<p>For my doctoral research I examined social decision-making in a cooperatively breeding cichlid fish, <em>Neolamprologus pulcher</em> with a focus on affiliation and aggression. I investigated the role that the nonapeptide hormone, isotocin, plays in modulating social decisions in these contexts. I show that <em>N. pulcher</em> males prefer to join larger groups regardless of the rank at which they will join, whereas females prefer larger groups only when they can join a group in a high rank (Chapter 2). I examined decision-making during resource contests in<em> </em>(Chapter 3) and found that <em>N. pulcher</em> are sensitive to the size of their opponents, making fighting decisions depending on their opponents’ body size. I also found that smaller <em>N. pulcher</em> are more motivated to persist within contests, showing a shorter latency to resume fighting following interruption (Chapter 4). In Chapters 5 and 6, I explored the role of isotocin (the teleost fish homologue of oxytocin) in regulating social behaviour. I discovered that an increase in isotocin increased responsiveness to social information. Fish treated with isotocin were more sensitive to their opponent’s size in contests and were more submissive to dominant individuals within their social group (Chapter 5). Unexpectedly, I found that exogenous isotocin reduced sociality in <em>N. pulcher, </em>and that an isotocin receptor antagonist increased it (Chapter 6). These results suggest that the relationship between isotocin and social behaviour is both complex and context specific. In my final data chapter, I used social network analysis to explore the role of dominance interactions in determining the structure of <em>N. pulcher</em> social groups. I found that <em>N. pulcher</em> dominance hierarchies are highly linear, but that dominance interactions are not predicted by sex or body size asymmetry (Chapter 7). I found that conflict within <em>N. pulcher</em> social groups is greatest at the top of the dominance hierarchy. Taken together the results of my thesis helps to elucidate the behavioural and hormonal basis of social decision-making in a cooperatively breeding vertebrate and help to illuminate the evolution of social behaviour.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

It has been suggested that reward processing and related neural substrates are disrupted in some common mental disorders such as depression, addiction, and anxiety. An increasing number of psychiatric studies have been applying reinforcement learning (RL) models to examine these disruptions in self-regarding learning (learning about rewards delivered to the learners themselves). A review of RL alterations associated with mental disorders in extant studies will be beneficial for uncovering the mechanisms of these health problems. Although impaired social reward processing is common in some mental disorders [e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety and autism], RL has not been widely used to detect the potentially disrupted social reward learning, especially for other-regarding learning (learning about rewards delivered to others). Meanwhile, it has not been clear whether some drugs, e.g., oxytocin (OT), can alter other-regarding learning, so they may serve as a therapeutic intervention when related deficits occur. In the present set of studies, we summarized common and distinct features in terms of self-regarding RL disturbances among depression, addiction and anxiety disorders based on previous findings (Paper I), tested whether behavioral and neural self- and other-regarding RL were impaired in PTSD with and without comorbid depression (Paper II), and investigated OT's behavioral and neural effects on self- and other-regarding RL in healthy males (Paper III). The results of our literature review showed that the commonalities in all three mental disorders were inflexibility and inconsistent choices, and the differences included decreased learning rates in depression, a higher weight to rewards versus punishments in addiction, and hypersensitivity to punishments in anxiety. The results of the PTSD study demonstrated impaired behavioral other-regarding learning in PTSD patients with and without depression, supposedly due to their hypervigilance to unexpected outcomes for others, as evidenced by the heightened responses in their inferior parietal lobule. The OT study detected OT's effects of attenuating behavioral other-regarding learning, as well as the neural coding of unexpected outcomes for others in the anterior cingulate cortex. These findings provide new evidence of self- and other-regarding RL alterations in mental disorders, reveal potential targets for their treatments, and bring caution for using OT as a therapeutic intervention. / Doctor of Philosophy / People learn to make choices to gain rewards and to avoid punishments delivered to themselves. As social animals, people also take account of outcomes delivered to others when learning. With the help of computational modeling, previous studies have found abnormal reward learning for oneself in people with mental health problems. To better understand mental illnesses, we summarized the similarities and differences of the learning abnormalities reported in previous studies about depression, addiction, and anxiety. We have found that people with these mental illnesses all tend to be inflexible and make more random choices when learning. As for the differences, people with depression tend to learn slower; people with addiction tend to see gaining rewards as more important than avoiding punishments; and people with anxiety tend to be oversensitive to punishments. Using computational modeling and imaging of brain function, we also tested whether learning for other was abnormal in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and found that, compared to healthy people, PTSD patients had slower learning for others' rewards, and the inferior parietal lobule, a brain region for processing social information, showed higher responses to unexpected outcomes for others. In another study, we examined whether oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide that has been reported to change people's social functions, could influence reward learning for others in healthy males. The results showed that OT slowed down people's learning for others, and also decreased the neural learning signals in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in processing other's outcomes. Our findings provide new information about how reward learning for oneself and others are changed in mental illnesses, reveal potential targets for their treatments, and bring caution for using OT as a therapeutic intervention.

