in person & virtual event - the 29th puerto rico neuroscience

D e c e m b e r 4 , 2 0 2 1 8 : 0 0 A MT h e a t e r I n t e r A m e r i c a n U n i v e r s i t y o f P u e r t o R i c oB a y a m ó n C a m p u s

29 Puerto RicoNeuroscienceConference

I N P E R S O N & V I R T U A L E V E N T

th29 Puerto RicoNeuroscienceConference

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Sponsored by

ENDURE NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience ResearchNeuroscience Research Opportunities to Increase Diversity (NeuroID)University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

Institute of NeurobiologyUniversity of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences CampusSan Juan, Puerto Rico

Specialized Neuroscience Research Program (SNRP)Universidad Central del Caribe, School of MedicineBayamón, Puerto Rico

Ponce Health Sciences University School of MedicinePonce, Puerto Rico

Pontifical Catholic University Puerto Rico Ponce, Puerto Rico

School of MedicineMedical Science CampusSan Juan, Puerto Rico

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras CampusSan Juan, Puerto RicoThe host of the 29th Puerto Rico Neurosciene Conference

Partnerships in International Research & Education (PIRE)National Science Foundation (NSF)

Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)Puerto Rico Center for NeuroplasticityUniversity of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

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Host InstitutionHost Institution

Organizing CommitteeOrganizing Committee

29th Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference

Saturday, December 4, 2021Theater - Inter American University of Puerto RicoBayamón Campus

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras CampusSan Juan, Puerto Rico

Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D. President

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

David E. Rivera Aponte, Ph.D.Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine

Annabell Segarra, Ph.D.University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

Zaira Mateo, Ph.D.Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico

Emmanuel A. Cruz, Ph.D.Ponce Health Sciences University

Mark Miller, Ph.D.Institute of Neurobiology

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ProfessorDepartment of Biology University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras CampusDirector, Centro de Recursos para la investigacióninterdisciplinaria y aprendizaje subgraduados (CRiiAS)Co-Principal Investigator, NeuroID Program

Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D.Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D.

“We will rebuild, reconcile and recover”-Amanda Gorman

This quote by the young and brilliant African American poet Ms. Amanda Gorman inspires us to lookforward to a future during these challenging times. This is the second Puerto Rico NeuroscienceConference held against all odds and difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The members of theorganizing committee have done a superb job in preparing an excellent conference program withoutstanding plenary lecture speakers. In addition, we have received significant support from ourneuroscience community with a strong attendance and important number of poster presentations.This year we have also included a panel of up-and-coming excellent Puerto Rican womenneuroscientists from diverse backgrounds to talk about their research and contributions to their fieldsof study. Our 29th Neuroscience Conference will be a hybrid event with all talks shared through ouronline platforms and our poster presentations and social events will be in person format. This year isour 29th anniversary of consistently successfully developing the neuroscience community within ourborders yet with impactful resonance across the world. As president of this year’s meeting, I washonored to serve our community that continues to grow every year. My heartfelt thanks go to allmembers of the organizing committee to always support our efforts to make this event a memorableone. To the invited speakers we are very appreciative of you accepting our invitation. We also thank allstaff members from each of the sponsoring institutions that provided prompt administrativeassistance. My special thanks go to the resourceful administrative team at the NeuroID program inUPR-Rio Piedras- Marimar and Natalia, without your hard work and great creativity this event wouldhave never been as successful. Finally, special thanks to our community of amazing students,outstanding faculty, and excellent staff for your unbreakable sponsorship.

See you next year 2022 when we celebrate 30 years of Neuroscience research in Puerto Rico!

Cordialmente,

Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D.President

Message from the President of the 29th Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference

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Registration and Poster Set-up

Opening Remarks (In person & virtually)Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D.President, Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference

Néstor M. Carballeira, Ph.D.Dean, College of Natural SciencesUniversity of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras First Lecture (In person & virtually)Title: mRNA-Targeted Therapies for Neurological Disorders Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D.St. Giles Foundation Professor Cold Spring HarborLaboratory, Deputy Director of Research, CSHL Cancer CenterHosts: Emmanuel A. Cruz, Ph.D. & Zaira Mateo, Ph.D. Ponce Health Sciences University & Pontifical CatholicUniversity of Puerto Rico

Concurrent Activities (In person only)Poster Session IMental Health Fair & Outreach ExpositionMorning Break

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

7:15 AM

8:15 AM

8:30 AM

9:30 AM

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Time Activity

Second Lecture (In person & virtually)Title: Social and environmental impacts on the neuralmechanisms of substance use disordersJanet Neisewander, Ph.D.Professor, School of Life SciencesArizona State University Host: Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D.University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Lunch

Third Lecture (In person & virtually)Title: Advancements on RNA editing therapeuticsMaría Montiel, Ph.D. Senior ScientistBeam Therapeutics, Cambridge MA Hosts: Mark Miller, Ph.D. & Annabell Segarra, Ph.D. Institute of Neurobiology & University of Puerto Rico,Medical Sciences Campus

Concurrent Activities (In person only)Poster Session IIMental Health Fair & Outreach Exposition

Panel: Women in Neuroscience (In person & virtually)Nancy Padilla-Coreano, Ph.D.Assistant ProfessorNeuroscience DepartmentUniversity of Florida

Edmarie Guzmán-Vélez, Ph.D.Instructor at Massachusetts General Hospital | HarvardMedical School Multicultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP)Familial Dementia Neuroimaging Lab

Claudia Lugo-Candelas, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology (inPsychiatry)Child and Adolescent PsychiatryColumbia University Medical Center/New York StatePsychiatric Institute

11:00 AM

12:00 M

1:00 PM

2:00 PM

3:30 PM

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Break

Final Lecture (In person & virtually)Title: Novel therapeutic approach for activating antioxidantresponse in Alzheimer’s diseaseSalim Merali, Ph.D. Molecular Center for Drug DiscoveryResearch Temple University School of PharmacyHost: David Rivera, Ph.D. Universidad Central del Caribe

Closing Remarks (In person & virtually)Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D.President, Puerto Rico Neuroscience Conference

4:45 PM

5:00 PM

6:00 PM

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Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D. St. Giles Foundation Professor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,Deputy Director of Research, CSHL Cancer Center

Title: mRNA-Targeted Therapies for Neurological Disorders

Hosts: Emmanuel A. Cruz, Ph.D. , Ponce Health SciencesUniversity & Zaira Mateo, Ph.D. , Pontifical Catholic University ofPuerto Rico

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Speakers

Salim Merali, Ph.D. Molecular Center for Drug DiscoveryResearch Temple University School of Pharmacy

Title: Novel therapeutic approach for activating antioxidantresponse in Alzheimer’s disease

Host: David Rivera, Ph.D. Universidad Central del Caribe,School of Medicine

Janet Neisewander, Ph.D.ProfessorSchool of Life SciencesArizona State University

Title: Social and environmental impacts on the neuralmechanisms of substance use disorders

Host: Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar, Ph.D.University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras

Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D.Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D.

Janet Neisewander, Ph.D.Janet Neisewander, Ph.D.

Salim Merali, Ph.D.Salim Merali, Ph.D.

María Montiel-González, Ph.D. Senior ScientistBeam Therapeutics, Cambridge MA

Title: Advancements on RNA editing therapeutics

Hosts: Mark Miller, Ph.D. & Annabell Segarra, Ph.D. Institute of Neurobiology & University of Puerto Rico, MedicalSciences Campus

María Montiel-González, Ph.D.María Montiel-González, Ph.D.

*Each lecture will be held in person and virtually. For the virtual event, please visit the following link:https://hopin.com/events/29th-puerto-rico-neuroscience-conference

Panelist | Women in Neuroscience

Nancy Padilla-Coreano, Ph.D.Assistant ProfessorNeuroscience DepartmentUniversity of Florida

Nancy Padilla-Coreano, Ph.D.Nancy Padilla-Coreano, Ph.D.

Claudia Lugo-Candelas, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry)Child and Adolescent PsychiatryColumbia University Medical Center/New York StatePsychiatric Institute

Claudia Lugo-Candelas, Ph.D.Claudia Lugo-Candelas, Ph.D.

Edmarie Guzmán-Vélez, Ph.D.Instructor at Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical SchoolMulticultural Alzheimer’s Prevention Program (MAPP)Familial Dementia Neuroimaging Lab

Edmarie Guzmán-Vélez, Ph.D.Edmarie Guzmán-Vélez, Ph.D.

*This panel will be held in person and virtually. For the virtual event, please visit the following link:https://hopin.com/events/29th-puerto-rico-neuroscience-conference

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In addition to studying RNA splicing mechanisms, regulation, and dysfunction in disease, hislaboratory is engaged in the development of mechanism-based targeted therapies to correct ormodulate alternative splicing in genetic diseases and cancer. This work has resulted to date in219 publications and 10 issued patents. In collaboration with Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Biogen,Dr. Krainer’s laboratory developed nusinersen (Spinraza), which corrects the splicing defect inthe SMN2 pre-mRNA and became the first approved therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, amotor-neuron disease. Dr. Krainer is a co-founder, Director, and Chair of the SAB of StokeTherapeutics. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy ofMedicine, the National Academy of Inventors, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.Recent awards include the 2019 Life Sciences Breakthrough Prize (shared with Dr. FrankBennett), the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award of the RNA Society, the 2019 International Prizefor Translational Neuroscience (shared with Dr. Richard Finkel), the 2020 TakedaPharmaceuticals & NY Academy of Sciences Innovators in Science Senior Scientist Award inRare Diseases, the 2020 Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine (Feinstein Institute), the 2021 WolfPrize in Medicine (shared with Drs. Joan Steitz and Lynne Maquat), and the 2021 Gabbay Awardin Biotechnology & Medicine (Brandeis University, shared with Dr. Frank Bennett).

Dr. Adrian R. Krainer is the St. Giles Foundation Professor at ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory and Deputy Director of Research at theCSHL Cancer Center. He received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry fromHarvard University in 1986, working with Prof. Tom Maniatis onpre-mRNA splicing mechanisms. He continued his research onsplicing as a Cold Spring Harbor Fellow, mentored by Dr. RichardJ. Roberts, and joined the faculty at Cold Spring Harbor in 1989.

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Biosketches

Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D.

Janet Neisewander, Ph.D.

Pharmacology and Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research is aimed atunderstanding the biological risk factors for substance use disorders and the neuralmechanisms of drug craving using rodent drug self-administration models. Her work has beenfunded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for over 30 years and she has published over100 research articles. She currently serves on the Editorial Boards for the International Journalof Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychopharmacology, and she has served on numerousgrant review panel for NIH. Dr. Neisewander is a strong advocate of Diversity, Equity, andInclusion and is a recipient of the Society for Neuroscience Bernice Grafstein Award forOutstanding Accomplishments in Mentoring.

Janet Neisewander (she/her) is a Professor in the School of LifeSciences at Arizona State University and the Director of theWorkforce Inclusion in Neuroscience through UndergraduateResearch Experience (WINURE) Program. She received her B.S. inBiology and Psychology from Rockford University and her M.S. andPh.D. degrees in Behavioral and Neural Studies from theUniversity of Kentucky. She then received post-doctoral training in

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she published several pioneering studies on site-directed RNA editing using a novel approach todirect the catalytic activity of human ADAR2 to specific adenosines within the RNA. As a researchscientist, she continued developing this promising therapeutic tool adapting the system for viraldelivery at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This work waspatented by the University of Puerto Rico, and it has been licensed by two major RNA editingcompanies located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Currently she works as a Senior Scientist atBeam Therapeutics landing her expertise to lead the platform of site-directed RNA Editing.

Dr. Maria Montiel-Gonzalez a native from Maracaibo, Venezuelamoved to Puerto Rico to pursue her undergraduate studies at theUniversidad del Sagrado Corazon. Following this, she obtainedher Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry of the University ofPuerto Rico at the Medical Sciences Campus under thesupervision of Dr. Joshua Rosenthal at the Institute ofNeurobiology in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. During her doctorate

María Montiel-González, Ph.D.

Salim Merali, Ph.D.

Biosketches

Dr. Salim Merali received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees inBiochemistry from The City University of New York. Whilecompleting his doctoral program, Dr. Merali joined New YorkUniversity (1992-2005) to work on drug development onopportunistic fungal pathogens in AIDS (Pneumocystis). He alsodeveloped state of the art technology in Proteomics andMetabolomics.

