Involvement of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) in the memory consolidation and reconsolidation of Carassius auratus submitted to the inhibitory avoidance task.

• Grant number: 12/10101-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2012
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Morato de Carvalho
• Grantee: Augusto Barbosa Júnior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although it is generally accepted that memory consolidation and reconsolidation requires regulation of gene expression, only a few transcription factors (TFs) have been clearly demonstrated to be specifically involved in this process. NF-ºB is an evolutionarily conserved family of TFs critically involved in basic cellular mechanisms of the immune response, inflammation, development and apoptosis. Recently, an increasing number of reports have called attention to the role of this TF in processes that require long-term regulation of the synaptic function underlying memory and neural plasticity in mammals. However, there is no data about the role of NF-ºB in memory consolidation and reconsolidation in the fish brain structures (e.g. telencephalon) involved in this process. Thus, this project proposes to use the inhibitory avoidance task in fish (Carassius auratus) to examine the potential role of NF-ºB on memory consolidation and reconsolidation. For this purpose we will analyze the effect of NF-ºB inhibition during memory consolidation and reconsolidation phases by intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of an inhibitor of the IºB kinase called sulfalazine (3.5mM, 5mM doses) or by icv injection of the NF-ºB antisense oligonucleotide (12.5nmol dose). Additionally, this project aims to study the time course of nuclear translocation and the activity of NF-ºB during memory consolidation and reconsolidation.