The role or TRPV1 receptors on the modulation of aversive responses and social behavior in rodents: cellular and molecular basis of learned behavior

• Grant number: 14/22604-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: December 02, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Resstel Barbosa Moraes
• Grantee: Ana Luisa Bernardes Terzian
• Host 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
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/07993-6 - Participation of TRPV1 receptors during aversive responses in rodents using optogenetics tools, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

TRPV1 receptors (rTRPV1; transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1) are widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS), as on prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, which suggests its involvement on the modulation of emotional responses. Its activation by exogenous or endogenous compounds promotes increase in cellular activity, mainly due to changes in glutamatergic synapses and nitric oxide (NO) release. So far, several studies have shown the involvement of rTRPV1 on aversive behaviors. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of these receptors induces a reduction on responses related to fear and anxiety, however few studies investigated the role of rTRPV1 on social behavior, which is highly related to species survival. Moreover, little is known about the direct participation of rTRPV1 on specific regions of the CNS on aversive and social behaviors, likewise its cellular and molecular mechanisms.For this reason, this project aims to evaluate the role of rTRPV1 fear condioning and social behavior, using knockout mice for rTRPV1. Animals will receive different compounds that interfere with the vanilloid system or with the glutamate-NO pathway in specific CNS areas, such as prefrotal cortex and hippocampus. The process of fear memory extinction and reconsolidation, and the social recognition paradigm will be evaluated. Behavior responses, electrophysioligical changes, quantification of proteins, mRNA and NO products will be measured. (AU)

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)

DOMINGOS, L. B.; HOT, S. C.; TERZIAN, A. L. B.; RESSTEL, L. B. M.. P2X7 purinergic receptors participate in the expression and extinction processes of contextual fear conditioning memory in mice. Neuropharmacology, v. 128, p. 474-481, JAN 2018. (13/08674-0, 14/22604-8)