He joined Temple University School of Medicine (2005-2013) as Associate Professor ofBiochemistry, The Fels Institute of Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, and Director of theProteomics Core Facility. Dr. Merali joined The School of Pharmacy in November 2013. He is anexpert in the study of Pneumocystis infection and the use of S-adenosylmethionine as a markerfor monitoring infection. He has been a key liason for translational medicine research withregards to teaching and supervising infectious disease fellows and surgical residents. He hasvast expertise in Proteomics and Metabolomics applied to diagnostic medicine in COPD, cancer,Pneumocystis, and neuroAIDS. He is the principal author of seven patents. He is also theprincipal author or co-author of over sixty publications, and two book chapters. He has also beena member of numerous NIH study sessions and has been invited to many lectureships.

Dr. Nancy Padilla-Coreano will be starting her laboratory in theUniversity of Florida in January 2022 in the department ofNeuroscience. By combining novel behavioral assays, in vivoelectrophysiology, optogenetics and machine learning her lab willstudy how the brain facilitates social competence using mice asan animal model. She is a L'Oreal for Women in Science Fellowand was recently awarded the inaugural Henry Grass, M.D. RisingStars in Neuroscience award.

Nancy Padilla-Coreano, Ph.D.

Dr. Guzmán-Vélez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Shecompleted a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University ofPuerto Rico-Río Piedras and her doctorate in clinical psychology,with a specialization in neuropsychology, at the University ofIowa in 2016. After she completed her PhD, Dr. Guzmán-Vélezworked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Multicultural AlzheimerPrevention Program directed by Dr. Yakeel Quiroz at the

Edmarie Guzmán-Vélez, Ph.D.

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Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School. She also worked as aclinical fellow between 2016 and 2018 at the MGH Multicultural Neuropsychology Program(MUNDOS) conducting neuropsychological assessments to underrepresented minorities. Herresearch as a postdoctoral fellow focused on identifying tests that are sensitive to earlypathological changes in familial AD and that can reliably differentiate individuals in thepreclinical stage of AD from adults with no genetic predisposition for AD, and usingneuroimaging techniques to measure changes in functional brain connections in preclinical AD.She is now an Instructor at Harvard Medical School where she has extended her research toinvestigate lifestyle factors and mechanisms that can protect against the onset of cognitivesymptoms associated with neurodegenerative disorders, particularly AD. She is also thePrincipal Investigator of a clinical trial for long-COVID. In addition, she is a clinicalneuropsychologist at the MGH Multicultural Assessment and Research Program. Dr. Guzmán-Vélez has authored over 30 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and has been therecipient of multiple research grants and awards. Dr. Guzmán-Vélez is also a strong advocate forincreasing the representation of women and minorities in STEM, and is the co-director of theSagrado-MIT Neuroscience Precollege Program.

Biosketches

Claudia Lugo-Candelas, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologistspecializing in the perinatal programming of risk and resilience forneurodevelopmental disorders. She obtained a B.A. from theUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, a Ph.D. in clinical psychologyfrom the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and completed herclinical internship at the NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.

Claudia Lugo-Candelas, Ph.D.

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Dr. Lugo-Candelas completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in the Child and AdolescentPsychiatry Division in 2018. That same year she joined the faculty and in 2020 was named theEstelle P. Bender, MD VP&S ’68 and T. Richard Fishbein Scholar in Child and AdolescentPsychiatry. Dr. Lugo-Candelas’ overarching research interest is to better understand the earlydevelopment of inhibitory control difficulties, particularly within developmental disorders such asADHD. Her mission is a two-fold. First, she uses MRI methodologies including infant and toddlerneuroimaging to examine how exposures and experiences (e.g., prenatal maternal inflammation,air pollution exposure, maternal stress, adversity) during the perinatal period place offspring atrisk for inhibitory control disorders. However, Dr. Lugo-Candelas aims to go beyond identifyingearly risk to elucidate the protective factors in early childhood (i.e., family cohesion, socialsupports) that prevent children from entering less positive developmental pathways. She isparticularly committed to understanding the exposures and experiences that are most relevant tocommunities that are minoritized, underserved, and underrepresented. Her work is funded by theNIH, NARSAD, and various Columbia University pilot awards. Most importantly, Dr. Lugo-Candelas strongly believes diversity and equity are indispensable to the development of soundscience and public health. She is an advocate for increasing access to higher education andincreasing the representation of minoritized communities within the STEM fields, psychiatry andneuroscience included. She works with a number of non-profit organizations and serves as amentor to high school and undergraduate students.

Biosketches

Theme: DevelopmentTheme: Development

Theme: Neural Excitability, Synapses, and GliaTheme: Neural Excitability, Synapses, and Glia

29th Puerto Rico Neuroscience Posters

Deiver Suarez-Gómez, Karlianie Rivera-Rodríguez, Isis Y. Narvaez-Bandera, ClaraIsaza & Mauricio Cabrera-Ríos

Joint analysis of autism and schizophrenia viabiooptimatics: First Results

241

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Méndez-Santacruz, Laura,Bittman-Soto, Xavier,Rodríguez-Martir, Keishla,Peterson-Peguero, Esther &Maldonado-Vlaar, Carmen S.

The role of NMDA receptors subunits in theprogression of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

252

Valentín-Guillama G.,Kucheryavykh, L.

Pyk2/MAPK and Akt/GSK3b Pathways Activation inGL261 Mice Glioma Cells By HIV-1 GlycoproteinGp120

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Carihann Dominicci-Cotto & Bruno Marie

The role of the Planar Cell Polarity pathway inregulating activity-dependent synaptic plasticity

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Christian J. Malpica-Nieves Uptake of biotinylated spermine in astrocytes: effectof Cx43 siRNA, HIV-Tat protein and polyaminetransport inhibitor on polyamine uptake

295

Jose Luis Marrero Valentin,Rivera-Moctezuma F. G.,Sorangely Vázquez Alicia,Dinely Perez, Pedro A.Ferchmin, & NadezhdaSabeva

A cyclic diterpenoid has a neuroprotective effectagainst Gulf War Illness involved neurotoxicants

306

J. Ortiz, A. Albors, & L. Kucheryavykh

Dynamics of microglial activation and expression ofcytokines in the site of glioblastoma tumor resection

317

Orlando I. Torres-Rodríguez,Karina Ruiz-Rivera, & James T. Porter

Sex-dependent effects of microglial depletion in ananimal model of PTSD

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TitleAuthors Page


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Karl Y. Bosque-Cordero, RafaelVazquez-Torres, CristhianCalo-Guadalupe, DaisyConsuegra-Garcia, Giulia R.Fois, François Georges, &Carlos A. Jimenez-Rivera

Progressive hyperpolarization-activated cationcurrent (Ih) reduction: a response mechanism todecrease cocaine-induced excitability in VTA DAneurons.

339

Yesenia Castillo, María Colón,Anixa Hernández, PabloLopez, & James T. Porter

Plasticity of GluN2B at Ventral HippocampalSynapses in the Infralimbic Cortex

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Luz De Dios , Camille Collazo, & Yaritza Inostroza-Nieves

The Involvement of the Renin-Angiotensin-System inthe Generation of Phosphorylated Tau and ReactiveOxygen Species in Human Cortical Neuron CellLines.

3611

Yancy Ferrer-Acosta, Pedro A.Ferchmin, & Yamixa Delgado-Reyes

Delivery of Edelfosine through the blood-brainbarrier using a transferrin-based delivery system forepilepsy

3712

Rolando González Exploring 3813

G. Hernández-Busot, M.Rivera-López, O. Martínez-Guzmán, M. Cáceres-Chacón,& D. Sierra-Mercado

Effects of Concussive-like Brain Injury on FearBehaviors in Rats

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Darielys Maldonado & Dinah L. Ramos Ortolaza Ph.D.

Caenorhabditis elegans as an Autism SpectrumDisorder Model: Role of neuroligin in intestine-neuron communication

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Osmarie Martínez-Guzmán,Mauricio Cáceres-Chacón,Melissa Rivera-López, Héctor Haddock-Martínez, & Demetrio Sierra-Mercado

Closed-head injury increased avoidance in rats 4116

Theme: Neurodegenerative Disorders and InjuryTheme: Neurodegenerative Disorders and Injury

TitleAuthors Page


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Antonio Henrique Martins,Yancy Ferrer-Acosta, SergioRodriguez-Massó, DinelyPérez, Vesna A. Eterovic, & P. A. Ferchmin

Memantine and the 4R-cembranoid share similarnicotinic neuroprotective pathway in acutehippocampal slices

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Alissa M. RodriguezRodriguez, Joseline M.Velazquez Cintron & ZairaMateo Mayol

The effects of commercial melatonin in theassociative memory of Caenorhabditis elegans asan Alzheimer’s model

4318

Jordy Sepulveda, MichelFallah, Charlie Furlong,Stefano Vicini, & G. WilliamRebeck

APOE genotype affects chemotactic properties ofAPOE4 microglia in ex vivo brain slices

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Kalil-Roldán, J., Román-Vega,R., Rivera-Crespo, Y., Colón, J., Alves, J., Inyushin, M.

Amyloid beta 1-40 accumulation in rat brain tissuesexposed to HIV-Protein Gp120 or 6-Hydroxydopamine

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Theme: Sensory SystemsTheme: Sensory Systems

Ian Díaz-Nieves, Solymar-Rolon Martinez, & Maria N.Geffen,Ph.D.

Anatomical characterization of neuronal subtypes inthe auditory thalamus

4721

Theme: Integrative Physiology and BehaviorTheme: Integrative Physiology and Behavior

María Bonilla-Gutiérrez, Albit Caban-Murillo, GabrielRojas-Bowe, Hector Bravo-Rivera, Gregory J. Quirk, &Christian Bravo-Rivera

Pre-trial internal states influence behavioraloutcomes in reward approach/punishmentavoidance in male rats

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Cristhian Calo-Guadalupe,Omaris Velez-Acevedo, Karl Y. Bosque-Cordero, Daisy Consuegra-Garcia,Rafael Vazquez-Torres, &Carlos A. Jimenez-Rivera

Intermittent Cocaine Self-Administration InfusionsIncreases Subthreshold Activity in PutativeDopaminergic Neurons of The Ventral TegmentalArea

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Andrea Edwards-Cintrón,Kristi Zoga & Michael P. Hart

Evaluating the Role of Autism-associated Genes inNeuronal and Behavioral Plasticity

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Omaris Vélez-Acevedo,Cristhian G. Calo-Guadalupe,Karl Y. Bosque-Cordero, Daisy Consuegra-García, Carlos A. Jiménez-Rivera

Intermittent Cocaine Self-Administration but notPassive Cocaine Infusions Reduces H-Current inPutative Dopaminergic Neurons of the VentralTegmental Area

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Gustavo D. Hernández-Luciano, Y. Rivera-Escobales,K. Carrasquillo-Carrión, Y. M.Cantres-Rosario, A. Rodríguez-De Jesús, Y.Castillo-Ocampo, C. Suarez-Gómez, L. Sambolín-Escobales, M. Colón-Romero, A. Roche-Lima, L. M.Meléndez-Aponte, J. Porter

Effects of single prolonged stress on the rat medialprefrontal cortex proteome

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TitleAuthors Page

Fabiana Marini,NicoleRodríguez, Roberto Angeli,Gerardo Caussade, KiaraAyuso, Alejandra Vazquez, & Nataliya Chorna

Metabolic Reprogramming of the Serine-Glycine-One-Carbon Biosynthetic Pathway as a possibletarget for neuroblastoma therapy

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Wickensonn Norzé, AstridRamos, Amanda Rodriguez,Paola Eusebio,ValeriaSchleier, Alexander Acevedo,Kristie Torres, KeimarieBerrios, Isabel Castellano, &Carmen S Maldonado-Vlaar

A crosstalk between Transient Receptor PotentialVanilloid 1 and Cannabinoid Receptor 1 within limbicbrain regions regulates depression-like behaviorstriggered by stress in rats.

