Modulation of synaptic and systemic consolidation of contextual memories via activating or blocking glucocorticoid receptors

• Grant number: 17/24012-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: May 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Physiological Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Raquel Vecchio Fornari
• Grantee: Moisés dos Santos Corrêa
• Host Institution: Centro de Matemática, Computação e Cognição (CMCC). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Episodic memories are declarative memories, i.e., long-term memories, that can be accessed consciously and that have specific information about the space and time of the event that generated its acquisition. The study of episodic memory has enabled a better understanding of the phenomena that occur during its consolidation and retrieval, as well as its strength and specificity during the passage of time. These memories are modulated by the adrenal hormone corticosterone (CORT). This modulation exerted by CORT is dependent on variables such as the intensity of the training and the plasma concentration of hormones during the window of synaptic consolidation of memory. Several studies suggest that both glucocorticoid receptors, both types I (Mineralocorticoid Receptor, MR, of greater affinity with CORT) and type II (glucocorticoid receptor GR, of lower affinity with CORT) are related to the expression of spatial and contextual memory, but with different roles in this process. The GR are related with synaptic consolidation and are present in great density in hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex, areas related to the acquisition, consolidation and retrieval of contextual memory. Different levels of CORT elicited by different training intensities cause different rates of memory generalization but the role played by GR on this phenomenon is still not well-understood. Therefore, it is important to investigate the effect of activation and selective blockade of these receptors. This project aims to investigate the effects of pharmacological manipulation of GRs in protein expression related to the consolidation of memory as well as in the strength and specificity of recent and remote memory. (AU)