Behavioral sensitization and ethanol-induced neuroadaptations: effects of N-acetylcysteine treatment in mice

• Grant number: 15/01026-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Tadeu Marin
• Grantee: Gessynger Morais Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The problems related to the use and abuse of ethanol worsen to the extent that alcohol became increasingly disseminated and consumed on a large scale. Among these problems, addiction is one of the most serious. Its abuse potential is mainly due to its reinforcing properties, crucial in the transition from the use, abuse and dependence. The reinforcing effects of drugs are mainly mediated by mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. Studies have shown that neuroadaptations in this pathwat may be responsible for the development and maintenance of addiction. The behavioral sensitization to ethanol is an animal model that allows the evaluation of long lasting neuroadaptations in this pathway, as changes in CREB transcription factor and immediate early gene expression, as FosB. Current treatments for ethanol addiction are ineffective. New drugs are needed for this purpose. N-acetylcysteine has shown efficacy in the treatment of cocaine and nicotine addiction. However, there is no data about the application of N-acetylcysteine in ethanol addiction. The objective of the project is to evaluate the effects of treatment with N-acetylcysteine in behavioral sensitization to ethanol. Mice will be treated with ethanol to induce sensitization of the psychomotor activity induced by this drug and the influence of N-acetylcysteine in the process will be evaluated. Furthermore, the proteins CREB, activated CREB (p-CREB) and FosB will be quantified by Western blotting. (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)

MORAIS-SILVA, GESSYNGER; ALVES, GABRIELLE CUNHA; MARIN, MARCELO T.. N-acetylcysteine treatment blocks the development of ethanol-induced behavioural sensitization and related Delta FosB alterations. Neuropharmacology, v. 110, n. A, p. 135-142, NOV 2016. (14/02371-9, 15/01026-9)

MORAIS-SILVA, GESSYNGER; ALVES, GABRIELLE CUNHA; MARIN, MARCELO T.. N-acetylcysteine treatment blocks the development of ethanol-induced behavioural sensitization and related Delta FosB alterations. Neuropharmacology, v. 110, p. 8-pg., 2016-11-01. (15/01026-9, 14/02371-9)