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TitleAuthors Page

Geraldine M. Ortiz-Sosa,Nicole A. Colón-Rosa, MikaelaRodríguez-González, GabrielaM. Ramírez-Renta, Aniel J.Rivera-Arzola, Ingrid N. DeLeón-Ruíz, Karen Díaz-García,Grayce E.Dyer Levin, EduardoCaro-Díaz, & Ricardo Chiesa

Discovery and development of anxiolytic agents fromtropical marine macroalgae

5629

Frances Ramírez de ArellanoCanetti, & Amanda TorresArroyo

Localization of Pedal Peptide 4-likeImmunoreactivity in the Central Nervous System ofBiomphalaria glabrata, an Intermediate Host forIntestinal Schistosomiasis

5730

Wilma V. Richiez Mateo,Mario Lloret, Pedro Bonilla-Rullan, Roxsana Ayala-Pagán,Leslievette HernándezRomán, & Jennifer L. BarretoEstrada, PhD

BDNF expression in the mesolimbic reward systemafter extinction of opioid-seeking behavior in femalerats

5831

Génesis Rodríguez-Torres, R. Morales-Silva, J. Pérez-Torres, Y. Pérez-Pérez, M. Martínez-Vélez, H. Manso-Skerett, U. Gelpí-Dominguez, & M. Sepúlveda-Orengo

The effects of aerobic exercise on cocaine-inducedcellular adaptations in the reward circuitry

5932

Roberto J Morales-Silva,Ursula Gelpi-Domínguez,Joshua Perez-Torres, YobetPerez-Perez, GenesisRodriguez-Torres , &Marian Sepulveda-Orengo

Effects of chronic stress on cocaine seekingbehavior after forced abstinence in male and femalerats

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TitleAuthors Page

Christian Bravo-Rivera,Leonardo J. Ramírez-Sánchez& Bo Li

Characterization of distinct neuronal activity andbehavioral profiles in a novel approach/avoidanceconflict assay in mice.

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Theme: Motivation and EmotionTheme: Motivation and Emotion

Isabel Castro-Rivera, MarcelGonzález-Pedraza, AlexdielFigueroa Perez, Héctor G.Haddock-Martínez, Héctor A.Haddock Martínez, GabrielaHernández-Busot, MelissaRivera-López, MauricioCáceres-Chacón, OsmarieMartínez-Guzmán, & DemetrioSierra-Mercado

Effects of glyphosate on locomotion and groomingbehavior in rats

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M.F. Dos Santos-Torres, C.D.López Vega, F Godoy Vitorino,& B.A. Torres Hernández

Gut-brain Axis: Gut Microbiota Composition inPuerto Ricans diagnosed with psychiatric disorders

6436

Christian J. Esquilin-Rodriguez, Lisa Hiura, DaveProtter, Gabe Chapel, RyanCameron, Maya Paulson,Isaiah Elges & Zoe Donaldson

Developing new strategies to examine pair bonds inprairie voles

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Adariana Feliciano-Quiñones,Lubriel Sambolin-Escobales,Cristina Suarez-Gomez, Lizmarie Tirado-Castro,Wilfred Fonseca-Ferrer,Kimberly Santos-Aviles, Maria Colon-Romero, AnixaHernández-Lopez, & JamesPorter

Localized infusion of C20 ceramide triggersreversible short-term behavioral changes in femaleand male rats

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TitleAuthors Page

A. Figueroa-Pérez, M.Cáceres-Chacón, S.Rodríguez-Rosado, G.Hernández-Busot, H.Haddock-Martínez, M. Rivera-López, O. Martínez-Guzmán, D. Sierra-Mercado

Glyphosate increases threat response to novelneutral stimuli

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C. Irizarry-hernandez, N. Fuenzalida, A. Anqueira-gonzalez, I. M. Santiago-velazquez, A. Ghezzi

Ethanol Guided Behavior in Female Drosophilamelanogaster

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Lloret-Torres Mario E ,Martinez-Rivera Freddyson J,& Barreto-Estrada Jennifer L

Deep Brain Stimulation shortens extinction ofpersistent morphine seeking

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Astrid P. Ramos-Rolón,Wickensonn Norze, Paula A.Muñoz-Rodríguez, Amanda I.Rodríguez-Leon, PaolaEusebio Severino, Kristie M.Torres-Montero, KeimarieBerrios-Rodríguez, AlexanderI. Acevedo-Jetter, Valeria M.Schleier-Albino, Miciely C.Aponte-Reyes, & C. S.Maldonado-Vlaar

The role of the endocannabinoid and serotonergicfunctional interactions within the limbic system indepression-like behaviors in rats

7042

S. Rodríguez-Rosado, M.Cáceres-Chacón, A. Figueroa-Pérez, H. Haddock-Martínez, G. Hernández-Busot, M.Rivera-López, O. Martínez-Guzmán, D. Sierra-Mercado

Exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicideincreases anxiety-like behaviors in Rats

7143


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TitleAuthors Page

Fernando Vera-Urbina,Jessica Renta-Torres, JorgeDuconge-Soler, & Bianca A.Torres-Hernández

Identification of gene variants in Puerto RicanPatients with Anxiety and Depression

7244

Lopez-Navarro, Brayan Niveles de Actividad Física y Memoria de trabajo enun Grupo de Adolescentes de Puerto Rico

7445

Theme: CognitionTheme: Cognition

Nicole A. Pagán, Génesis D.Rivera, Amanda Mojica,Héctor J. Rosa, Karla M.Casillas, Loyda B. Méndez

Diesel exhaust particles induces inflammatoryresponses in mice with executive functions deficits

7546

Hector J. Rosa, Karla M.Casillas, & Loyda B. Méndez

Executive function deficits in juvenile mice exposedto diesel exhaust particles

7647

Sabrina Santos De León,Michael Starrett, PhD, & Liz Chrastil, PhD

Processing Goal Directed Navigation 7748

Miranda JD, Bismark M, SilvaWI, Miller MM & Lasalde J

COBRE Phase 2 Neuroplasticity Center: ItsNeuroimaging & Electrophysiology Facility (NIEF)Core and Pilot/Seed Programs for Neuroscientists inPuerto Rico

7949

Theme: TechniquesTheme: Techniques

Jailenne I. Quiñones-Rodriguez & ThomasSchikorski

Modern Glyoxal fixation in Light and ElectronMicroscopy

8050

Theme: History, Education, and SocietyTheme: History, Education, and Society

Kianie M. Cruz-Rosado,Fernando J. Figueroa-Otero,Courtney A. George-Félix,Krystal Guardiola-Flores, &Rosely A. Malavé-Hernández

MDMA 8251


21

TitleAuthors Page

Moreu Muñiz, Fabiola; RiveraAvilés, Nilenid; Rivera Vélez,José; Merced Torres, Ivián; Cruz Torres, Emmanuel

Neuroboricuas PUCPR: Neuroscience pioneers inthe south of Puerto Rico

8352

Cristhian Negrón Rodríguez,Ana Figueroa Vázquez,Amanda Morales Rivera,Rosario Loperena, & Marcel De Jesús Vega

History of heroin as a drug of abuse, effects on theindividual, and impact on public health in PuertoRico and the United States

8453

Caroline Casiano-Rivera, Ian Díaz-Nieves, Ilanis Rodriguez-Torres, Paola Rolán-Otero, Omaris Vélez-Acevedo

Cocaine Use: Knowledge, Treatment, and PrevalentSocial Problems at Present

8554

G. Rodríguez, P. Carrasquillo,K. Luna, J. Mercado, A.Cedeño

Xanax Addition: A Discussion of its Effects and theImportance of Awareness

8655

Rolon, J., Aran, A., Irizarry, C.,Santos, S., Urdaz, J.

Alcohol: Una droga de abuso con implicacionessociales y de salud

8756

Kristie M. Torres, Amanda I.Rodríguez, Isabel Castellanos,Patricia Torres, & AlexanderAcevedo

An overview on methamphetamine use disorder 8857

Theme: COVID-19Theme: COVID-19

Javier Jusino, BS, JoséEspinal, BS, Laura BouDelgado, BA, Nicole Estarellas,BS, Claudia Francia, BS,Neshmaidy Negron, BS, JoseQuintana, BS¹, GabrielaRoldan, BS, Claudia Silva, BS,Awilda Ramos, MD, MelissaValerio, MPH, PhD

Nuestra Experiencia: A look at the impact of recentnatural disasters on cumulative stress in PuertoRican communities since 2017

9058


22

TitleAuthors Page

Natalie Machargo Carlo andCamelia Del Valle Torres

Nuestra Experiencia: A look at the impact of recentnatural disasters on cumulative stress in PuertoRican communities since 2017

9159

Miranda Valle, Addyth G.,Freytes Terrada, Gisselle M.,Mitwalli Tania, Colón BerríosSara S., Rivera RiveraLlelyane, P., MartínezRodríguez Natalia M.,Meléndez Nieves, Bianca P.,and Prats Figueroa, Natalia N.

Preliminary Data: Opinions on Pediatric Vaccineagainst COVID-19 from Parents and Guardians ofthe Northern area of Puerto Rico

9260

Theme:Theme: DevelopmentDevelopment

Title: Joint Analysis Of Autism And Schizophrenia Via Biooptimatics: First Results

Deiver Suarez-Gómez¹, Karlianie Rivera-Rodríguez², Isis Y. Narvaez-Bandera¹ , Clara Isaza ⁴,⁵, Mauricio Cabrera-Ríos¹,³

1 Graduate Program in Bioengineering 4 Public Health Program 2 Department of Industrial Biotechnology 5 Department of Basic Sciences 3 Department of Industrial Engineering University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus Ponce Health Sciences University

Autism (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) are neurodevelopmental conditions that share numerousinterpersonal and cognitive deficits. These two conditions have overlapping traits, symptoms, andgene-expression patterns even though they are considered clinically separate. This study aims tohelp understand the genetic differences and similarities between ASD and SCZ from their jointanalysis via BioOptimatics, the study of biological data using mathematical optimization. Toachieve this aim, this work proposes first to identify differentially expressed genes across multipleperformance measures through multiple criteria optimization (MCO). The genes identified this waywill be proposed as potential biomarkers. Secondly, these genes will be analyzed to obtain themaximum statistical correlation structure among them as a proxy to a signaling pathway. To thisend, network optimization will be used to obtain the minimum spanning tree (MST).

Our preliminary results in SCZ involve the analysis of the GSE35974 microarray dataset from thehuman cerebellum and the GSE35977 microarray dataset from the human parietal lobe. WhenMCO was applied to GSE35974 the following genes were found as differentially expressed: DCLK1,GSTM1, MIR29B2, VCAM1, ZBTB16. For GSE35977 the differentially expressed genes were: AQP4,FOS, METTL7A, MGST1, RFX4, RNVU1-18, SLC1A2, SLC39A12. Guided by the subsequent MSTresults, we searched for biological information using KEGG and GeneCards. This information willbe further processed through optimal group formation to pair genes and cellular processes to helpexplain SCZ first. In time, the joint analysis SCZ-ASD will follow a similar analysis path to arrive toconclusions that are strongly supported both by data and by a solid biological explanation.

Abstract # 1

24

Title: The role of NMDA receptors subunits in the progression of inflammatory breastcancer (IBC).

Méndez-Santacruz, Laura¹ ; Bittman-Soto, Xavier¹ ; Rodríguez-Martir, Keishla¹; Peterson-Peguero, Esther¹ ;Maldonado-Vlaar, Carmen S.¹ 1 University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus; Department of Biology, PO BOX 23360, San Juan Puerto Rico. Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) has a 73% incidence of metastasis to the brain as compared toother cancer types like breast, lung, and bone cancer. Previous research showed that tumor cellsfrom different breast cancer subtypes (-HR / -HER2) and (-HR / + HER2) have a high incidence ofcrossing the blood-brain barrier and inducing increased expression of glutamate receptorsNMDA subunits (NMDAR1 and NMDR2) in the brain. IBC is the most aggressive and rare type ofbreast cancer. The absence of a solid tumor is replaced by swelling, redness, and skin changes,resulting in many cases in misdiagnosis of an infection in the invasion and migration phase; thistype of cancer blocks blood and lymphatic vessels in the breast's skin, causing local inflammationand rapid metastasis. However, little is known of the role that these glutamatergic receptors havein the development and/or progression of IBC. The present work provides a new understanding ofthe cellular and molecular effects NMDA receptors (NMDAR) have on oncogenic phenotypes in IBC.The detection and quantification of the NMDAR were evaluated by RT-qPCR, Western blot, andimmunofluorescence (IF) techniques in deferments breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB-231)and IBC cell lines (SUM149, and SUM190). Also, NMDAR antagonists (memantine and dizocilpine"MK-801") were used in 2D cell cultures to see the pro-oncogenic effects of migration andproliferation in cell models. Results showed a significant increase in the expression of NMDARs inIBC cell lines. In the functional cell culture assays with NMDAR antagonists, a decrease inmigration and proliferation in IBC cell lines was found. These findings may be related to the highaggressiveness and the high rate of metastasis by IBC within the brain. Our results have highclinical relevance since having extensive knowledge of the role of NMDARs in IBC progressioncould complement therapeutic approaches for patients with IBC. Funding support: R15 DA044500 maximum of characters: 2300 number of characters: 1978

Abstract # 2

25

Theme:Theme: Neural Excitability,Neural Excitability, Synapses, and GliaSynapses, and Glia

Abstract # 3Title: Pyk2/MAPK and Akt/GSK3b Pathways Activation in GL261 Mice Glioma Cells ByHIV-1 Glycoprotein Gp120

Valentín-Guillama G., Kucheryavykh, L.

Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are more prone to developingcancers, including glioblastomas (GBMs). The median survival for GBM patients with HIV issignificantly shorter than for HIV-negative GBM patients, even though they receive the sametreatments. This difference indicates that HIV infection is associated with more aggressive tumorbehavior and with treatment resistance. Earlier we demonstrated that gp120, a main glycoproteinin the HIV shell, stimulates glycolysis and protein synthesis in glioma cells.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the underlying gp120 dependent signaling mechanismin glioma cell. Mouse glioma cells GL-261 were continuously cultured for 7 days in medium withand without soluble gp120 Bal III (100ng/ml) and collected for Western blot and Cell cycle assays.Western blot analysis presented an increase in phosphorylation of Proline-rich tyrosine kinase(Pyk2(Y402)), p38(YT100/Y182) and p70s6(T421/S424), the key proteins of the Pyk2 pathway, alongwith the increased levels of Akt(S473) and Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3b (GSK3b (S9))phosphorylation. Flow cytometry analysis of Cell Cycle revealed an increase of G2/M phase in cellscultured in gp120 Bal III when compared to control cells. Furthermore, GL-261 cells with knock-outof Pyk2 via CRISPR Cas 9 gene editing showed no significant change in cell cycle regulation whencultured with gp120 Bal III.

Overall, these results demonstrate that gp120 triggers activation of Pyk2/MAPK and Akt/GSK3bpathways and alter cell cycle regulation in GBM. This research was made possible by NIH grant number 1SC1GM122691

27

Abstract # 4Title: The role of the Planar Cell Polarity pathway in regulating activity-dependentsynaptic plasticity

Carihann Dominicci-Cotto and Bruno Marie

Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus;Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology

Synapses are shaped by plastic events that promote or limit changes in synaptic strength.Modifications in synaptic strength due to electrical activity are often accompanied by structuralchanges in synapse shape and number. At the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) activity-dependent plasticity is characterized by the apparition of new synaptic structures after repeatedstimulation. Our lab recently showed that these activity-dependent modifications are regulatedpresynaptically by Cortactin, a cortical actin binding protein, involved in regulating cytoskeletaldynamics and controlled by the Wnt/wingless (wg) signaling. Although the wg canonical pathwayhas been implicated in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, it is still unclear whether the wgplanar cell polarity pathway (PCP) is necessary for this phenomenon. We asked whether coremolecules of the wg PCP pathway, which regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, can be involved in thisprocess. The wg PCP pathway is composed of a series of small GTPases (Rac, Rho and Cdc42)which are downstream of disheveled (dsh) and upstream of JNK. Here, we looked at theappearance of de novo boutons formation after repeated stimulation in mutants and animalsexpressing the dominant-negative or constitutively-active form of some members of the PCPpathway. We found that dsh1 mutants, which contain a PCP-specific mutation, had hinderedplasticity after stimulation, suggesting that the PCP pathway has a role in this plasticity. We alsostudied diablo (dbo), a molecule that interacts with dsh to promote the PCP pathway; dbo mutantsshowed a reduction in the formation of new boutons upon stimulation. We also found that lateexpression of constitutively-active Rac1 and dominant-negative Rho1 resulted in over-plasticsynapses. In contrast, altering Cdc42 function did not affect activity-dependent synaptic plasticity.We hypothesize that, like for growth cone formation, Rac1 promotes protrusions formation duringactivity-dependent plasticity, while Rho1 is able to mediate retractions. In addition, we presentdata suggesting that JNK activity can also affect activity-dependent plasticity. Taken together ourdata demonstrate that the PCP pathway is essential to the regulation of activity-dependentsynaptic plasticity. Acknowledgments: NIH-RISE (R25-GM061838) and NIH-COBRE (2P20GM103642)

28

Title: Uptake of biotinylated spermine in astrocytes: effect of Cx43 siRNA, HIV-Tatprotein and polyamine transport inhibitor on polyamine uptake

Christian J. Malpica-Nieves

Polyamines (PAs) are polycationic biomolecules containing multiple amino groups. Patients withHIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) have high concentrations of the polyamine N-acetylated spermine in their brain and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and have increased PA releasefrom astrocytes. These effects are due to the exposure to HIV-Tat protein since it producesconversion of SPM in astrocytes to N-acetylated-SPM (Ac-SPM) which has been found to be anovel biomarker predicting the severity of HAND in HIV-infected individuals. In healthy adult brain,PAs are accumulated, but not synthesized in astrocytes suggesting that PAs must enter astrocytesto be N-acetylated and released. Therefore, we tested if Cx43 hemichannels (Cx43-HCs) arepathways for PA flux in control and HIV-Tat treated astrocytes. We used biotinylated spermine (b-SPM) to examine polyamine uptake in cells bathed in a solution containing 2.5 mM Ca2+ and 2 mMMg2+. We found that control astrocytes and those treated with siRNA-Cx43 took up b-SPMsimilarly suggesting that PA uptake under these conditions is via a transporter/channel other thanCx43-HCs. Surprisingly, astrocytes pretreated with both HIV-Tat and siRNA-Cx43 showedincreased accumulation of b-SPM. Using a novel polyamine transport inhibitor (PTI), trimer44NMe, we blocked b-SPM uptake showing that PA-uptake is via the PTI-sensitive transportmechanism such as organic cation transporters. Our data suggest that Cx43 HCs are not a majorpathway for b-SPM uptake in the condition of normal extracellular calcium concentration but maybe involved in the release of PAs to the extracellular space during viral infection.

Abstract # 5

29

Abstract # 6Title: A cyclic diterpenoid has a neuroprotective effect against Gulf War Illnessinvolved neurotoxicants

Jose Luis Marrero Valentin¹, Rivera-Moctezuma F. G.¹, ³, Sorangely Vázquez Alicia.¹, ⁴, Dinely Perez ², Pedro A. Ferchmin ⁵, Nadezhda Sabeva ¹ 1 Department of Neuroscience, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 2 Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 3 Polytechnic University, San Juan, PR 4 University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon, PR 5 Neuroprotection for Life, Carmel, IN

Organophosphate (OP) compounds have been widely used as agricultural and householdpesticides, jet engine lubricants, and warfare nerve agents. Therefore, the general population andmilitary personnel could be exposed to OPs not only during combat or terroristic attacks but alsoduring routine military, industrial or private activities. Delayed neuronal damage of OP intoxicationis thought to contribute to neuronal death and various neurological illnesses. Gulf War Illness (GWI)is one of them. GWI is a currently untreatable multi-symptom disorder experienced by more than 250,000veterans from the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991). The distinctive hallmark of GWI includes chronicfatigue, migraine, muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal problems, and cognitive disturbancessuch as depression and anxiety. Various studies have consistently linked these symptoms toexposure to pyridostigmine, DEET, permethrin, and traces of sarin (the most commonly used nerveagent). There is no effective cure for the GWI or the chronic effect of other neurotoxicants. Our groupdemonstrated ex vivo that exposure to diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP, a surrogate of sarin) andthe above-mentioned neurotoxicants reduce the number of functionally active neurons inhippocampal slices. This loss of neuronal functionality can be reversed by the application of a 4R-cembranotrienes-diol (4R), a cyclic diterpenoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptoticproperties. The cembranoid is not toxic and reaches higher concentrations in the brain thanplasma. We took advantage of our ex vivo GWI model (rat hippocampal slices) to investigate whether 4Rhas a protective effect on synaptic integrity and neuronal survival in the presence of DFP. Wecombined electrophysiological recordings with molecular analysis on acute hippocampal slices.Our results suggest that 4R protects neuronal functionality and activates AKT/PI3K cell survivalpathway. Thus, this cembranoid is a promising compound to protect the nervous system againstneurotoxicants.

30

Abstract # 7Title: Dynamics of microglial activation and expression of cytokines in the site ofglioblastoma tumor resection

J. Ortiz, A. Albors, and L. Kucheryavykh

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain cancer. GBM tumors are made up of alarge percentage of microglia which support the invasive nature of tumor and the resistance totherapy. In the tumor, microglia cells can polarize into M1 and M2 phenotypes. M1 phenotype isdistinguished by its ability to eliminate tumor cells, and secrete proinflammatory cytokines, whileM2 phenotype is associated with tumor cell survival and secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines.Tumor resection is one of the primary steps to treat GBM, thus, resulting in tissue damage andcausing microglia activation in the surgical area. The activation state of microglia in the site ofresection and the impact of microglia on glioma regrowth is unclear. The purpose of this study isto investigate the state of microglia in the tumor resection area and kinetics of microglialactivation. C57BL/6/GL261 mouse glioma implantation model was used. 14 days after in-brainimplantation of GL261 cells tumors were surgically resected and then re-grown tumors wereanalyzed at 0 hours,1, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after tumor resection, together with the originallyresected primary tumors. Microglia were purified from tumors with use of magnetic beads.Western blot analysis of microglia, purified from primary and re-grown tumors, demonstratedincrease of CD86 (M1) during the first 7 days after resection and then up-regulation of Arginase(M2) in a period from 14th to 21st days after resection.

The cytokine expression analysis revealed significant up-regulation of Vascular EndothelialGrowth Factor (VEGF) and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 (MCP1) in microglia purified from re-grown tumors. PCR analysis confirmed these data, indicating increase of VEGF, MCP1 geneexpression in tumor infiltrating microglia in re-grown tumor. We can state that microgliainfiltrating primary tumor and tumor re-grown after surgical resection, represent significantlydifferent cytokines expression patterns, favorable to increased vascularization and tumorprogression. This study was supported by: NIH Grant 1SC1GM122691

31

Abstract # 8Title: Sex-dependent effects of microglial depletion in an animal model of PTSD

Orlando I. Torres-Rodríguez ¹ , Karina Ruiz-Rivera ², James T. Porter ¹ 1 Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute2 Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez The single prolonged stress (SPS) model was designed to induce post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)-like behaviors, which has been associated with increased inflammation in rodents.Consistent with this, SPS-exposed rats display a higher expression of the ionized calcium-bindingadaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), a microglial marker in the ventral hippocampus (VH), suggestingincreased VH microglial activity in SPS-induced behavioral impairments. Although previousreports have linked microglial-mediated inflammation and impaired behaviors, the effect ofmicroglial depletion in SPS-induced behavioral impairments is not well understood. Along this line,we depleted microglial cells to study the role of microglial activity in SPS-induced PTSD-relatedbehaviors. We anticipated that microglial depletion would prevent SPS-induced PTSD-relatedbehaviors. Microglial depletion was achieved by adding 290mg/kg PLX3397 to the diet prior tobehavioral procedures. Animals were randomly divided into (3) groups (NO-SPS, SPS-only, andSPS-PLX3397). NO-SPS and SPS-only groups were fed with a control diet (AIN-76A) throughout theexperiment, while the SPS-PLX3397 group received PLX3397 in the diet. A combination of SPS withfear conditioning (COND) and extinction (EXT) was implemented to assess fear acquisition,extinction, and extinction recall (EXT-RT) in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. We also testedanxiety-like behaviors by exposing the animals to a 10-min open field test (OFT). Behavioral resultsshowed that SPS-only male rats displayed higher freezing during the COND phase whencompared to SPS-PLX3397 and NO-SPS groups. However, none of the female rats presenteddifferences in freezing responses during COND. This suggests that microglial depletion preventsan SPS-induced enhanced fear acquisition in males but not in female rats. Consistent with this,SPS-only male rats froze more during the EXT, and EXT-RT phases when compared to NO-SPS andSPS-PLX3397 groups; thus, suggesting an SPS-induced impaired fear extinction learning andextinction recall. On the other hand, none of the female groups presented differences in freezingresponses during the EXT or the EXT-RT; consequently, proposing that microglial depletion onlyprevents SPS-induced impaired fear extinction learning and recall in males, but not in female rats.OFT results did not display any differences among male and female groups when comparing timespent in the center. This implies that microglial depletion does not affect anxiety-like behaviors inmale or female rats. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining of Iba-1 (IF) indicates that SPS-PLX3397 male rats did not exhibit differences in the number of Iba-1 cells in VH, but a lower Iba-1expression in VH was found when compared to SPS-only and NO-SPS male rats. In contrast, SPS-PLX3397 female rats showed fewer Iba-1 positive cells, but no differences in Iba-1 expression inthe VH when compared with other female groups, validating the microglial depleting capacity ofthe PLX3397. Altogether this data reveals that microglial depletion prevents stress-induced PTSD-related behaviors in males, but not in female rats., which suggests that the development of stress-induced PTSD-related behaviors might be via different mechanisms in males than in female rats.