Understanding the complexities of social behavior involves exploring both macro-level socio-cultural dynamics and micro-level neurobiological mechanisms. This dissertation presents findings from two experimental studies aimed at shedding light on different facets of social behavior. The first study focuses on the concept of the metacontingency, which involves the recurring interlocking behaviors of multiple individuals resulting in an aggregate outcome. This study examines the possibility of interlocking behavioral classes within social interactions. By employing experimental methodologies analogous to those used at the operant level, the study investigates whether natural units of interlocked behaviors emerge. The second study investigates the neuromodulatory role of oxytocin (OT) in social behavior, focusing on its effects on social reinforcement and punishment sensitivity. Utilizing a rat model and targeting the prefrontal cortex, this study explores how OT modulates the sensitivity of social consequences with both familiar cage mates and unfamiliar stranger rats. Together, these studies contribute to a comprehensive understanding of social behavior by highlighting behavioral processes at different levels of analysis.

Introduction : La prévention de la mort de cellules cardiaques contractiles suite à un épisode d'infarctus du myocarde représente le plus grand défi dans la récupération de la fonction cardiaque. On a démontré à maintes reprises que l'ocytocine (OT), l'hormone bien connue pour ses rôles dans le comportement social et reproductif et couramment utilisée dans l’induction de l’accouchement, diminue la taille de l'infarctus et améliore la récupération fonctionnelle du myocarde blessé. Les mécanismes de cette protection ne sont pas totalement compris. Objectif : Étudier les effets d'un traitement avec de l'ocytocine sur des cardiomyocytes isolés en utilisant un modèle in vitro qui simule les conditions d'un infarctus du myocarde. Méthodes : La lignée cellulaire myoblastique H9c2 a été utilisée comme modèle de cardiomyocyte. Pour simuler le dommage d'ischémie-reperfusion (IR), les cellules ont été placées dans un tampon ischémique et incubées dans une chambre anoxique pendant 2 heures. La reperfusion a été accomplie par la restauration du milieu de culture régulier dans des conditions normales d'oxygène. L'OT a été administrée en présence ou en absence d'inhibiteurs de kinases connues pour être impliquées dans la cardioprotection. La mortalité cellulaire a été évaluée par TUNEL et l'activité mitochondriale par la production de formazan pendant 1 à 4 heures de reperfusion. La microscopie confocale a servie pour localiser les structures cellulaires. Résultats : Le modèle expérimental de l'IR dans les cellules H9c2 a été caractérisé par une diminution dans la production de formazan (aux alentours de 50 à 70 % du groupe témoin, p < 0.001) et par l'augmentation du nombre de noyaux TUNEL-positif (11.7 ± 4.5% contre 1.3 ± 0.7% pour le contrôle). L'addition de l'OT (10-7 a 10-9 M) au commencement de la reperfusion a inversé les effets de l'IR jusqu'aux niveaux du contrôle (p < 0.001). L'effet protecteur de l'OT a été abrogé par : i) un antagoniste de l'OT ; ii) le knockdown de l'expression du