Analysis of LC3 protein expression in the central nervous system of aged rats submitted to moderate physical exercise

• Grant number: 13/08063-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Merari de Fátima Ramires Ferrari
• Grantee: Carolliny Moura da Silva
• Supervisor: Sandra Isabel Morais de Almeida Costa Cardoso
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Coimbra (UC), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/15283-2 - Autophagocytosis and oxidative stress in the central nervous system of aged rats submitted to moderate physical exercise, BP.MS

Abstract

The ageing process of central nervous system is accompanied by alterations in cell structure and biochemical composition associated to deposit of senile plaques and neurofibrilar tangles. The presence of these aggregates distributed throughout the central nervous system impairs the intracellular environment culminating with cell death. The weakness of cellular pathways of degradation can favor the aggregation of intra- and extracellular proteins, which interferes with neuronal homeostasis and collaborates with neurodegeneration. In view of this, the present study aims to quantify the expression of LC3, which is involved in autophagy system, in aged rats submitted to moderate physical exercise and exposed to rotenone (substance that increases protein aggregation). This study was designed to evaluate the correlation among physical exercise, ageing and protein aggregation in the central nervous system. Western Blot technique will be employed to detect LC3-I and LC3-II. This analysis is well established in Professor Sandra Cardoso's Laboratory at the University of Coimbra. (AU)