32

Abstract # 9

Title: Progressive hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) reduction: aresponse mechanism to decrease cocaine-induced excitability in VTA DA neurons. Karl Y. Bosque-Cordero ¹ , Rafael Vazquez-Torres¹ , Cristhian Calo-Guadalupe ¹, Daisy Consuegra-Garcia ² , Giulia R. Fois ³,⁴ , François Georges³,⁴, and Carlos A. Jimenez-Rivera ² 1 Biology Department, UPR Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR.2 Physiology Department, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR.3 Neurodegeneratives Diseases Institute, University of Bordeaux, IMN-UMR-CNRS 5293, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France.4 Neurodegeneratives Diseases Institute,CNRS, IMN-UMR-CNRS 5293, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France. The hyperpolarization-activated cation current (Ih) is a contributing factor of intrinsic neuronalexcitability in different cells, including dopaminergic neurons (DA) of the ventral tegmental area (VTA).In contrast to other cellular conductances, Ih is activated by hyperpolarization and produces a time-dependent depolarizing current. Our laboratory demonstrated that cocaine sensitization, a non-contingent cocaine model, significantly reduces Ih amplitude in VTA DA neurons. However, the role ofIh in controlling VTA DA excitability is still poorly understood. It has been shown that VTA DA cell’sspontaneous activity remains unchanged when compared to the saline control groups after cocainesensitization. Our hypothesis is that Ih reduction could function as a homeostatic regulatorcompensating for the cocaine-induced alteration in excitability thus, explaining the above-mentionedresults. Using in vivo single-unit extracellular electrophysiology in isoflurane-anesthetized rats, weexplored the Ih contribution on acute cocaine-induced VTA neuronal spontaneous activity. We locallyperfused an Ih blocker (ZD7288, 8.3 μM) and evaluated its effect on VTA DA spontaneous firingpatterns. Ih blockade significantly reduced acute cocaine-induced spontaneous firing rate, burstingfrequency, and percent of spikes within a burst. Ih local inhibition also significantly increased themean interspike interval (ISI) in VTA DA neurons. These findings suggest that Ih blockade cansignificantly reduce cocaine-induced firing activity in VTA DA neurons in part due to an increase in themean ISI. Furthermore, using whole-cell patch-clamp, we found a significant reduction in Ih after 24but not 2hours (hrs) of acute cocaine administration (15mg/kg, i.p). Using a current clamp reboundspiking protocol, we determined at different intervals of acute cocaine administration (2hrs, 24hrs and,24hrs following 7-days cocaine administration) that there was a significant increase in rebound actionpotentials. This increase was progressively diminished as the sensitization protocol developed. Inaddition, the Ih blockade significantly reduced rebound action potentials. These results suggest that aprogressive Ih reduction could serve as a homeostatic regulator of cocaine-induced spontaneousfiring patterns which are correlated to an enhanced VTA DA excitability. Funding: This research was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM084854),the National Center for Research Resources (5R25GM061838-15, 2G12-RR003051), the NationalInstitute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (8G12-MD007600), the NSF Partnerships inInternational Research and Education (PIRE) Program Neural Mechanisms of Reward & Decision(OISE-1545803), the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement RISE Program (5R25GM061151-18),the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Universite de Bordeaux and by LABEXBRAIN ANR-10-LABX-43.

33

Title: Plasticity of GluN2B at Ventral Hippocampal Synapses in the Infralimbic Cortex

Yesenia Castillo Ocampo, María Colón ¹, Anixa Hernández ¹, Pablo Lopez ², and James T. Porter ¹

1 Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce 2 Department of HIV, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce Our laboratory recently found an increase of GluN1 subunit expression at ventral hippocampus (vHPC)-to-infralimbic cortex (IL) synapses after auditory fear conditioning (AFC) suggesting that AFC increases thenumber of NMDA receptors at this synapse. In addition to changes in the number of NMDA receptors,synaptic transmission can also be altered by changes in the expression of GluN2 subunits. GluN2B haslarger single-channel conductance and slower decay kinetics which alters the basal state of synapsesand affects the induction of synaptic plasticity. Since increases in GluN2B expression contributes tovarious forms of synaptic plasticity and memory formation, we hypothesized that the expression of GluN2Bwould increase after AFC. Ventral hippocampal synapses were labeled with channelrhodopsin-EYFP inmale and female rats. On the first day, animals were exposed to AFC with paired tones and foot shocks orpseudoconditioning with unpaired tones and shocks (PSEUDO). The next day animals were exposed totwo tones to measure fear recall. Then animals were sacrificed and synaptosomes were isolated from ILand GluN2B was labeled with fluorescent antibody.Then, we used FACS to identify double-labeled(EYFP+/GluN2B+) synaptosomes which represent presynaptic vHPC inputs and postsynaptic, membrane-bound GluN2B. We found increased GluN2B expression on vHPC-to-IL synapses in the males exposed toAFC compared to the PSEUDO group. In contrast, the female AFC and PSEUDO groups expressed similarlevels of GluN2B on the vHPC-to-IL synapses. In conclusion, the data suggest that AFC induces sex-dependent changes in the expression of GluN2B subunit on vHPC-to-IL with increased GluN2B expressionin the males. These changes in NMDA synaptic communication may contribute to altered fear expressionafter an aversive event.

Abstract # 10

34

Theme:Theme: NeurodegenerativeNeurodegenerativeDisorders and InjuryDisorders and Injury

Abstract # 11Title: The Involvement of the Renin-Angiotensin-System in the Generation ofPhosphorylated Tau and Reactive Oxygen Species in Human Cortical Neuron CellLines.

Luz De Dios ¹, Camille Collazo ², Yaritza Inostroza-Nieves¹ 1 Department of Biochemistry, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico 2 Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. AD is a neurodegenerativedisorder characterized by the deterioration in cognition, function, and behavior. Histologicpathognomonic findings show an increase in extracellular amyloid b (A b ) plaques andintracellular hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) neurofibrillary tangles in neurons. Recent studieshave shown association between the Renin-Angiotensin-System (RAS) and the development of thecognitive impairment seen in AD patients. The involvement of RAS has been mediated through theactivation of Angiotensin II type I receptors (AT1R) by Angiotensin II (AngII), which isoverexpressed in aging brains. However, the exact mechanism of how the signaling pathway ofAng II contributes to AD is unknown. Thus, we hypothesize that Ang II increases p-tau byactivating its kinases, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and increases the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), leading to neurotoxicityand neuronal death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ang II on p-tau andROS production in human cortical neuron cell line, HCN2. In these cells, treatment with AngIIupregulated the gene expression of CDK5 (2.9 folds, p<0.0001, n=4) and MAPK (1.9 folds, p<0.001,n=4).

The changes in tau kinases were blocked by the AT1R antagonist, Losartan. Also, AngII inducedthe MAPK activation, increasing its phosphorylation by 400% (p<0.0001, n=4), an increase thatwas also blocked by Losartan. An increase in tau phosphorylation by AngII was observed usingfluorescent microscopy. We then quantified ROS production by using MUSE Oxidative Stressassay. In these cells, ROS production were significantly increased by AngII (p<0.01, n=4) andtreatment with Losartan blunted their production (p<0.05, n=4). The data obtained demonstratedthat AngII may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. This way, the AngII antagonist, Losartancould be used as treatment for AD.

36

Abstract # 12Title: Delivery of Edelfosine through the blood-brain barrier using a transferrin-baseddelivery system for epilepsy

Yancy Ferrer-Acosta¹*, Pedro A. Ferchmin², Yamixa Delgado-Reyes³* 1 Universidad Central del Caribe, Neuroscience Department, Bayamón, PR 2 Neuroprotection for Life Co., San Juan, PR 3 San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, PR Memantine was approved to treat patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.Memantine is an uncompetitive antagonist of moderate affinity to the NMDA receptor. However, itstherapeutic role cannot be exclusively attributed to its effect on the NMDA receptor.

In this study, the pharmacological profile of memantine's neuroprotective pathway was examinedusing ex-vivo hippocampal slices exposed to an excitotoxic NMDA insult. We found that a nicotiniccomponent predominantly mediates the mechanism of memantine neuroprotection. We comparedthe neuroprotective mechanism of memantine to that of the tobacco-derived 4R-cembranoid. 4Relicits neuroprotection against NMDA excitotoxicity via inhibition of nicotinic receptors. Whenmemantine or 4R were applied before NMDA in the presence of dihydro-β-erythroidine, an inhibitorof the α4β2 nicotinic receptor, the neuroprotection of both compounds was completely inhibited.However, when memantine, in the presence of dihydro-β-erythroidine, was applied after NMDA,some neuroprotection still was observed. The neuroprotection by either drug was not affectedwhen co-applied with a MEK1/2 inhibitor, following the pharmacological pattern of neuroprotectionof the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA), as was reported by uspreviously.

The Memantine curve of neuroprotection versus concentration is bell-shaped, suggesting that athigher concentrations (over 3 µM), memantine hinders the neuroprotection. However, 4R’sneuroprotection versus concentration curve is sigmoidal, suggesting that 4R would beneuroprotective over a wider range (up to 40 µM). Therefore, 4R could be potentially a betteralternative than memantine to ameliorate the symptoms of AD.

37

Title: Exploring

Rolando González

Universidad Ana G. Mendez, Recinto Cupey

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, with noknown causes. Many studies have shown gene mutations and environmental toxins that may have a rolein the onset of Parkinson's disease. The creation of Lewy bodies, which promote the degeneration ofdopaminergic neurons and contribute to dementia and slow movements, is one of the hallmarks of PD.Lewy bodies are a-synuclein (aSyn) aggregates that build up in the brain. The involvement of solubleepoxide hydrolase (sEH) during PD has led to therapy strategies that inhibit sEH function. Some of theseinhibitors are currently on the market, such as triclocarban (TCC), but their increased use as a personalcare product has generated concerns. In various studies, AUDA has been shown to be a sEH inhibitor forbleomycin-induced lung damage and fibrosis. Our goal is to use AUDA to reverse the effects of aSyn-induced neurotoxicity. We hypothesize that supplementing with AUDA will help the NL 5901 worms recoverfrom their PD phenotype. The wild type N2 dopaminergic neurons with GFP tags were compared to the C.elegans strain NL5901, which has aSyn overexpression and is tagged with YFP. We generated age-synchronized plates with the strains first, then examine their thrashing with a 10-day thrashing test. Theworms will then be given AUDA to see if it has helped them recover from the aSyn-induced neurotoxicity.

Abstract # 13

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Abstract # 14Title: Effects of Concussive-like Brain Injury on Fear Behaviors in Rats

G. Hernández-Busot, M. Rivera-López, O. Martínez-Guzmán, M. Cáceres-Chacón, D. Sierra-Mercado Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, P.R. 00936 Each year 40 million people worldwide suffer from traumatic brain injury, mainly in the form ofconcussions. Human studies have linked concussions with the development of fear-relateddisorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the relationship betweenconcussions and fear behaviors remain unclear and animal studies show conflicting results. Toevaluate the potential link between concussions and fear behaviors, a biological link must beexamined using reliable injury models and behavioral tests. Given that failure to extinguish fear is ahallmark of PTSD, we hypothesized that a concussive brain injury will impair fear extinction usingPavlovian conditioning in rats. To address this gap, rats underwent fear conditioning where theylearned that a tone predicts a shock, and freezing behavior is measured as an index of fear.Freezing behavior is characterized by lack of movement save those necessary for breathing.Afterwards, rats received a concussive-like or sham injury using a weight drop. Following recoveryfrom concussive-like injury, rats underwent three sessions of extinction where they learn that thetone no longer predicts a shock. Results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) betweenconcussive-like (n=9) and sham (n=8) injured groups suggesting that concussive brain injury doesnot affect the ability to extinguish fear. Future studies will aim at examining changes in neuronalactivity in brain regions relevant to fear behaviors such as the amygdala using cFosimmunohistochemistry. Support provided by a NEURO-ID fellowship to GH-B, PRCEN-CREST graduate fellowship to MR-Land MC-C; a Young Investigator Grant from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD) toDS-M; PRCTRC Pilot, RCMI8G12MD00760, NIGMS COBRE, and R21 NS119991 to DS-M.