récepteur à l'OT induit par le siRNA ; iii) la wortmannin, l'inhibiteur de phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases ; iv) KT5823, l'inhibiteur de la protéine kinase dépendante du cGMP (PKG); v) l'ODQ, un inhibiteur du guanylate cyclase (GC) soluble, et A71915, un antagoniste du GC membranaire. L'analyse confocale des cellules traitées avec OT a révélé la translocation du récepteur à l'OT et la forme phosphorylée de l'Akt (Thr 308, p-Akt) dans le noyau et dans les mitochondries. Conclusions : L'OT protège directement la viabilité des cardiomyocytes, lorsqu'elle est administrée au début de la reperfusion, par le déclenchement de la signalisation du PI3K, la phosphorylation de l'Akt et son trafic cellulaire. La cytoprotection médiée par l'OT implique la production de cGMP par les deux formes de GC. / Introduction: The prevention of the death of contractile cardiac cells following an episode of myocardial infarction represents the largest challenge in the recovery of myocardial function. Oxytocin, the hormone best known for its roles in reproduction and social behaviour and used commonly for the induction of parturition, has been repeatedly demonstrated to decrease the infarct size and to ameliorate the functional recovery of the injured myocardium. The mechanisms for this protection are incompletely understood. Objective: To study the effects of oxytocin treatment on isolated cardiomyocytes using an in vitro model simulating the conditions of a myocardial infarction. Methods: The cardiomyoblastic cell line H9c2 was used as a model of cardiomyocyte. For IR injury, the cells were placed in ischemic buffer and incubated in an anoxic chamber for 2 hours. Reperfusion was achieved by restoring cell media under normoxic conditions. OT was administered in the presence or absence of enzyme inhibitors. Cell death was evaluated by TUNEL and mitochondrial activity by formazan production during 1-4 hours of reperfusion. Confocal microscopy served for localization of cell structures. Results. The experimental model of IR in H9c2 cells was characterized by decreased formazan production (at the range of 50-70% of normoxic control, p < 0.001) and by the increased number of TUNEL-positive nuclei (11.7±4.5 vs. 1.3±0.7% in normoxic control). The addition of OT (10-7 to 10-9 M) at the onset of reperfusion reversed the effects of IR to the control levels (p < 0.001). The protective effect of OT was abrogated by: i) an OT antagonist, OTA and siRNA-mediated OT receptor knockout; ii) the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases inhibitor wortmannin; iii) the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor, KT5823. Soluble guanylate cyclase (GC) inhibitor ODQ and particulate GC antagonist A71915 only partially blocked the protective effects of OT. Confocal analysis of OT-treated cells revealed translocation of OT receptor and the phosphorylated form of Akt (Thr 308, p-Akt) into the nucleus and mitochondria. Conclusions: OT directly protects cardiomyocyte viability if administered at the onset of reperfusion by triggering signaling of Pi3K, Akt phosphorylation and its cellular trafficking. OT-mediated cytoprotection involves cGMP production by both forms of GC.

No description available.

