Impact of nutrients on the regulation of hypothalamic neurons

• Grant number: 24/17337-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: February 20, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Licio Augusto Velloso
• Grantee: Felipe Ferreira Wanderley
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus are responsible for coordinating responses to systemic stimuli that indicate the body's energy reserves. In addition to responding to hormones such as leptin and insulin, these neurons are also responsive to nutrients. A nutrient widely consumed in Western-style diets is palmitate, present in animal and vegetal fats, and used in various preparations such as cakes, pies and ultraprocessed foods. In this project, after a period of training in basic cell culture and PCR techniques, we will evaluate the response of a line of hypothalamic neurons to acute (30 min) and chronic (12 h) exposure to palmitate at a concentration of 50mM. The project aims to offer a period of training in a very productive laboratory for an undergraduate student interested in scientific activity. Furthermore, the result of the intervention may contribute to the characterization of response mechanisms of hypothalamic neurons to a nutrient widely used in the contemporary world. (AU)