Banca de DEFESA: THAIS AGUES BARBOSA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : THAIS AGUES BARBOSA
DATE: 11/06/2021
TIME: 16:00
LOCAL: Videoconferência
TITLE:

Fantastic genes and where to find them: molecular basis of alcohol effects in zebrafish populations

KEY WORDS:

novel tank test; dopamine; serotonin; GABA; acetylcholine; adenosine; BDNF

PAGES: 114
BIG AREA: Ciências Humanas
AREA: Psicologia
SUMMARY:

Alcohol (or ethanol) is a powerful psychoactive substance and its excessive consumption may lead one to develop alcoholism. However, it's known that genetic, physiological, and behavioral variations influence how individuals respond to alcohol. In this sense, comparative studies among populations from the same species are useful. Thus, we evaluated behavioral and genetic variations in response to alcohol among zebrafish populations (Danio rerio), using different protocols and stages of development. In the first chapter, we induced alcohol dependency in three zebrafish populations (AB, TU, and WT) using chronic alcohol exposure protocol. We analyzed locomotor and anxiety-like behavior and the expression of target genes involved in neurotransmitter metabolism. We observed that locomotor response and associated genes were similar within all populations. Regarding anxiety, both AB and TU fish presented robust responses, while WT didn't show alterations. In the second chapter, we exposed zebrafish embryos to alcohol from the three populations, in order to simulate the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - FASD. We evaluated behavior in three ontogenetic phases: larval, juvenile, and adult. We verified, again, consistent and patter response between AB and TU fish, while WT showed no response. In the last chapter, we tried to establish a new protocol of voluntary search for alcohol using a two-chamber apparatus with no mix of substances. After inducing fish to alcoholism throughout chronic alcohol exposure, we tested their preference for alcohol or water. We observed that animals preferred the water side, evidencing that perhaps the protocol wasn't sufficient to induce seeking behavior. In general terms, alcohol response depends on the exposure regimen to the drug and the genetic background contribution. For translational studies, standard populations commonly used in laboratories offer reliable and reproducible results, thus, they should be prioritized.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1644341 - ANA CAROLINA LUCHIARI
Externo à Instituição - DENIS BROOCK ROSEMBERG
Externa à Instituição - ROSANE SOUZA DA SILVA - PUCRS