Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: LÍLIAN ANDRADE CARLOS DE MENDONÇA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : LÍLIAN ANDRADE CARLOS DE MENDONÇA
DATE: 06/12/2021
TIME: 16:00
LOCAL: videoconferência
TITLE:

MORPHOQUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT of THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX AND HIPPOCAMPUS, MODULATED BY AYAHUASCA, ON A COMMON JUVENILE MARMOSET (Callithrix jacchus) INDUCED BY CHRONIC STRESS – STEREOLOGICAL QUANTIFICATION

KEY WORDS:

Major Depressive disorder, BDNF, Ayahuasca, Stereology, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex

PAGES: 30
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Morfologia
SUMMARY:

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), Major Depressive Disorder affects about 4.4% of the world population, and it is a constantly growing mental illness. In addition, a considerable increase in cases was observed after the pandemic, but still there is not a well-defined neurobiology, which results in limitations in diagnosis and in the appropriate form of treatment. Many researches have focused on the theory of alterations in BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor), a neurotrophin involved in neurogenesis and neuroplasticity processes, which causes a decrease in the expression of this protein as a result of chronic stress associated with morphoquantitative alterations. Our aim is to quantify these morphological changes in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of marmosets subjected to chronic stress by social isolation, and later treated with Ayahuasca tea, a psychedelic that has become an alternative treatment for depression. Ten animals were used, randomly divided into 3 groups: the family group (FG), kept in social interaction, the isolated group (GI); which was removed from the family; and, the treated group (TG), also removed from the family and treated with chronic doses of Ayahuasca. Behavioral data was collected throughout this period. The study was divided into three phases: the basal phase (FB), where all animals stayed with the family for 30 days; and, the experimental phase I and II (GEI and GEII), where these animals were isolated from their family for a period of 90 days and the animals that passed through the GEII stage were treated with tea. After the experimental phase, the brains of these animals were collected and processed histologically to carry out immunofluorescence analyses for BDNF and stereological delineation. In the basal phase, where all the animals were in family life for 30 days, the groups did not show great differences in behavior averages regarding their feeding behavior (ALM), where the lack of appetite is indicative of stress, GF=281, 31, in GI=178.96 and GT=193.11. But, in experimental phase I and II (FEI and FEII), changes were observed in these averages, in GF=227.37, considering the three months of the experiment, in GI= 94.70 and in GT=48.68. In locomotive behavior (LCM), which is indicative of anxiety, at baseline we also did not identify large differences in the averages between the groups (GF=16.49; GI, =17.35 and GT=21.62), however in the FEI and FEII we identified differences in these means (GF, =18.02; GI=35.35 and GT=47.82). Statistical analyses will be performed to measure the significance of these differences. The entire laboratory part of staining with Thionina has already been performed in the brains of 10 animals, and will undergo stereological design. Immunofluorescence for BDNF was performed as a pilot in the brain of an animal from the GF where we identified the protein labeling, the same procedure will be performed on representatives of the other groups.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1076490 - FERNANDO VAGNER LOBO LADD
Interno - 4363493 - EXPEDITO SILVA DO NASCIMENTO JUNIOR
Interno - 3550124 - JUDNEY CLEY CAVALCANTE