The role of the ventral pre-mammillary nucleus of the hypothalamus, the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and the principal part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the organization of the social defense

• Grant number: 18/15757-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2018
• End date: October 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Simone Cristina Motta
• Grantee: Gabriela Gonçalves Nunes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/18667-0 - Manipulating the neural circuit underlying social defense, AP.JP

Abstract

An important sensory information for the expression of defensive behaviors is olfactory, and the posterodorsal part of the medial amygdala (MeApd) is an important structure for the transmission of conspecific information. However, little is known about how this information reaches important neural structures for the organization of these behaviors. Thus, this project aims to examine the role of MeApd targets, such as the ventral pre-mammillary nucleus of the hypothalamus (PMV), the ventrolateral part of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMHvl) and the principal part of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTpr), in the organization of defensive social behavior. To address this question, we will perform bilateral injections of AAV-hSyn-hM4D(Gi)-mCherry (inhibitory pharmacogenetics) into MeApd and bilateral injections of the stimulatory pharmacogenetics virus (AAV-hSyn-HA-hM3D (Gq) -IRES-mCitrine) into one of the MeApd targets. Each target nucleus, BNSTpr, VMHvl and PMV, will constitute an experimental group that will receive combined viruses. This experiment will allow the observation of the activation of each of the MeApd efferents without its interference.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

NUNES, Gabriela Gonçalves. Functional and anatomical study of the medial nucleus of the amygdala in the organization of social defense.. 2021. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.