Padrão da atividade locomotora e expressão de EAAC1 e GLT1 no córtex pré-frontal e entorrinal de ratos criados em isolamento a partir do desmame / Pattern of locomotor activity and expression of EAAC1 and GLT1 in prefrontal and entorhinal cortex of rats reared in isolation from weaning

AUTOR(ES)
FONTE

IBICT - Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

20/07/2012

RESUMO

Isolation rearing of rats from weaning has been used as an experimental model of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. It has been demonstrated that isolation induces morphological, behavioral (like hyperactivity in a novel environment) and neurochemical changes similar to those reported for humans with schizophrenia. Evidence suggest that glutamatergic synapses might be the site of primary abnormalities in this disorder with the dopaminergic changes being secundary to the glutamatergic ones. In this context, changes on the mechanisms of regulation of the glutamatergic neurotransmission through glutamate transporters may contribute to the development and/or maintenance of schizophrenia. In this study we analyzed the pattern of locomotor activity and the expression of glutamate transporters (EAAC1 and GLT1) in prefrontal cortex and entorhinal cortex of rats reared in social isolation from weaning. Male Wistar rats (PND 21) were randomly allocated in 2 groups (n=11-12): control (grouped, 3 animals/cage) or isolated (1 animal/cage) for 10 weeks. The animals were tested in the open field (arena) for 20min. and recorded: number of crossings (horizontal exploration), number of rearings (vertical exploration) and time spent either at the center or at the periphery of the arena. The groups were compared using ANOVA or Sudents \"t\" test (significance level was set at p 0.05). The animals were anesthetized (urethane-Sigma, 25%, 5ml/kg), perfused and the brains removed, frozen and further used on the experiments of immunohistochemistry. Sections (40m) of the prefrontal córtex (PFC) and entorhinal córtex (EC) were used for studying the expression of EAAC1 and GLT1. Isolation rearing induced hyperactivity, with an increase in the number of crossings related to grouped animals (F1,22=0,38; p<0,05), being more consistent at the periphery of the arena and after 5 minutes of test (F1,22=14,08; p<0,001). In contrast, isolation induced a decrease in the total number of rearings (F1,22=0,27; p=0,05), mainly in the center of the arena (58%, F1,22=12,48; p<0,01), in the first 15 minutes of test and significant on the 1st and 3rd blocks of time (BT1 e BT3). In the periphery isolation induced a significant increase in the number of rearings in BT2 and BT3. The time spent in both center and periphery of the arena by the rats reared in isolation was, respectively, decreased (54%; F1,22=11,11; p<0,01) and increased (65%; F1,22=11,20; p<0,01) when compared to grouped rats. The expression of EAAC1 was significantly increased by isolation in PFC (38%, t = 2,730, p = 0,017). In contrast, no change was found in EC (t = 1,892, p = 0,081). Isolation rearing did not induce alterations in the number of immunopositive cells for GLT1 in PFC (t= -1,28; p = 0,21). However, fluorescent labeling of GLT1 was seen associated to both glial cells and neuronal cells. The behavioral results suggest: i) Wistar rats reared in social isolation present hyperactivity in a novel environment; ii) the hyperactivity is only detectable after periods longer than 5 minutes; iii) the pattern of exploration showed by the animals demonstrate clear preference for the periphery of the arena. The molecular results provide evidence for the involvement of glutamate transporters on the reduction of glutamatergic neurotranmission in PFC of rats reared in isolation from weaning.

ASSUNTO(S)

atividade locomotora campo aberto córtex entorrinal. córtex pré-frontal eaac1 eaac1 entorhinal cortex. esquizofrenia glt1 glt1 immunohistochemistry imunoistoquímica isolamento social isolation rearing locomotor activity open field. prefrontal cortex schizophrenia

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