Assessment of the Periaqueductal Gray Matter in Maternal Behavior and Ethanol-Induced Impairment

• Grant number: 24/10970-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Rosana Camarini
• Grantee: Luiza de Sousa Moraes Cirino
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Psychoactive substances, such as ethanol, have the ability to activate the reward system (RS). Preliminary results from our laboratory indicate that the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) is part of this system. Exposure to ethanol can affect the sensitivity to natural rewarding stimuli and maternal behavior (MB). Reward refers to a positive reinforcement after performing a behavior. Regarding MB, it has been observed that females exposed to ethanol exhibit an increase in self-directed behaviors and impairment in maternal behaviors, such as an increase in the latency to retrieve pups. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relevance of the PAG in the context of rewarding stimuli related to ethanol and MB in ethanol-exposed mothers. For this purpose, Swiss females will be divided into two main groups, each subdivided into two subclasses: the first group will consist of non-virgin females treated with water (CTNV) and non-virgin females treated with ethanol (ETOHNV); the second group will include virgin females treated with water (CTV) and virgin females treated with ethanol (ETOHV). Ethanol exposure will occur from gestational day (GD) 15 to GD18, and postnatal days (PND) 1-3. On PND0 and PND4, there will be no drug exposure. Animals will be evaluated in two behavioral parameters: motivated pup-retrieval behavior in an anxiogenic environment (PND3); analysis of MB (PND4). Subsequently, NeuN, c-Fos, and deltafosB markers will be evaluated in the PAG using immunofluorescence technique.