INFORMATION PROCESSING BY GLOBAL REMODELED NETWORKS

AUSAS MS; MAZZITELLI FUENTES L; LUCAS A MONGIAT

Buenos Aires

Simposio; Simposio Fronteras en Biociencia 2; 2016

IBiOBA-Max Planck

p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }Teleosts exhibit adult neurogenesis throughout their brain, making them an excellent model to study network remodeling. However, this study involves complex relationships between newly-added neurons and preexisting networks requiring to approach two aspects of the problem: a) how new neurons alter activity in elder circuits, and b) how network activity shapes the integration of new neurons into the circuit.Our research is focused on studying the relationship between neuronal network remodeling and cognitive function. We demonstrate that the rainbow trout dorso-medial telencephalic region (Dm), is subjected to global network remodeling by adult neurogenesis. Interestingly Dm participates on information processing during an active avoidance (AA) associative learning, as quantified by the expression levels of the immediate early gene c-fos, showing an increase higher than 1000% as compared to non learner controls. Moreover, the rate of adult neurogenesis in trout telencephalon is prone to be modulated by physiological conditions, as four weeks of social restriction (SR) induces a 43% reduction on adult neurogenesis specifically on Dm.Further experiments will be conducted in order to experimentally modulate Dm adult neurogenesis by SR, to evaluate in which way network remodeling impinges on information processing and cognitive function. Cognitive function will be assayed as learning and memory performance on AA, information processing will be evaluated by electrophysiology and calcium imaging on telencephalic slices, whereas adult neurogenesis and immediate early gene expression (as a measure of network activity) will be assayed on fixed tissue.Our data will be relevant to understand the rules governing a proper neuronal addition to adult brain networks, with further implications for regenerative therapies.