The impact of age on the electrophysiomolecular characteristics and pharmacological effects of ethanol on GABAergic neurons of the external globus pallidus

• Grant number: 22/15972-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Karina Possa Abrahão
• Grantee: Gabrielle Emily Boaventura Tavares
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/01686-0 - I cannot stop after the first ‘drink’! Alcohol effects on the inhibitory control brain systems, AP.JP
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/16930-1 - Neuronal network activity in the external Globus Pallidus during decision-making and after ethanol exposure across developmental stages (aging), BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The external globus pallidus (GPe) is a central region of projection convergence from basal ganglia and other brain regions. The GPe has been shown to play a role in the suppression of motor and behavioral responses. Dysfunction of this region promotes characteristic phenotypes of several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. In addition, exposure to ethanol alters pallidal function in experimental animals and humans. Despite being considered a homogeneous region in terms of its neuronal populations, many studies are showing that GPe neurons differ in terms of their molecular and electrophysiological characteristics. Several studies have shown differences in the percentage of colocalization of biomarkers and the electrophysiological parameters. Studies have not taken into consideration the impact of age on these measures. This project aims to analyze how age affects: 1) the characteristics of GPe neuronal populations and 2) the impact of ethanol on them. Therefore, we will use transgenic mice at three different ages in order to evaluate the expression of biomarkers, the electrophysiological characteristics, the gene expression, and the ethanol effects, including the contribution of the potassium channel BK to these effects.