The nucleus accumbens (N.Acc.) has been ascribed an important role in mediating locomotor activity and exploration, as well as more complex processes such as reinforcement, reward and the acquisition of displacement activities. Previous investigations of N.Acc. functions have primarily been based on pharmacological manipulations of activity of one of the main neurotransmitters in the N.Acc., dopamine (DA), either through administration of dopaminergic agonists or antagonists or through depletion of DA terminal fields in the N.Acc. In the present thesis, the functional role of the N.Acc. in a number of different forms of behaviour has been investigated further using specific, fibre-sparing excitotoxic lesions of intrinsic neurones, intra-accumbens injections of DA and in vivo electrochemical measurements of extracellular levels of DA in the N.Acc. Excitotoxic lesions in the N.Acc. were found to enhance spontaneous locomotion and exploratory behaviours while leaving intact the locomotor- stimulating effects of an indirect dopaminergic agonist, displacement drinking in response to intermittent food-reinforcement (SIP) and amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Thus, fibre-sparing excitotoxic lesions induced a pattern of behaviour distinct from that observed following terminal depletion in the N.Acc. Further, microinjection and in vivo electrochemical experiments showed no direct relationship between DA activity in the N.Acc. and SIP. Overall, these results are discussed in terms of a theoretical model proposing that the N.Acc. may function as an interface between sensory input and locomotor output and that inhibitory activity in the N.Acc. is needed to channel activity levels appropriately in response to cortical input about the direction of change. It is suggested that rather than viewing it as a unitary structure with specific functions, the N.Acc. should be considered as a heterogeneous part of the striatal complex with a number of distinct subsystems that exist within a complex framework of interactive processes, where changes in one structure can only be understood by taking into account other, related structures.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Zoology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Reproductive senescence in females is a natural part of the aging process. However, the process by which it occurs, and the relative role of each level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, remains largely unknown. The neural circuitry regulating the hypothalamic axis, including glutamate acting through N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptors (NMDARs) on GnRH neurons, appears to be key to this process. The NMDAR is tetrameric and composed of an obligatory NR1 subunit together with NR2 subunits. The subunit composition determines the channel kinetics of the receptor and changes through the life span. This dissertation examines the physiological role of the NR2b subunit on LH pulsatile release and LH surge, both important for reproductive function. The expression of NR2b subunits in the anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) nucleus of the hypothalamus was also examined in aging rats. Experiment 1 showed that the NR2b-antagonist, ifenprodil, enhanced pulsatile LH release in estradioltreated females (both age groups). Experiment 2 showed that the LH surge in middle-aged animals was slightly accelerated and that results were dependent upon prior reproductive status of the animals. In Experiment 3, examination of the NR2b-immunoreactive cell population in young, middle-aged, and aged ovariectomized females given vehicle, estradiol, or estradiol with progesterone showed an age-associated decline in NR2b density. However, the immunofluorescent fraction volume of NR1 colocalized with NR2b increased with aging, and that of immunofluorescent fraction volume of NR2b increased with estradiol treatment. This is indicative of the amount of protein expressed in the AVPV. In total, NR2b cell density in the AVPV declines with age, but the amount of NR2b expressed in NR1-positive cells increases, suggesting a larger population of NR2b containing channels. This may translate to age-associated inhibition of GnRH/LH activity, which is relieved with blockade of NR2bcontaining NMDARs. Thus, this dissertation describes a novel way to examine the mechanism by which age-associated changes to neuromodulators of the HPG axis may affect the onset of reproductive senescence. / text

