LONG-TERM IMPACT OF STATUS EPILEPTICUS ON THE IMMATURE BRAIN OF ZEBRAFISH: A BEHAVIORIAL AND MOLECULAR INVESTIGATION

• Grant number: 24/23770-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Cláudia Vianna Maurer Morelli
• Grantee: Angélica Pereira Guimarães
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epilepsies are neurological diseases characterized by recurrent seizures, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide. In Brazil, around 2% of the population is diagnosed with epilepsy. It is important to note that two-thirds of epilepsy cases begin up to adolescence, with the highest incidence occurring in the first year of life. In children, seizures can lead to long-term neurobehavioral consequences that impact biological, cognitive, psychological, and social aspects of development. Status epilepticus (SE), which is considered a clinical emergency, is associated with severe neurobehavioral alterations, particularly when it occurs during childhood due to the critical period of neurological development. However, little is known about the long-term behavioral and molecular effects of these seizures. Zebrafish have been successfully used to model genetic forms of epilepsy or to induce chemically induced epileptic seizures, and they possess a well-validated behavioral repertoire. The primary aim of this study is to investigate whether SE-type epileptic seizures in zebrafish larvae can lead to long-term behavioral and molecular effects. To achieve this, zebrafish larvae will be induced to SE using pilocarpine. Long-term behavioral effects will be assessed through a series of tests conducted at different developmental stages, specifically at 14, 30, 60, and 90 days post-fertilization (dpf). At 90 dpf, a molecular analysis of the zebrafish brain will be performed to evaluate the expression of genetic markers, including c-fos, il1b, fosb, and bdnf. By using zebrafish as a model organism, this research aims to enhance our understanding of the long-term effects of seizures on behavior and molecular responses, potentially opening new avenues for investigation. (AU)