Methods of molecular analysis of BDNF and its processing and release: contribution for evaluation of its role in an animal model of schizophrenia

• Grant number: 13/03137-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: August 22, 2013
• End date: December 21, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Vanessa Costhek Abílio
• Grantee: Camila Mauricio Santos
• Supervisor: Barbara Louise Hempstead
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Weill Cornell Medical College, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/18851-1 - The role of BDNF and its receptors in environmental and pharmacological preventive interventions of schizophrenia in an animal model of the disease: the SHR strain, BP.DR

Abstract

Changes on receptors, in the signaling cascade and / or expression of BDNF can not only result in a poor neural development, but also changes in neural plasticity and structural abnormalities that may be associated with the development of schizophrenia. Data obtained so far indicate a participation of BDNF in behaviors related to schizophrenia in our animal model, however, the techniques most commonly used for the assessment of BDNF were not enough to answer our questions.This project has the objective the learning of molecular techniques used for evaluation of parameters related to processing and release of pro-BDNF and mature BDNF in a major research centers in neurotrophins. It will be held at 4 months, the Weill Cornell Medical College, under the supervision of Professor Barbara Louise Hempsteadan important expert in the field.Learning these techniques is fundamental for the development of the current doctorate project, it will provide the student practical and theoretical knowledge about the robust BDNF and steps related to its release and action. This stage will allow, therefore, the consolidation of new techniques in our laboratory, allowing the realization of neurochemical measurements we propose to accomplish. (AU)