Insulin enhances contextual fear memory independently of its effect in increasing plasma adrenaline

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Oliveira, A (Author) Other; Seixas, R (Author) Other; Pereira, F (Author) Other; Azevedo, M (Author) Other; Martinho, R (Author) Other; Maria Paula Serrão (Author) FMUP; Moreira-Rodrigues, M (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Life Sciences

Vol. 328

ISSN: 0024-3205

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Y-QQH

DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121881

Abstract (EN): Aims: Adrenaline enhances contextual fear memory consolidation possibly by activating liver & beta;2-adrenoceptors causing transient hyperglycaemia. Contrastingly, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia may culminate in blood adrenaline increment, hidering the separation of each hormone's action in contextual fear memory. Therefore, an adrenaline-deficient mouse model was used aiming to investigate if contextual fear memory consolidation following insulin administration requires or not subsequent increases in plasma adrenaline, which occurs in response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia.Main methods: Fear conditioning was performed in wild-type (WT) and adrenaline-deficient (Pnmt-KO) male mice (129 x 1/SvJ) treated with insulin (2 U/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)) or vehicle (0.9 % NaCl (i.p.)). Blood glucose was quantified. Catecholamines were quantified using HPLC with electrochemical detection. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to assess mRNA expression of hippocampal Nr4a1, Nr4a2, Nr4a3, and Bdnf genes. Key findings: Insulin-treated WT mice showed increased freezing behaviour when compared to vehicle-treated WT mice. Also, plasma dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline increased in this group. Insulin-treated Pnmt-KO animals showed increased freezing behaviour when compared with respective vehicle. However, no changes in plasma or tissue catecholamines were identified in insulin-treated Pnmt-KO mice when compared with respective vehicle. Furthermore, insulin-treated Pnmt-KO mice presented increased Bdnf mRNA expression when compared to vehicle-treated Pnmt-KO mice.Significance: Concluding, enhanced freezing behaviour after insulin treatment, even in adrenaline absence, may indicate a key role of insulin in contextual fear memory. Insulin may cause central molecular changes promoting contextual fear memory formation and/or retrieval. This work may indicate a further role of insulin in the process of contextual fear memory modulation.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14