Investigation of neurons rostrolateral portion of the periaqueductal gray (PAGrl) mobilized in the drug seeking behavior and their connections with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA).

Author(s)

Brunella Valbão Flora

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2016-08-23

Examining board members

Sandra Regina Mota Ortiz; Rodrigo Ippolito Bouças; Martin Andreas Metzger

• Advisor: Sandra Regina Mota Ortiz

Abstract

Studies show a periaqueductal gray (PAG) as a critical place for an expression of motivated behaviors. The rostrolateral portion of PAG (PAGrl), is a key role in the regulation of motivation in predatory hunting, and modulates, reward mechanisms associated with drug and food seeking, through projections to ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens; what would depend on the connection with orexin neurons of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). The PAGrl, is mobilized in predatory hunting as drug seeking. The main region that sends projections to PAGrl is the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), where PAGrl integrate such afferent and modulates the LHA. Our results corroborate the hypothesis, because mPFC injuries, decreased drug seeking and we observed that PAGrl neurons mobilized in behavior, and also receive afferents from mPFC, would be the same as projecting to LHA, thus PAGrl had critical role in promotion of drug seeking behavior during the CPP for morphine sulfate. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/04318-8 - The relationship between rostrolateral periaqueductal gray, orexin neurons and medial prefrontal cortex in a motivational drive for drug seeking behavior
• Grantee: Brunella Valbão Flora
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master