Role of female sex hormones on respiratory parameters during the development of Parkinson's Disease in the 6-OHDA model in female mice

• Grant number: 22/12788-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Takakura Moreira
• Grantee: Giovanna Matos Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/16971-0 - Investigating the role of microglial activity in respiratory impairments and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease: the impact of estrogen deficiency, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of intracellular protein and the progressive and irreversible loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), which leads to a decrease in the dopamine in the striatum. The deficiency of this neurotransmitter leads to the classic motor symptoms of PD, such as tremors and postural instability. In addition, PD can present non-classical symptoms, which include, among other manifestations, respiratory deficits. Previous studies have shown that the respiratory deficits observed in PD may be associated with damage of the neural areas involved in respiratory control, generating impaired breathing at rest or during respiratory challenges such as high concentrations of CO2.PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and, although it affects both sexes, women maintain some advantage over men: the incidence of the disease is twice as high in men as in women in most populations, in addition to the age of onset is lower. Epidemiological and clinical evidence of PD suggests a possible influence of female sex hormones on the development of the disease, altering its onset and severity of symptoms. Thus, the aim of the present project is to investigate the role of female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) on neuroanatomical and functional respiratory parameters during the development of PD in the experimental model of 6-OHDA in female mice.