Protection conferred by environmental enrichment on stress-induced anxiety: the importance of GR, ERK, and CREB pathways in the rat basolateral amygdala.

Author(s)

Leonardo Santana Novaes

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2013-04-09

Examining board members

Carolina Demarchi Munhoz; Newton Sabino Canteras; Tatiana Lima Ferreira

• Advisor: Carolina Demarchi Munhoz

Abstract

Environmental enrichment (EE) is an experimental model that promotes improvements in learning and memory, as well as reduction in stress-induced behaviors, including anxiety. Although the casual relationship between stress and anxiety remains unclear, some studies show the importance of glucocorticoids hormones signaling (via GR and MR receptors) in the central nervous system, primarily in the amygdala and the hippocampus. In addition, the significance of the neurotrophic factor BDNF and some intracellular signaling pathways, such as protein kinases MAPK and the transcription factor CREB, has been described. In this study we found that EE prevents the emergence of anxiety-related behavior triggered by acute stress in rats, an effect observed just after the stress stimulus. This effect may be related to the modulation, in the basolateral amygdala, of nuclear GR signaling, ERK (a MAPK protein) and CREB activity, as well as to changes in the expression of BDNF receptor. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/13843-8 - Protection conferred by environmental enrichment on stress-induced anxiety: the importance of GR, ERK, and CREB pathways in the rat basolateral amygdala
• Grantee: Leonardo Santana Novaes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master