Nitric oxide effect in the modulation of the chemical and electric synapses during retinal development

• Grant number: 15/04495-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2015
• End date: April 12, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Hiroaki Kihara
• Grantee: Lais Takata Walter
• Host Institution: Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição (CMCC). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the nervous system (NS), nitric oxide (NO) is associated with various physiological and pathological processes. The endogenous production of NO depends on nitric oxide synthases (NOS), nNOS, eNOS and iNOS; whose names are related to the majority production in neurons, endothelial and inflammatory processes, respectively. Although structurally similar, these enzymes have different properties of regulation and expression. This project aimed to evaluate the role of NO on synaptogenesis. For that, we will be used to rat retina as a model in which the broad spectrum will be administered blocker of NOS (L-NAME) and specific blocker of nNOS isoform (7-NI). After intraocular injection of drugs, we will evaluate gene expression levels of synapsin, synaptophysin and connexin (for real-time PCR), distribution and protein quantification (by immunofluorescence and western blotting, respectively). To better understand the effect of NO and the mechanism of NO action in its targets, we will hold the S-nitrosylation protein identification assay. Moreover, the effects caused by blocking of the connectivity and network activity will be measured using multi-electrode records (Multi Electrode Array, MEA).

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)

RAEISOSSADATI, REZA; MOVIO, MARILIA INES; WALTER, LAIS TAKATA; TAKADA, SILVIA HONDA; DEL DEBBIO, CAROLINA BELTRAME; KIHARA, ALEXANDRE HIROAKI. Small Molecule GSK-J1 Affects Differentiation of Specific Neuronal Subtypes in Developing Rat Retina. Molecular Neurobiology, v. 56, n. 3, p. 1972-1983, MAR 2019. (17/26439-0, 13/07458-2, 14/16711-6, 15/04495-0)