Les récepteurs couplés aux protéines G forment une grande famille de récepteurs transmembranaires. De nombreuses études montrent que ces récepteurs présenteraient une tendance à interagir entre eux et à former des oligomères. Ces structures sont toutefois sujettes à controverse. En effet, très peu d'éléments permettent d'affirmer que ces oligomères existeraient dans les tissus natifs, la plupart des caractérisations se faisant en systèmes hétérologues. Nous avons donc développé une approche basée d'une part sur l'utilisation de ligands fluorescents pour marquer les récepteurs dans leur environnement natif et d'autre part sur le FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) en temps résolu en utilisant des cryptates de lanthanides, en particulier le Lumi4-Tb. Nous avons ainsi pu montrer et publier l'existence d'oligomères du récepteur de l'ocytocine dans la glande mammaire. Le protocole de cette étude a aussi été publié et a été validé pour la mise en évidence d'hétéro-oligomères, plus précisément entre les récepteurs V1a et V2 de la vasopressine. La poursuite de l'étude de ce phénomène dans les tissus natifs nous a poussés à développer notre propre dispositif de microscopie FRET en temps résolu. Ce dispositif est basé sur un microscope en champ large auquel nous avons ajouté une source laser pour l'excitation pulsée et une caméra CCD Multigate pour la détection. Nous en présentons ici les premiers résultats ainsi que sa validation pour l'utilisation de multiples fluorophores accepteurs avec une contamination minimale par le Lumi4-Tb. Enfin, nous proposons un modèle pharmacologique montrant l'utilisation de ligands bivalents pour étudier le couplage des oligomères. / G-protein coupled receptors form a very large family of transmembrane receptors. Numerous studies have shown that these receptors showed a tendency to interact and form oligomers. These structures are however the matter of great debate. Indeed, very few elements allow us to maintain that these oligomers could exist in native tissues, most studies being carried out in heterologous systems. We have therefore developed an approach based for one part on the use of fluorescent ligands to label receptors in their native environment, and on the other part on time-resolved FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) by using lanthanide cryptates, more specifically Lumi4-Tb. We have thus been able to show and publish the existence of oxytocin receptor oligomers in the mammary gland. The protocol used for this study was also published and validated for the study of hetero-oligomers, more specifically between vasopressin V1a and V2 receptors. Following on our study of oligomers in native tissues, we have developed our own setup to perform time-resolved FRET microscopy. This setup is based on a wide field microscope to which we added a laser source for the pulsed excitation and a Multigate CCD camera for imaging. We are here presenting the first results as well as its validation for the use of multiple acceptor fluorophores with minimal bleed through from the Lumi4-Tb. Lastly, we propose a pharmacological model showing the use of bivalent ligands to study oligomer coupling.

A ocitocina (OT) é um neuropeptídio hipotalâmico, que dentre suas funções na fêmea destaca-se a contração uterina durante o parto e a ejeção do leite. No entanto, estudos vêm demonstrando importantes funções endócrinas e parácrinas no trato reprodutivo masculino. Evidenciando a possível ação conjunta entre OT e a Globulina ligadora de hormônios sexuais (SHBG). Entretanto, em cães não existem informações disponíveis quanto sua atuação. Assim, estudos direcionados aos receptores de ocitocina (OTR) e SHBG e suas funções no sistema reprodutor masculino, mais especificamente na fisiologia espermática, são de suma importância para os conhecimentos da fisiologia reprodutiva para posterior aplicação em biotecnologias reprodutivas em pequenos animais e humanos, fomentando também novas perspectivas para a utilização terapêutica da ocitocina em enfermidades reprodutivas. