Effect of IGF-1 gene therapy on the formation of a contextual fear memory trace

CHAMPARINI LEANDRO GABRIEL; HERRERA MACARENA LORENA; ESPEJO PABLO JAVIER; OTAMENDI ANDREA; COMAS MUTIS RAMIRO GABRIEL; CALFA GASTION DIEGO; VICTOR ALEJANDRO MOLINA; HEREÑÚ CLAUDIA BEATRIZ

Córdoba

Congreso; XXXIII Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias; 2018

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

Basolateral amygdala complex plays an essential role in the generation of an emotional state caused by an aversive experience. Insulin growth factor like I (IGF-I) could modulate hippocampal circuits modifying cognitive functions, and possibly, the molecular mechanisms involved in some psychopathologies related to traumatic memories. Objectives: 1)To promote and evaluate the expression of a memory trace through IGF-I gene therapy; 2)To evaluate if structural plastic changes in dorsal hippocampus, are responsible for the expression of this memory trace. M&M: Adult male Wistar rats were bilaterally infused into BLA with RAd-DS-Red, as a control virus and RAd-IGF-I, as therapeutic virus. 7 days later we performed a weak fear conditioning protocol (WFCP). Freezing behavior (FB) was assessed as a measure of retrieval and memory retention. At day 15 we performed hot plate test to evaluate sensitivity damage. Rats were perfused and the brain fixed for dendritic spine analysis. Results: A significantly increase in FB in the RAd-IGF-1 group was observed after 7 days and maintained for 14 days post injection. There was not sensitivity damage in both groups. Preliminary results for dendritic spine analysis indicate no significant differences in spine density. Conclusions: IGF-I gene therapy induces a significant expression of FB in a WFCP, with a possible promotor effect on the formation of a fear memory trace which prompt us to further studies under this experimental model