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Abstract # 15

Title: Caenorhabditis elegans as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Model: Role ofneuroligin in intestine-neuron communication

Darielys Maldonado & Dinah L. Ramos Ortolaza Ph.D.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Ponce

It has been estimated that 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)each year in the United States. Around 70% of those children can suffer from other conditions thatcan either exacerbate or contribute to ASD-associated behaviors, for instance gastrointestinal (GI)problems. Although the underlying mechanisms by which GI problems contribute to ASD-associated behaviors are still unknown, it seems like bidirectional communication between theintestine and the brain may play a role. For instance, research has shown that under oxidativestress conditions, which could contribute to ASD, signals molecules from the intestine andregulates neural function. Although the mechanism has not been elucidated, it could be mediatedby neuroligin, a protein involved in synaptic transmission, which is also associated with ASD. Forthis project, we first decided to evaluate the involvement of neuroligin in sensory perception, whichis known to be impaired in people suffering from ASD.

We specifically used a Caenorhabditis elegans strain unable to express neuroligin, to determinewhether thermal and chemosensory perception was altered in these animals under oxidativestress conditions. Preliminary results showed that neuroligin mutant worms were not able toproperly detect thermal and chemical cues in the environment suggesting that, under oxidativestress conditions, not being able to produce neuroligin impairs sensory perception. The nextsteps in the project will be to test other ASD-associated behaviors, and to examine the extent towhich they are mediated by intestine-neuron communication. Results from this study will give usan insight into the mechanisms underlying intestine-neuron communication under oxidativestress conditions that can contribute to ASD-associated behaviors. This will, in turn, allow us todevelop new therapeutic approaches for ASD.

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Abstract # 16

Title: Closed-head injury increased avoidance in rats

Osmarie Martínez-Guzmán¹, Mauricio Cáceres-Chacón¹, Melissa Rivera-López¹, Héctor Haddock-Martínez ², and Demetrio Sierra-Mercado¹ 1 Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Medicine; 2 University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP)

The most common form of brain injury, concussion, is frequently seen in contact sports and militarycombat. Converging lines of evidence suggest that concussion may impair fear-related behaviors.One type of fear-related behavior, avoidance, occurs when the need to escape from difficultsituations such as an aversive stimulus (i.e. footshock) is presented in the presence of a reward(i.e. sucrose pellets). The effects of concussion on avoidance remains unknowns. Concussion canbe modeled in rodents with a closed head injury (CHI). Here, a guide tube is placed above thehead of anesthetized rats, and a weight is dropped through the tube. In the current study, wehypothesize that CHI will impair avoidance. One hour after CHI or Sham injury, locomotionbehaviors were assessed in an open field to test for motion deficits, and CHI did not affect thedistance travelled. In the platform-mediated avoidance, rats were conditioned in an operantchamber to auditory tones co-terminating with a mild footshock. An acrylic platform in the oppositecorner of the sucrose-delivering bar allowed rats to avoid the shocks. Animals that underwent aCHI spent more time on the platform throughout the test session during the absence of the tone,even though they learn previously that the absence of tone was a safe period. These suggestingthat brain injury results in excess avoidance (p=0.0127). The translational relevance of this worksuggests that brain injury may contribute to mental health disorders, since excess avoidance ischaracteristic of patients with fear and anxiety disorders.

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Abstract # 17

Title: Memantine and the 4R-cembranoid share similar nicotinic neuroprotectivepathway in acute hippocampal slices

Antonio Henrique Martins¹, Yancy Ferrer-Acosta²,, Sergio Rodriguez-Massó¹, Dinely Pérez³, Vesna A. Eterovic⁴, P.A. Ferchmin⁴ 1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Puerto Rico; 2 Department of Neuroscience, Universidad Central del Caribe; 3 Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Central del Caribe;4 Neuroprotection for Life Memantine was approved to treat patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.Memantine is an uncompetitive antagonist of moderate affinity to the NMDA receptor. However, itstherapeutic role cannot be exclusively attributed to its effect on the NMDA receptor.

In this study, the pharmacological profile of memantine's neuroprotective pathway was examinedusing ex-vivo hippocampal slices exposed to an excitotoxic NMDA insult. We found that a nicotiniccomponent predominantly mediates the mechanism of memantine neuroprotection. We comparedthe neuroprotective mechanism of memantine to that of the tobacco-derived 4R-cembranoid. 4Relicits neuroprotection against NMDA excitotoxicity via inhibition of nicotinic receptors. Whenmemantine or 4R were applied before NMDA in the presence of dihydro-β-erythroidine, aninhibitor of the α4β2 nicotinic receptor, the neuroprotection of both compounds was completelyinhibited. However, when memantine, in the presence of dihydro-β-erythroidine, was applied afterNMDA, some neuroprotection still was observed. The neuroprotection by either drug was notaffected when co-applied with a MEK1/2 inhibitor, following the pharmacological pattern ofneuroprotection of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA), as wasreported by us previously.

The Memantine curve of neuroprotection versus concentration is bell-shaped, suggesting that athigher concentrations (over 3 µM), memantine hinders the neuroprotection. However, 4R’sneuroprotection versus concentration curve is sigmoidal, suggesting that 4R would beneuroprotective over a wider range (up to 40 µM). Therefore, 4R could be potentially a betteralternative than memantine to ameliorate the symptoms of AD.

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Title: The effects of commercial melatonin in the associative memory ofCaenorhabditis elegans as an Alzheimer’s model Alissa M. Rodriguez Rodriguez, Joseline M. Velazquez Cintron and Zaira Mateo Mayol Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the extracellularaggregation of β-amyloid plaques and tau protein entanglements. The accumulation of these β-amyloid plaques leads to progressive neural death, displaying as a decline in memory andcognitive function. Melatonin, a hormone produced by the body in the pineal gland, has beenproven to act as a neuroprotector due to its antioxidant properties. For this reason, it is suspectedthat melatonin can help alleviate these toxic neurological symptoms shown in Alzheimer’s patients.In this study, wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) N2 was used to study the effects ofcommercial melatonin regarding its associative memory. This animal model is ideal due to its well-known nervous system and memory retention. The worms were divided into a control group (withno prior exposition to commercial melatonin) and an experimental group (with prior exposition tocommercial melatonin).

A chemotaxis assay was performed to see if commercial melatonin enhanced the associativememory exhibited in C. elegans by associating an odorant (diacetyl) with food (E. coli K12). A largepetri plate was divided into three areas: 5 μL diacetyl, 5 μL distilled water, and origin with 100 μLof M9 containing C. elegans (n = 100-200). To quantify the worms in the distilled water and diacetylregions, sodium azide (0.5 M) was added into the solutions. Once the worms were placed in theorigin, the arrival to the diacetyl and distilled water areas was observed over a period of one hourin 10-minute intervals. By associating diacetyl to E. coli K12, the worms will feel more attracted to it,while being less attracted to distilled water. The experimental group presented a larger scale ofassociative memory with a chemotaxis index of +1, in comparison to the control group with achemotaxis index of +0.93. Our preliminary results demonstrate that commercial melatoninenhances memory in C. elegans.

Abstract # 18

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Abstract # 19Title: APOE genotype affects chemotactic properties of APOE4 microglia in ex vivobrain slices

Jordy Sepulveda ¹, Michel Fallah³, Charlie Furlong¹, Stefano Vicini¹,³, and G. William Rebeck²,³. 1 Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University 2 Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University 3 Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University Background: Neuroinflammation exacerbates the progression of AD pathology.Neuroinflammation is modulated by APOE4, the strongest genetic risk factor for AD. In the brain,apoE is primarily produced by astrocytes and microglia and acts as an immunomodulator of braincytokines, suggesting a direct role of apoE in microglial activation. Previously, we demonstratedthat astrocytes and microglia secrete different glycosylated forms of apoE and that APOE4astrocytes and microglia produce significantly less apoE compared to APOE2 and APOE3 resultingin altered immunomodulation. Although the effects of APOE on cytokine release and phagocytosishave been studied, it remains unclear how APOE genotype affects other microglial homeostaticfunctions, such as chemotaxis and motility. We hypothesized that APOE4 confers aproinflammatory microglia phenotype in vivo that includes a simplification of microglial ramifiedprocesses, altered spontaneous motility, and impaired reactivity to chemotactic cues. Methods: We generated a novel human APOE knock-in mice expressing GFP under the CX3CR1promoter to study the effects of APOE genotype on homeostatic microglial function. Microgliaactivation was assessed in 30mm slices from 5 to 6 month old mice (n = 6 APOE3; n = 4 APOE4), bymeasuring microglial cell density, and total number of processes and lengths. To determinewhether APOE genotype alters responsive microglia motility to chemotactic ligands, the velocity ofATP-directed microglial processes motility was tracked from 5 to 6 month old mice (n = 3 to 5APOE3; n = 3 to 5 APOE4), using confocal microscopy in acute slices for 30 minutes. Results: Microglia density and morphology was not altered by APOE genotype. HippocampalAPOE4 microglia displays a significantly lower mean processes velocity in response to 1mM ATP(0.96 ± 0.08 μm/min, p<0.0001, n=18 cells from 5 animals) compared to APOE3 microglia (1.5 ± 0.16μm/min, n=9 cells from 3 animals) but not in the entorhinal cortex. Slower processes velocity wasalso displayed in APOE4 microglia in response to 3mM ATP (0.84 ± 0.05 μm/min, p<0.0015, n=19from 5 animals), and 10mM ATP (0.79± 0.07 μm/min, p<0.023, n=29 cells from 5 animals) relative toAPOE3 microglia 3mM ATP (1.4 ± 0.13 μm/min, n=19 cells from 4 animals), and 10mM ATP (1.06 ±0.07 μm/min, n=20 cells from 4 animals). Conclusion: Together, our finding demonstrated that in APOE4 microglia have an altered responseto ATP despite no morphological changes. Based on these preliminary data, we will furtherinvestigate whether APOE genotype affects microglia sensitivity to ATP, or the number ofpurinergic receptors that responds to ATP. Understanding the effect of APOE genotype onhomeostatic microglial function can potentially explain how APOE4 brain are more susceptible toneuronal degeneration.

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Abstract # 20Title: Amyloid beta 1-40 accumulation in rat brain tissues exposed to HIV-ProteinGp120 or 6-Hydroxydopamine

Kalil-Roldán, J., Román-Vega, R., Rivera-Crespo, Y., Colón, J., Alves, J., Inyushin, M. Department of Physiology, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PRDepartment of Microbiology & Immunology, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR Amyloid beta accumulation is associated to the neurocognitive decline of patients withParkinson’s Disease as well the collectively classified HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders.Neuroinflammation brought on by these diseases promotes the aggregation and degranulation ofplatelets. Platelets in turn release amyloid beta precursor protein which is subsequently cleaved inplatelet-associated micro vessels as well as by endothelial cell enzymes to form amyloid beta.Production of amyloid beta exacerbates the proinflammatory response by affected cells, therebyforming a positive feedback loop with its deposition in blood vessels. Thus, we hypothesized thatboth Parkinson’s Disease pathologies and Gp120 HIV protein, which have been shown to elicit thisproinflammatory response in the brain, could explain not only the development of dementia inpatients with Parkinson’s and the development of HIV Associated Neurocognitive disorders butalso the accumulation of amyloid beta. Gp120 elicits inflammation by promoting the secretion ofcytokines. Furthermore, 6-Hydroxydopamine is injected in rat brains to promote dopaminergic celldeath in the substantia nigra (which is the hallmark characteristic of PD pathology). The objectiveof the present study was to establish the presence of amyloid beta protein in tissues and bloodvessels undergoing degeneration mediated by injected 6-OHDA neurotoxin and Gp120.Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the presence of AB in blood vessels adjacent to tissuesundergoing cell degeneration. In addition, ELISA Assay show increased concentrations of AB 1-40peptide in tissues treated with either Gp120 or 6-OHDA when compared to negative controltissues. The identification of amyloid beta deposits in blood vessels and tissues of 6-Hydroxydopamine and GP120 injected rats is a step forward in understanding the processesinvolved in the inevitable transition of Parkinson’s to dementia as well the development of HIVAssociated Neurocognitive disorders.

Acknowledgments: Supported by Universidad Central Del Caribe (UCC), The Alliance-NIMHD-NIH, ExpandingUndergraduate Students Education, Opportunities and Options in Clinical and TranslationalResearch Supported by the US Department of Education: Title V Grant Award#P031S160068 andMAC-FRED Program 2018.

