neurons or astrocytes to modulate synaptic function. Recent data of our laboratory have shown that microinjection of ATP into the PVN increases sympathetic activity in a dose-dependent manner and this effect is attenuated by prior antagonism of P2 receptors with PPADS or glutamatergic receptors with kynurenic acid or a combination of both. Furthermore, we observed that the glutamatergic involvement in the ATP-induced sympathoexcitation is mediated by non-NMDA glutamate receptors, which is in agreement with previous data in the literature. However, the techniques available our laboratory do not allow us to verify, at the mechanism at the cellular level, how the ATP mediates such effects, either pre or post synaptic or acting on astrocytes. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate through the patch-clamp technique combined with image analysis the effects of purinergic signaling, as well as the potential interaction with glutamate, in pre-sympathetic parvocellular neurons of the PVN. (AU) | |