Induction effect of seizures in memory of tilápias-do-Nilo (Cichlidae, Oreochromis niloticus)

• Grant number: 16/05533-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Henrique Florindo
• Grantee: Camila Fernandes Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, epilepsy affects almost 50 million people around the world. It is a disease characterized by seizures that can last a lifetime and vary in intensity and duration. Several cases of memory loss are related by patients with epilepsy, and in this context several studies are emerging to understand the relation between epilepsy and memory. However, the mechanisms which originate seizures as well as they occur are still unknown. Most studies with animal experimentation use rats as model, however, the use of fish as experimental model has been widely accepted, for being, between the vertebrates, the oldest on the evolutionary scale, providing the basis for studies on brain and behavioral evolution of vertebrates. Thus, this study aims to evaluate whether the induction of seizures alter the performance of tilápilas-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) in a paradigm for memory evaluation. The experimental method will be based on a learning and memory tests and seizures induction by pilocarpine. Animals will be divided in four groups, each group with n=10: a) Intact group (IG), won't go through any surgical procedure; b) Saline group (SG), will receive saline injection (1µL) on telencephalon, in both cortex; c) Bilateral group (BiG), will receive pilocarpine injection (0,25mg/1µL) on telencephalon, in both cortex. An aquarium divided into four compartments: compartment A (where the animals will be positioned during learning test), compartment B (inaccessible food) C compartment (accessible food) and D (where the animals will be positioned during memory test), will be used for two batteries of behavioral analysis: a learning test before surgical procedures, and a memory test after surgery. For learning test will be quantified errors/successes of animals (the option for the compartment with inaccessible/accessible food), and memory test will quantify errors/successes, latency to choose the correct compartment and percent of response/place learner animals. Data will be analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey or Dunn multiple comparison test to identify significant differences between groups in each treatment, with significance level of p < 0.05.