Assessment of social behavior in a murine model of hippocampal immaturity

• Grant number: 24/17748-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Alexander Henning Ulrich
• Grantee: Maria Victoria Hennadipgil Queiroz
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/07366-4 - Purine and kinin receptors as targets of study and therapeutic interventions in neurological diseases, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/09598-3 - CaMKII-alpha enzyme expression in schizophrenia and its modulation by purinergics, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by mood swings with alternating episodes of depression and mania. Schizophrenia, on the other hand, is a chronic psychotic illness that includes complex manifestations of cognitive dysfunction, depression, and negative symptoms, in addition to the phenomenon of psychosis. Both disorders are associated with dysfunctions in the purinergic system, which regulates ATP and adenosine signaling in the brain. Dysregulation of this system can impact brain function and cognition, including social behavior. The protein Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha (CaMKII-¿) will be explored as a potential biomarker for these disorders, as changes in its expression are linked to behaviors analogous to those observed in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in animal models. The importance of social behavior and behavioral plasticity in understanding these disorders will be analyzed. The research will utilize animal models to assess the gene and protein expression of markers associated with social behavior, such as purinergic receptors and dysbindin, providing insights into the neurobiological bases and potential therapeutic targets for these disorders.