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo é verificar a expressão gênica e proteica do OTR e SHBG no testículo e epidídimo de cães, correlacionando tais dados com a qualidade espermática e dosagem de testosterona. Para tal, foram coletados testículos e epidídimos de 26 cães em idade reprodutiva (1 a 5 anos). Após a orquiectomia, foi realizada a coleta dos espermatozoides provenientes da cauda do epidídimo e então, as amostras foram analisadas quanto à motilidade computadorizada do sêmen (CASA), integridade de membrana plasmática (Eosina/Nigrosina), integridade de membrana acrossomal (Fast Green / Rosa Bengala) e atividade mitocondrial (3´3 Diaminobenzidine). A imunolocalização do OTR e SHBG foi realizada através de imunoistoquímica e imunofluorescência. E a análise de expressão gênica, através da Reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real (qRT PCR). E da expressão proteica, através do Western Blotting. Foram encontradas correlações significantes e positivas entre as expressões gênicas do OTR e do SHBG, tanto no testículo como no epidídimo. Além disto, a expressão do OTR no testículo correlacionou-se positivamente com espermatozoides com membrana acrossomal íntegra e negativamente com a porcentagem de células com baixa atividade mitocondrial. Já o SHBG do testículo, correlacionou-se positivamente com a concentração de espermatozoides, porcentagens de células com membrana plasmática e acrossomal íntegras, motilidade, motilidade progressiva e velocidade rápida, e negativamente com a porcentagem de células com baixa atividade mitocondrial. Por outro lado, no epidídimo, a expressão gênica do SHBG apresentou correlação positiva com a porcentagem de células com membrana plasmática íntegra e expressão proteica de SHBG no testículo. Quanto a expressão proteica, o OTR no testículo obteve correlação positiva com testosterona e negativa com atividade mitocondrial nula, já no epidídimo, ocorreu correlação positiva com integridade de membrana acrossomal e negativa também com atividade mitocondrial nula. Em relação ao SHBG, houve correlação positiva com a expressão gênica do SHBG no epidídimo, células normais e padrões de velocidade. E na imunoistoquímica foi possível observar a imunomarcação do OTR e SHBG na musculatura lisa e células de Leydig do testículo e OTR na musculatura lisa do epidídimo. No entanto, não houve imunomarcação do SHBG no epidídimo, assim como expressão proteica. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o OTR e SHBG são expressos nos testículos e epidídimos de cães e que estão relacionados a funções espermáticas importantes, sendo essenciais para o sucesso reprodutivo / Oxytocin (OT) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that plays important and well known roles in the female such as uterine contraction during childbirth and milk ejection. Notwithstanding, studies have shown important endocrine and paracrine functions also in the male reproductive tract, highlighted by the possible joint action between OT and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). In dogs, however, there is no information available with regards to the role of these hormones in the reproductive function. Thus, studies directed to oxytocin (OTR) and SHBG receptors and their functions in the male reproductive system, specifically with regards to sperm physiology. Such knowledge is essential to understand the reproductive physiology for the subsequent use in reproductive biotechnologies in small animals and humans, especially by providing new perspectives for the therapeutic use of oxytocin in reproductive disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the gene and protein expression of OTR and SHBG in the testis and epididymis of dogs, correlating these data with sperm quality and testosterone dosage. To this end, testis and epididymis were collected from 26 dogs in reproductive age (1 to 5 years). After orchiectomy, collection of sperm from the cauda epididymis was carried out and then the samples were analyzed for computerized motility of semen (CASA), plasma membrane integrity (eosin / nigrosine), acrosome membrane integrity (Fast Green / rose Bengal) and mitochondrial activity (3\'3 Diaminobenzidine). The immunolocalization of OTR and SHBG was performed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Gene expression analysis was performed by real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT - PCR). The protein expression was further assessed by Western Blotting. Significant positive correlations were found between the gene expressions of OTR and SHBG in both the testis and epididymis. Furthermore, the OTR expression in testis was positively correlated to sperm with intact acrosome membrane and negatively to the percentage of cells with low mitochondrial activity. On the other hand, testicular SHBG was positively correlated with sperm concentration, percentage of sperm with intact plasma membrane and acrosome, motility, progressive motility and the percentage of RAPID sperm. Also, negative correlation was found between testicular SHBG and the percentage of cells with low mitochondrial activity. Furthermore, in the epididymis, SHBG gene expression was positively correlated to the percentage of cells with intact plasma membrane and