Anatomic and functional investigation of GABAergic projections to the dorsal part of the periaqueductal gray matter

• Grant number: 22/06044-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: April 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Dixie Caroline Blanchard
• Grantee: Juliane Midori Ikebara
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/12881-2 - Neural systems for risk assessment, a biomarker for anxiety, AP.SPEC

Abstract

Preliminary observations from our laboratory have shown that the dorsal part of the periaqueductal gray matter (dPAG) receives several sources from GABAergic projection, such as the rostral zona incerta and the cuneiform nucleus, which could be involved in inhibiting responses to threatening stimuli in order to facilitate other behaviors, especially predatory hunting. In this sense, we propose in this work: investigation of GABAergic projections to the dorsal part of the periaqueductal gray matter; optogenetic silencing of dPAG-specific GABAergic projections, investigating behavioral changes during predator exposure and prey hunting; evaluation of the activity of GABAergic projection sources for the dorsal part of the periaqueductal gray during predator exposure and during prey hunting. (AU)