Day/night differences in protein expression in the auditory brainstem centers of the primate Sapajus apella

• Grant number: 15/25377-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Pinato
• Grantee: Graziela Ligia da Silva Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências (FFC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Marília. Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Though not classically associated areas with the circadian timing system (CTS), several studies suggest an interaction between the functions and processing of auditory nuclei with circadian changes. Knowledge about rhythms in protein expression in these brain areas is essential to the understanding of possible rhythmic functions and for success in therapeutic manipulations in these regions. In recent years our group has achieved significant data on STC of the primate Sapajus apella. In a previous study we demonstrated that the medial geniculate nucleus shows temporal changes (day / night) in the calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) immunoreactivity, which exert neuromodulatory functions in the auditory pathway, demonstrating a possible functional adaptation of this area depending of the time of day. Now, in this project we aimed to investigate whether brain stem centers of auditory pathway have temporal variation in the CaBPs expression. The analysis about the rhythmic expression of these proteins will be performed by immunohistochemistry technique and the quantification by stereology. Our hypothesis is that intrinsic rhythmic events in these centers represent adaptations to events and activities characteristics to each period of the day. The results of this study will contribute to the understanding of possible temporal changes in the performance of the auditory system.