protein expression of SHBG in the testis. In relation to the protein expression, the OTR in the testis correlated positively with blood plasma testosterone and negatively with sperm with no mitochondrial activity. In the epididymis, OTR protein expression correlated positively with sperm showing intact acrosome and negatively with cells with no mitochondrial activity. With regards to SHBG proteins expression, there was a positive correlation to SHBG gene expression in the epididymis, normal cells and some patterns of sperm velocity. In the immunohistochemistry, we observed the OTR and SHBG immunostainings in the smooth muscle and Leydig cells of the testis while, in the epididymis, the OTR immunostaining could be observed only in the smooth muscle. Interestingly, there was no immunostaining or protein expression of SHBG in the epididymis. Our results demonstrated that OTR and SHBG are expressed in the testis and epididymis of dogs and are related to important sperm functions, essential for reproductive success

Nós investigamos o efeito sequencial do treinamento aerório (T) nas vias ocitocinérgicas (OTérgicas) em áreas centrais autonômicas, utilizando o fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF) como um indicador de plasticidade neuronal. Ratos normotensos (WKY) e espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR) foram submetidos a T ou sedentarismo (S) por 8 semanas. T causou bradicardia de repouso (SHR=T2-T8; WKY=T8) e redução da PA (SHR=T8). T promoveu aumento precoce (T1) da expressão de BDNF, sendo em WKY aumento transiente e SHR mantido. A irBDNF foi similarmente aumentado em WKY e SHR de T1-T2 até T8. Tais alterações foram acompanhadas por aumento no conteúdo de OT nas áreas biossintéticas e de OTR nas áreas de projeção. Os resultados indicam que a plasticidade induzida pelo T no sistema OTérgico central ocorre precocemente no PVN comparado com outras áreas autonômicas, é mais rápido em WKY e precede as mudanças da FC. Os dados também mostram maior \"turnover\" do RNAm de BDNF no grupo SHR. / We investigate time-course training (T) effects on oxitocinergic (OTergic) pathways within autonomic areas, using brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a index of neuronal plasticity. Normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were submitted to low-intensity T or sedentarism (S) for 8 weeks. T caused resting bradycardia (SHR=T2-T8; WKY=T8) and reduced AP (SHR=T8). T induced precocious increase (T1) of BDNF expression, with transient increase in WKY and sustained in SHR. BDNFir was similarly increased in WKY and SHR (T1-T2 until T8). These changes were accompanied by increased content of OT in biosynthetic areas and OTR in projection areas. Results indicate that T-induced plasticity of central OTergic system occurs precociously in the PVN compared to other autonomic areas, is faster in WKY and precedes HR changes. Data also showed higher BDNF mRNA turnover in the SHR group.

Orientador: José Ricardo de Arruda MIranda / Resumo: A contração uterina é um processo fisiológico espontâneo com impacto direto no ciclo menstrual/estral e na gestação. Disfunções na atividade uterina estão relacionadas com infertilidade, abortos e partos prematuros, sendo este último a maior causa de mortalidade e morbidade infantil no mundo. Sendo assim, se faz necessário o desenvolvimento de metodologias in vivo para monitorar o processo mecânico uterino. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar a técnica de Biosusceptometria de Corrente Alternada para avaliação in vivo da atividade mecânica uterina em ratas prenhes. Foram utilizadas 40 ratas fêmeas Wistar prenhes com idade entre 10 e 15 semanas e com peso médio de 250 g. Através da Biosusceptometria de Corrente Alternada, 18 animais foram utilizados para avaliação da contratilidade uterina durante a prenhez e 8 foram usadas para avaliação da atividade uterina frente à ação da ocitocina. Na primeira etapa foi realizada uma cirurgia de fixação do marcador magnético em três posições da serosa uterina: próximo ao ovário; na região média entre o ovário e a cérvice; e próximo à cérvice. A atividade uterina foi monitorada nos dias 0, 7, 14, 20 e 21 de prenhez para cada posição do marcador. Na segunda etapa, foi realizado o implante do marcador magnético somente próximo à cérvice, e a atividade foi avaliada antes e depois da administração de ocitocina no dia 20 de prenhez. Os resultados obtidos foram perfis de contração para cada situação proposta, os quais apresentaram contrações ba... