The role of acute stress and mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors present in the prefrontal cortex in the memory extinction learning

• Grant number: 15/11800-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: March 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Resstel Barbosa Moraes
• Grantee: Jessica Rosa
• 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): 17/24025-3 - The long-term effects of acute stress in the prefrontal cortex on the fear extinction memory, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of acute stress and mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors present in the prefrontal cortex in the memory extinction learning. For this purpose, male Wistar rats will submitted to a surgery for the implant of a radiotelemetric probe into the abdominal aorta for monitoring autonomic responses, and after, cannulae guide will be stereotaxically implanted bilaterally in in the infralimbic (IL) or prelimbic (PL) regions of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) of rodents for drug administration. After recover from surgeries, the animals will be exposure to a single and brief session of an uncontrollable stress (restraint stress for 1 hour). On the seventh day after de acute restraint stress session they will be trained in contextual fear conditioning protocol, followed by extinction session and extinction retention session, all sessions with a 24 hour interval. The mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (RU 23318), or glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (RU 486) or the vehicle will be administered to the animals by microinjections into the IL or PL, 10 minutes before or immediately after the extinction session. Our hypothesis is that the mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors are important for the extinction of aversive memory, and that acute stress produces a deficit in the conditioned fear extinction learning through changes in the expression of receptors for glucocorticoids in vmPFC, and morphological modifications in this brain structure. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ROSA, Jessica. The long-lasting effects of acute stress on the contextual extinction memory: Participation of glucocorticoid receptors in the prefrontal cortex. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.