Orientador: Francesco Langone / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T15:12:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Facchini_Gustavo_M.pdf: 1152252 bytes, checksum: 2aeaf5af11625ea4d656804e4b4ab4b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: A melatonina (MLT) é um neurohormônio presente em humanos e outros vertebrados, sendo a glândula pineal principal fonte produtora. Além de sua conhecida ação cronobiológica, a MLT tem papel regulador sobre o metabolismo energético e sobre a massa corporal de mamíferos. A presença de receptores para MLT nos núcleos hipotalâmicos dorso-medial, supraquiasmático, paraventricular do hipotálamo desde a fase embrionária, corrobora a mediação da MLT no controle neural do metabolismo. Dentro deste contexto o presente trabalho avaliou os efeitos da administração de MLT sobre a evolução ponderal e os níveis plasmáticos de glicose, triglicérides, colesterol, ácido graxo livre e insulina. Também foram investigados os efeitos da MLT sobre a fosforilação da AKT e ERK1/2 no hipotálamo de ratos neonatos. Neste estudo foram utilizados ratos neonatos com dois dias de vida (P2) que receberam doses diárias de MLT (1, 10, 50 e 100 mg/kg, s.c.; n=10) e/ou luzindole, antagonista não seletivo da MLT (1 mg/kg, s.c.; n=10). Os animais foram tratados por seis dias e sacrificados 24 horas após a última dose (P8). Três grupos adicionais foram utilizados, dois deles receberam apenas os veículos de diluição da melatonia (n=10) ou luzindole (n=10). O terceiro foi formado por animais não tratados (n=10). Imediatamente após o sacrifício foi coletado sangue para as dosagens plasmáticas, sendo realizada também a dissecação do hipotálamo. Os hipotálamos foram processados para análise por Western Blot (WB) das formas fosforiladas e não fosforiladas das proteínas AKT e ERK1/2. A evolução ponderal dos animais tratados com veículo de diluição foi semelhante ao dos animais sem tratamento. Contrariamente, todos os grupos tratados com MLT e com MLT+LZD apresentaram redução da evolução ponderal ao longo do tempo. A análise da fosforilação de proteínas no hipotálamo mostrou que todos os grupos tratados com MLT exibiram aumento da fosforilação da AKT. Por sua vez, a administração conjunta de MLT e LZD fez com que o valor de pAKT se assemelhasse os grupos controles. Os animais que receberam 10 mg/kg de MLT apresentaram aumento significativo da pERK1/2 quando comparado aos grupos controles. Entretanto, a administração de MLT+LZD tornou os valores de pERK1/2 similares aos valores dos animais controles. As dosagens plasmáticas mostraram que a MLT não alterou valores de colesterol, mas modificou as concentrações de glicose, triglicérides, ácido graxo livre e insulina. Por outro lado, os grupos tratados com o veículo de diluição do LZD apresentaram aumento dos valores de colesterol e diminuição de triglicérides e ácido graxo livre. Nossos dados mostram pela primeira vez que doses farmacológicas de melatonina produzem alterações metabólicas em ratos neonatos e que tais efeitos podem ser conseqüência de sua ação periférica e central. / Abstract: Melatonin (MLT) is a neurohormone present in human and other vertebrates, the pineal gland being its main source. In addition to its known chronobiological action, MLT has a regulatory role on energy metabolism and body mass of mammals. The presence of receptors for MLT in dorsomedial, supraquiasmaic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei since embryonic stage, speaks in favor of MLT as a mediator of neural control of metabolism. In this study we used newborn rats with two days of life (P2) who received daily doses of MLT (1, 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg, sc, n = 10) and / or luzindol (LZD; non-selective antagonist of MLT, 1 mg/kg, sc, n = 10). Animals were treated for six days and sacrificed 24 hours after the last dose (P8). Two additional groups received only the vehicle of dilution of melatonin (n = 10) or luzindol (n = 10). Another group was composed of animals not treated pharmacologically (n = 10). Body weight was recorded daily. At the end of treatment rats were killed by decapitation and blood was collected for plasma glucose (GLI), total cholesterol (COL), free triglycerides (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and insulin (INS) determination. The hypothalamus was also dissected and processed for analysis by Western Blot (WB) of phosphorylated AKT and ERK1/2. The body weight of animals treated with vehicle was similar to that of untreated animals. Conversely, all groups treated with MLT and MLT + LZD showed reduced body weight over time. Analysis of protein phosphorylation in the hypothalamus showed that all groups treated with MLT had increased AKT phosphorylation. Rats that received MLT and LZD had pAKT levels similar to control rats. Animals that received 10 mg / kg of MLT showed significant increase in pERK1/2 compared to control groups. However, rats that received MLT + LZD had pERK1/2 levels similar to control rats. MLT did not alter plasmatic COL, but modified the GLI, TG, AGL and INS plasmatic levels. Moreover, groups treated with vehicle for dilution of LZD showed increase in COL and decrease of TG and FFA. Our data show for the first time that pharmacological doses of melatonin produces metabolic changes in newborn rats and that this effect may be a consequence of its peripheral and central actions. / Mestrado / Fisiologia / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular