Possible HO-1 involvement of hippocampal cells in the aversive effect of pain induced by persistent inflammation

• Grant number: 17/22724-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Christie Ramos Andrade Leite Panissi
• Grantee: Ana Luisa Ferreira Arantes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pain sensitivity is a somatovisceral perception that has, besides the sensorial-discriminative component, common to other sensorial modalities, an affective-motivational component, which makes this sensitivity unique for each individual. Among the mechanisms of pain modulation, the cognitive and emotional aspects are of notable importance. However, most of the studies on pain sensitivity uses animal models that evaluate the sensory-discriminative component as a methodology. Considering the neural circuits involved in the modulation of pain, the areas of the limbic system are closely related to the emotional and motivational component. Therefore, it is possible the involvement of the hippocampus, once this area is responsible for the consolidation of aversive memories. Recent studies on pain modulation have demonstrated the involvement of carbon monoxide (CO) gas as well as the enzyme heme-oxygenase (HO) which is responsible for its synthesis. In addition, CO is involved in modulating emotional and motivational behavior. The HO enzyme is expressed in different areas of the nervous system being the hippocampus a structure presenting high expression to this enzyme. Therefore CO can be an important neuromodulator in this region. The objective of this project will be to evaluate whether the blockage of the HO-CO pathway alters the behavior of pain aversion in the PEAP test in animals submitted to persistent inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) as well as the expression of the HO enzyme in hippocampal cells. (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)

CAZUZA, RAFAEL A.; ARANTES, ANA LUISA F.; POL, OLGA; LEITE-PANISSI, CHRISTIE R. A.. HO-CO pathway activation may be associated with hippocampal mu and delta opioid receptors in inhibiting inflammatory pain aversiveness and nociception in WT but not NOS2-KO mice. Brain Research Bulletin, v. 169, p. 8-17, APR 2021. (17/22724-1, 17/11213-6)