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Uterine contraction is a spontaneous physiologic process with direct impact on menstrual/estrous cycle and pregnancy. Uterine activity dysfunction are related with infertility, abortion and premature birth, in which the last is the major cause of childish mortality and morbidity in the world. Therefore, in vivo methods to assess the mechanical process of the uterus under real physiologic condition remains necessary to be developed. The aim of this study was to apply Alternate Current Biosusceptometry to assess in vivo mechanical uterine activity of pregnant rats. Forty Wistar female pregnant rats with 10 to 15 weeks age and weighing 250 g were used. Through Alternate Current Biosusceptometry, 30 animals were used for uterine contraction analysis during pregnancy and 10 were used to evaluate uterine contractility due to oxytocin action. On the first part, an implant surgery was performed to fix the magnetic marker on uterus serous at three different position: near ovary; middle distance between ovary and cervix, and near cervix. Uterine peristalsis were measured at days 0, 7, 14, 20 and 21 of pregnancy. On the second part, magnetic marker was implanted only on near cervix and uterine activity was evaluated before and after the oxytocin administration on day 20 of pregnancy. Contraction profiles were obtained as results to each proposed analysis, in which presented high frequency and low frequency basal contraction and intense contractions. During pregnancy evolution, was obser... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

O monóxido de carbono (CO) tem um importante papel na fisiologia animal incluindo plasticidade sináptica, processos de memória e aprendizagem, inflamação e liberação de neuropeptídios hipotalâmicos. Recentemente tem sido demonstrado que a liberação de vasopressina (AVP) e ocitocina (OT) em resposta a alterações no balanço hidromineral pode ser modulada por esse neuromodulador gasoso, contudo, os mecanismos pelos quais essa modulação ocorre ainda não foram elucidados. Nesse sentido, nós mapeamos possíveis alvos intracelulares do CO pelos quais esse gás poderia afetar as respostas neuroendócrinas tais como as propriedades passivas de membrana de neurônios magnocelulares do núcleo supraóptico (SON), via de sinalização da p38 MAPK, sistema óxido nítrico (NO)/óxido nítrico sintase (NOS), participação de astrócitos hipotalâmicos e a resposta antioxidante à diferentes condições de hidratação: euhidratação, 24 e 48 horas de privação hídrica. Nós observamos que a inibição da formação central de CO reduziu o aumento das concentrações plasmáticas de AVP e OT induzido pela privação hídrica, bem como inibiu a atividade NOS nos grupos hidratado e desidratado por 48 horas (PH 48); enquanto a razãoe p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK ratio foi aumentada pela doação central de CO em todas as condições de hidratação analisadas. Além do mais, nós demonstramos a expressão de HO-1, p38 MAPK e p-p38 MAPK em astrócitos hipotalâmicos. Em relação à resposta antioxidade, observamos que camundongos silenciados para Nrf2 no SON tem a resposta à desidratação prejudicada. Esses dados indicam o papel do CO como uma molécula neuromodulatória nas respostas neuroendócrinas à desidratação onde pode exercer sua função via resposta antioxidante em tempo mais curto de restrição hídrica e via sistema do NO em tempo mais prolongado / Carbon monoxide plays important roles in animal physiology including synaptic plasticity, learning and memory processes, inflammation and hypothalamic neuropeptide release. Recently it has been demonstrated that the AVP and OT release in response to changes in hydromineral balance can be modulated by this gaseous neuromodulator; however, the mechanisms by which this modulation occurs need to be elucidated. In order to answer this questioning, we evaluated the CO effect on neuroendocrine responses, SON magnocellular neurons passive membrane properties, p38 MAPK signaling, NO/NOS system and astrocytes participation in rats during control or 24/48 WD conditions. We observed that CO formation inhibition reduced the water deprivation-induced increase in plasma AVP and OT concentration and NOS activity in basal and 48 WD groups; while p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK ratio was increased by central CO donation in both euhydrated and dehydrated conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrated HO-1, p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK expression in MBH astrocytes. These data indicate the CO role as neuromodulatory molecule in neuroendocrine responses to dehydration where it might play its biological functions through p38 MAPK phosphorylation and NOS activity in a water restriction longer period