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Theme:Theme: Sensory SystemsSensory Systems

Title: Anatomical characterization of neuronal subtypes in the auditory thalamus

Ian Díaz-Nieves, Solymar-Rolon Martinez, and Maria N. Geffen,Ph.D.

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, and University of Pennsylvania

Interactions between inhibitory and excitatory neurons shape how acoustic information isprocessed in the brain. The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is a major source of inhibition to thethalamus. It is responsible for modulating interactions between the medial geniculate body (MGB)or auditory thalamus and the auditory cortex (AC). The MGB is subdivided into three regions:ventral, dorsal, and medial. Meanwhile, the TRN is comprised of two main subtypes of inhibitoryneurons, parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SOM). These neuron subtypes have been shown tomodulate frequency-dependent responses and to differentially control adaptation in the AC, but it’sstill unknown if they possess a similar role differentiation in the TRN through its projections to MGBsub-regions. We hypothesize that PV and SOM neurons differentially project to distinct sub-regions of the MGB. We injected a Cre-dependent Adeno-associated virus directly into the TRN oftransgenic PV-Cre and SOM-Cre mice. After transfection of the viral tracer, mice brains werecollected and imaged with fluorescence microscopy.

We found that PV neurons had synaptic targets mainly in the ventral area of the MGB; in addition,SOM neuronal subtypes were identified to project mostly to the medial and dorsal divisions. Ourresults show evidence for the existence of a novel anatomical structure of thalamic inhibitoryneuron types and give strength to the idea that PV and SOM neurons play functionally distinctroles in orchestrating inhibition in the TRN.

Abstract # 21

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https://www.upenn.edu/

Theme:Theme: Integrative PhysiologyIntegrative Physiology

and Behaviorand Behavior

Title: Pre-trial internal states influence behavioral outcomes in rewardapproach/punishment avoidance in male rats

María Bonilla-Gutiérrez, Albit Caban-Murillo, Gabriel Rojas-Bowe, Hector Bravo- Rivera, Gregory J. Quirk, and Christian Bravo-Rivera

In nature when species look for food, they can encounter threatening conditions and thusexperience a conflict between wanting to approach the food or to avoid the threat. During thisconflict, species should make a decision that promotes their survival. However, psychologicaldisorders such as depression and addiction are known to affect adaptive decision making. Manystudies have characterized the prelimbic cortex (PL) as a key mediator of decision making, rewardapproach, and threat avoidance, but not a lot is known about PLs role in mediatingapproach/avoidance conflict. In our lab, we recreate conflict with an approach/avoidance task. Inthis task food-deprived rats are presented with a tone that predicts a foot-shock and at the sametime a light that signals the availability of a reward. The rats also have a platform they can mount toavoid the foot-shock. During our experiments, male rats were found to behave differently on a trial-to-trial basis with some trials showing the rats avoid early during the tone (avoidant) and othersshowing the rat avoid late during the tone (risky). To characterize the behavioral and neuronalfactors that were influencing these behavioral outcomes during conflict, we studied pre-tonebehavior and PL neuronal activity. Using single unit recordings as a technique, we found that PLpre-tone activity correlated with latency to avoid and that pre-tone freezing correlated withbehavioral outcome. Thus, showing that pre-tone internal state can influence behavioral outcomeswhen male rats face conflict.

Abstract # 22

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Title: Intermittent Cocaine Self-Administration Infusions Increases SubthresholdActivity in Putative Dopaminergic Neurons of The Ventral Tegmental Area

Cristhian Calo-Guadalupe¹ , Omaris Velez-Acevedo², Karl Y. Bosque-Cordero², Daisy Consuegra-Garcia¹,Rafael Vazquez-Torres¹ , Carlos A. Jimenez-Rivera¹

1 Physiology Department, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus2 Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus

Intermittent Access (IntA) cocaine self-administration is a protocol recommended to better simulatehuman addictive behavior due to the intermittent pattern of drug administration. It is documentedthat IntA produces incentive salience, psychomotor sensitization and a neurochemical sensitizationof the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system by increasing both release and uptake of DA. The ventraltegmental area (VTA) DA neurons display a prominent mixed cation current conductance known asthe hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide current, or Ih. Neural processes such as restingmembrane potential, firing frequency modulation, and synaptic integration are influenced by the Ih.Previous results from our laboratory demonstrated that Ih amplitude and membrane capacitance ofputative VTA DA neurons are significantly reduced after cocaine sensitization. This Ih andcapacitance reduction resulted in an increased temporal summation and excitatory postsynapticpotential (EPSP) amplitude, which enhances neuronal excitability. It is not known how IntA alters theintrinsic properties of VTA DA cells. In the present study we explored if synaptic integration,membrane capacitance and cell activity alterations are present after exposure to cocaine IntA. Ourhypothesis is that IntA enhances synaptic integration and neuronal excitability of VTA DA cells.Whole-cell patch-clamp technique in rat brain slices was used to inject a 33-Hz train of 5 αEPSCs (α= 5 ms; Imax = 50) into the soma of putative VTA DA neurons when clamped at -70 mV and analyzethe effects of cocaine IntA, and passive cocaine infusions (yoked controls) on synaptic integration.Increasing depolarizing current injections were used to evaluate how neurons respond to adepolarizing stimulus. Our results demonstrate that an IntA protocol, but not passive cocaineinfusions, produces a significant increase in the number of APs (P<0.05). Temporal summation wasincreased at depolarized potentials in the IntA group and Yoked controls (P<0.0001). These resultssuggests that the associative learning of drug cues increases the firing activity of putative VTA DAneurons. The findings also suggest that enhanced synaptic integration could possibly be acocaine-induced pharmacological effect.

Funding: This research was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences(GM084854), the National Center for Research Resources (5R25GM061838-15, 2G12-RR003051), theNational Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (8G12-MD007600), NSF-PIRE (OISE-1545803), the NSF Partnerships in International Research and Education (PIRE) Program NeuralMechanisms of Reward & Decision (OISE-1545803), Research Initiative for Scientific EnhancementNIGMS-RISE R25 GM061838, NIH-BP ENDURE Neuroscience Research Opportunities to IncreaseDiversity (R25NS080687).

Abstract # 23

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Title: Evaluating the Role of Autism-associated Genes in Neuronal and BehavioralPlasticity

Andrea Edwards-Cintrón, Kristi Zoga & Michael P. Hart

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvan

Autism spectrum is a heterogeneous set of developmental conditions characterized by changes inbehavior, including altered social skills, communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors.Genetic studies have identified hundreds of genes, collectively known as autism-associated genes,that may contribute to understanding the molecular basis of Autism. It is hypothesized that Autismmay result from an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory signaling within the brain.Therefore, it may be beneficial to study roles for autism genes in these signaling pathways. Wehypothesize that synaptic autism-associated genes may disrupt excitatory/inhibitory balancethrough roles in GABAergic inhibitory plasticity. We used Caenorhabditis elegans to screenconserved autism genes for roles in the behavioral and morphological plasticity of the GABAergicinhibitory neuron DVB. Recessive loss of function mutations in each gene were crossed with afluorescent transgene that allows visualization of the DVB neuron. The genes examined were thefollowing: CACNA2D3/unc-36, CACNA1E/unc-2, ANK2/unc-44, and SETD5/set-9. Day 1 and day 3adult male C. elegans for each mutant were subjected to aldicarb assays and confocal microscopyto quantify DVB-dependent behavior (spicule protraction) and neuron morphology. Our preliminarydata supports the hypothesis that autism genes can impact spicule protraction behavior and DVBneuron morphology, thus playing roles in inhibitory plasticity and signaling. By screening autismgenes for roles in inhibitory plasticity, this study will lend evidence to the excitatory/inhibitorybalance hypothesis and determine molecular mechanisms by which autism-associated genesimpact behavior.

Abstract # 24

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Title: Intermittent Cocaine Self-Administration but not Passive Cocaine InfusionsReduces H-Current in Putative Dopaminergic Neurons of the Ventral Tegmental Area

Omaris Vélez-Acevedo¹, Cristhian G. Calo-Guadalupe², Karl Y. Bosque-Cordero¹, Daisy Consuegra-García², Carlos A. Jiménez-Rivera²

1 Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus2 Physiology Department, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

Intermittent Access (IntA) cocaine self-administration is a protocol suggested to better simulatehuman drug use patterns due to its temporal dynamics of drug administration. IntA is also known toproduce incentive salience and psychomotor sensitization. Dopaminergic (DA) neurons display aprominent mixed cation current conductance known as the hyperpolarization-activated cyclicnucleotide current, or Ih, which contributes to neural processes such as resting membranepotential, firing frequency modulation, and synaptic integration. Previous results from ourlaboratory demonstrated that Ih amplitude is reduced significantly after cocaine sensitization. ThisIh reduction resulted in an increased temporal summation, mean depolarization, and excitatorypostsynaptic potential (EPSP) amplitude, all factors related to an enhanced excitability state. Sincethe cocaine sensitization model involves noncontingent drug injections administered by theexperimenter, it is crucial to determine if electrophysiological changes in ventral tegmental area(VTA) DA cells are present when drugs are self-administered (contingent). In the present study, weexplored if DA neurons present an alteration in Ih after exposure to IntA. We hypothesize that VTADA cells’ Ih modulation is dependent on the associative learning processes acquired duringoperant conditioning. Using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in brain slices, we investigatedthe effects of cocaine IntA, and passive cocaine infusions (yoked controls) on Ih amplitude andrebound excitability. Our results demonstrate that an IntA protocol, but not passive cocaineinfusions, produces a significant Ih amplitude reduction (P<0.05). No differences in rebound actionpotentials (APs) were observed. These results suggest that Ih modulation and intrinsic activityregulation are dependent on associative learning to drug cues.

Funding: This research was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences(GM084854), the National Center for Research Resources (5R25GM061838-15, 2G12-RR003051), theNational Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (8G12-MD007600), NSF-PIRE (OISE-1545803), the NSF Partnerships in International Research and Education (PIRE) Program NeuralMechanisms of Reward & Decision (OISE-1545803), Research Initiative for Scientific EnhancementNIGMS-RISE R25 GM061838, NIH-BP ENDURE Neuroscience Research Opportunities to IncreaseDiversity (R25NS080687).

Abstract # 25

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Title: Effects of single prolonged stress on the rat medial prefrontal cortex proteome

Gustavo D. Hernández-Luciano¹, Y. Rivera-Escobales¹ , K. Carrasquillo-Carrión⁴, Y. M. Cantres-Rosario⁴, A. Rodríguez-De Jesús⁵, Y. Castillo-Ocampo¹ , C. Suarez-Gómez¹ , L. Sambolín-Escobales¹, M. Colón-Romero¹ , A. Roche-Lima⁴ , L. M. Meléndez-Aponte²,³,⁵, J. Porter¹

1 Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, Puerto Rico 2 University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus3 Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology4 Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Juan, PR5 Center for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities (CCHRD) Research Infrastructure Core, San Juan, PR

One diagnostic criterion for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is exposure to a traumatic event.However, experiencing a traumatic event will not necessarily result in PTSD. The molecularmechanisms that underlie protection against traumatic sequels remain unclear. The singleprolonged stress (SPS) is an animal model of PTSD recently develop that induces a PTSD-likebehavior in rodents 7 days after exposure to three different stressors. This model consisting ofrestraint stress, forced swim test and ether-induced loss of consciousness has proven to inducebehavioral and molecular characteristics similar to humans with PTSD. Still, similar to humans, ratsexposed to SPS show variability in their behavior. Not all rats exposed to SPS end up developing aPTSD-like phenotype. It should be noted that although the prevalence of PTSD is twice in womenthan men, few studies include female rats in their research. The few studies including female ratssuggest that they are not sensitive to the effects of SPS. Thus, in this study we aim to investigate themolecular mechanisms underlying the variability in behavior in SPS exposed animals. To this end,we exposed male and female Sprague Dawley rats (p60) to the SPS. Seven days after we trainedthe animals in fear conditioning. Results showed variability in the ability to extinguish the fearmemory. From a pool of 8 male and female SPS exposed animals’ half of them presentedimpairment in fear memory extinction. The other half were able to recall the extinction memory.Since the medial prefrontal cortex has been reported to have a role in fear memory acquisition andextinction, we collected tissue punches from the prelimbic and infralimbic cortex for proteomicanalysis of membrane associated proteins of those animals with impaired or enhanced fearmemory extinction. Analysis of differentiated abundant proteins across the medial prefrontal cortexof female and male rats reveal that the infralimbic cortex of female rats had the higher expressionof proteins in comparison to the infralimbic cortex of male rats. We found only two common proteinsbetween sex. These results suggest sex differences at the molecular level in the infralimbic cortexassociated with impaired extinction of the conditioned fear response.

Abstract # 26

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Title: Metabolic Reprogramming of the Serine-Glycine-One-Carbon BiosyntheticPathway as a possible target for neuroblastoma therapy

Fabiana Marini ¹,², Nicole Rodríguez ¹,², Roberto Angeli ¹,², Gerardo Caussade ¹,², Kiara Ayuso ¹,², Alejandra Vazquez ¹,² and Nataliya Chorna ¹,³

1 PR-INBRE Metabolomics Research Core, University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, SJ, PR2 Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, SJ, PR3 Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, SJ, PR

Neuroblastoma is a heterogeneous and highly malignant pediatric tumor derived from the neuralcrest. Therapy for high-risk patients includes the differentiating agent retinoic acid (RA); however,more than 50% of patients relapse, which could be due to, at least in part, the fact thatneuroblastoma constitutes morphologically distinct phenotypes: neuroblast-like and epithelial-likecells. To date, the biochemical mechanisms that lead to the relapse after RA therapy are notcompletely elucidated. Given that epithelial-like cells could not undergo neuronal differentiation, wehypothesized that they confront RA metabolic reprogramming via activation of a specificbiosynthetic challenge sufficient for their continued growth, which could be a reason for therelapsing of the disease. In our study, we applied GC/MS-based metabolomics to analyze theeffects of RA treatment on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Mapping of significantly alteredmetabolites on known pathways reveals the beneficial effects of RA on shifting the energymetabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, a dramatic decrease in fatty acidsynthesis and elevation of redox homeostasis. We also found RA-induced elevation in the serine-glycine-one-carbon biosynthetic pathway. While this pathway is crucial to encounter theconsequences of oxidative stress due to metabolic reprogramming from glycolysis to oxidativephosphorylation, it is also an essential component for neuroblastoma cell growth. An increase in itsflux could maintain epithelial-like neuroblastoma cells in a proliferative state with blockeddifferentiation and trigger the relapse after RA therapy. Taken together, our study highlights thetherapeutic potential of targeting the serine-glycine-one-carbon biosynthetic pathway incombination with RA to improve the outcome of neuroblastoma treatment. This work was supportedby NIH/NIGMS-PRINBRE Grant 5P20GM103475

Abstract # 27

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Title: A crosstalk between Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 and CannabinoidReceptor 1 within limbic brain regions regulates depression-like behaviors triggeredby stress in rats.

Wickensonn Norzé, Astrid Ramos, Amanda Rodriguez, Paola Eusebio,Valeria Schleier, Alexander Acevedo, KristieTorres, Keimarie Berrios, Isabel Castellano, and Carmen S Maldonado-Vlaar. University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, Department of Biology, PO BOX 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Clinical studies provide strong evidence that stress is an environmental risk factor that can triggerthe onset of several neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression in humans. Pre-clinical evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid and endovanilloid systems within the brainare important neuronal substrates involved in emotional responses to stress. Specifically, studieshave proposed that the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a member of the TransientReceptor Potential (TRP) superfamily, within the brain regulate anxiety and depression behaviorsthrough its interactions with the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R). However, little is known about thecellular mechanisms that regulate these receptors’ interactions across the brain and their impacton neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated the role of TRVP1 and CB1R within several brainregions, including the medial prefrontal cortex as part of the dopamine mesocorticolimbic system,the hippocampus, and the amygdala in anxiety and depression like-behaviors using rats as animalmodels. To examine the role of these two receptors in depression like-behaviors, male and femaleSprague Dawley rats were treated for 4 days with vehicle or FAAH inhibitor URB597 [ 0;0.1;0.2mg/kg.ip] 2 hours before testing in the forced swim test (FST) for 6 min. Another group weretreated for 4 days with either vehicle or Olvanil, a TRPV1 receptor inhibitor [0; 0.3; 0.5 mg/kg/ip] 30min before testing in the FST for 6 min, a third group of animals were treated for 4 days with eithervehicle or URB597 [0; 0.1 ;0.2mg/kg.ip] and Olvanil [0; 0.3; 0.5 mg/kg/ip] 2 hours before testing inthe FST for 6 min. Floating and swimming behaviors were observed during the FST session. Ourresults suggest that URB597 significantly decreased depression like-behavior. In contrast,treatment with olvanil increased depression-like behaviors in the experimental animals whencompared to controls. Dual treatment of experimental compounds decreased depression like-behaviors. Ongoing biochemical analysis of the changes in expression of TRPV1 and CB1 receptorsfollowing treatment with URB597 and olvanil will support mechanistic explanations for the presentbehavioral results. Keywords: CB1 receptors, TRPV1 receptors, Anxiety, Depression, Endocannabinoids

Funding support: This research was supported by NIDA, Grant# 1R15 DA044500-01A1 to CS Maldonado Vlaar, No financial interests or potential conflicts of interests have biased these studies.

Abstract # 28

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Title: Discovery and development of anxiolytic agents from tropical marinemacroalgae

Geraldine M. Ortiz-Sosa ², Nicole A. Colón-Rosa³ , Mikaela Rodríguez-González ¹, Gabriela M. Ramírez-Renta ¹,Aniel J. Rivera-Arzola ³, Ingrid N. De León-Ruíz ¹, Karen Díaz-García ¹ , Grayce E.Dyer Levin ⁴, Eduardo Caro-Díaz ⁴, Ricardo Chiesa ¹

1 Department of Biology, 2 Natural Sciences General Program, 3 Department of Chemistry, University of PuertoRico, Cayey, 4 University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus

Surveys show that one third of the population is affected by an anxiety disorder. These are mostlytreated with benzodiazepines (BZD’s) which can induce dependence-disorders through toleranceand resistance mechanisms. This highlights the need for safer and more effective anxiolytic drugs.Recently, marine natural products have proven to be a rich chemical space for drug discovery anddevelopment. Specifically, tropical marine algae produce a wide range of metabolites with diversebiological activity, including neuroprotection. We propose to study the anxiolytic effects of naturalproducts derived from marine tropical brown algae using an invertebrate fly model (drosophila).Our research aims to chemically characterize brown algae extracts, use these extracts for anxiety-related behavioral tests using Drosophila and identify the chemical components responsible forthe anxiolytic activity.We have recently published results reporting that a crude extract ofStypopodium zonale decreases fear related behavior in Drosophila melanogaster using both anOpen Field Test (OFT) and the Dark/Light Box test (DLB). This study will further develop and validateDrosophila as a versatile and useful alternative for drug discovery efforts geared towardstreatment of anxiety disorders. Our research represents an unprecedented approach to anxiolyticdrug discovery. It will also contribute to our understanding of Puerto Rico’s marine algae and theirnatural product’s chemo-diversity. Our marine brown algae chemical library will also serve as aunique resource that harnesses Puerto Rico’s marine biodiversity and as a platform for otherbiotechnological discoveries.

Abstract # 29

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Title: Localization of Pedal Peptide 4-like Immunoreactivity in the Central NervousSystem of Biomphalaria glabrata, an Intermediate Host for IntestinalSchistosomiasis

Frances Ramírez de Arellano Canetti, and Amanda Torres Arroyo

The parasitic disease Schistosomiasis, also known commonly as bilharzia, is caused by the wormSchistosoma mansoni. It is currently the second most prevalent parasitic disease globallyfollowing malaria. It is estimated that more than 200 million people are infected worldwide. Thisparasite uses the snail Biomphalaria glabrata as an intermediate host during its life cycleaffecting the behavior of the snail. The specific neuronal mechanisms involved in these changeshave not been identified. If the parasitic infection by S. mansoni causes physiological andbehavioral changes in its intermediate host, B. glabrata, then changes in the neural distribution orexpression in infected snail nodes can be detected because they are being regulated by theirneuropeptide system. The understanding the CNS of B. glabrata helps the possibility of finding away to interfere with the transmission of schistosomiasis. It is important to have deeperknowledge about this parasite-host relationship to be able to eradicate this disease. Thisinvestigation intended to examine the CNS of an uninfected snail by using standardimmunohistochemistry to locate the neuropeptide pedal peptide 4 (PP4). If PP4 is reactive incertain ganglions in the CNS of the snail, then its role in the behavior of the snail can be betterunderstood. It was found that PP4 showed immunoreactivity across the entire CNS, the moresignificant reactive neurons were mainly in the buccal, pedal, and cerebral ganglia. Thelocalization of these neurons showed that PP4 is likely involved in the feeding behavior of the snail.Further comparison of this information with PP4 in the CNS of an infected snail is needed tocompletely understand how the function of this peptide is altered during the infection by theparasite. The interdisciplinary nature of this study comes from the incorporation of differentscientific fields such as parasitology, neurobiology, immunology, and ecology. Keywords: Biomphalaria glabrata, immunohistochemistry, neurobiology, Schistosomiasis mansoni

Abstract # 30

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Title: BDNF expression in the mesolimbic reward system after extinction of opioid-seeking behavior in female rats

Wilma V. Richiez Mateo, Mario Lloret, Pedro Bonilla-Rullan, Roxsana Ayala-Pagán, Leslievette Hernández Román,and Jennifer L. Barreto Estrada, PhD

Substance use disorders (SUD) are cognitive disorders of chronic relapse in which an organismdevelops a dependency to a substance. Although it is not fully understood, studies suggest thatneuroplasticity changes on the neural circuits of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system are keyplayers for the lack of extinction of persistent drug-seeking behavior. Previously, we showed thatmale rats that were able to extinguish drug-seeking behavior after being subjected to morphine-induced conditioned placed preference (CPP) exhibited higher levels of brain derived neurotrophicfactor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and the amygdala. Also, male rats in the extinction groupshowed less frequency of rearings as a measure of withdrawal-like symptoms, as compared toanimals in the sham-extinction group (absence of extinction training). Frequency of rearings in theextinction and extinction-resistant groups were similar. However, research on whether female ratsshow similar results at both the behavioral and molecular level has not been previously done.Therefore, this investigation will determine in females and will compare to males: 1) morphineconditioning and extinction, 2) frequency of rearings, and 3) the expression of BDNF in themesolimbic dopaminergic system. Preliminary results show similar conditioning patterns betweenmale and female rats, whereas females spend less time in the drug-paired side during theextinction test day in comparison to males. Interestingly, twenty-five (25) percent of female ratswere able to extinguish their morphine CPP, as compared to fifty (50) percent in males. Frequencyof rearings in females were less in animals in the extinction group than in the extinction-resistant.We also showed mature BDNF (14 kDa) expression in the hippocampus of female rats, and furtherstudies will be performed to determine the correlation between extinction and BDNF as comparedto males. Our study focuses on understanding the underlying biological mechanisms of opioidaddiction, given the recent opioid crisis in the United States. Therefore, by understandingaddiction, we are directly working towards surpassing this public health crisis.

Abstract # 31

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Title: The effects of aerobic exercise on cocaine-induced cellular adaptations in thereward circuitry

Génesis Rodríguez-Torres¹, R. Morales-Silva¹, J. Pérez-Torres¹, Y. Pérez-Pérez¹, M. Martínez-Vélez² , H. Manso-Skerett ¹, U. Gelpí-Dominguez ¹, and M. Sepúlveda-Orengo¹ 1 Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR2 Pennsylvania State University

Cocaine is a psychostimulant drug that acts primarily on the limbic system. One of the mainproblems in cocaine addiction is high incidence of relapse due to its strongly addictive effects.Currently, there is no pharmacological intervention approved for the treatment of stimulants usedisorders, including cocaine. However, several studies have shown that physical activity, such asexercise, can prolong drug abstinence and mitigate drug-seeking symptoms in humans. Areduction in drug seeking has also been shown in animal models, where several studies haveshown that aerobic exercise increases glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) expression from thehippocampus, as well as the hippocampal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. Inaddition, a decreased expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) reduced cocaine-induced locomotoractivity and restored dopamine and glutamate levels in the nucleus Accumbens (NAc).Nevertheless, it is still unknown how aerobic exercise reduces cocaine addiction development andregulates GLT-1, GFAP and AQP4 in an animal model. We hypothesized that aerobic exerciserestores GLT-1, GFAP and AQP4 expression in the NAc and prefrontal cortex in rats with cocainehistory correlating with reduced seeking behavior. To test our hypothesis, male rats were exposedto 12 sessions of short-access self-administration, followed by 16 sessions of extinction. After eachsession of extinction, rats were placed in boxes equipped with a running wheel for a period of 6hours. Following the behavioral protocol, protein levels of GLT-1, GFAP and AQP4 were measuredby western blots. Preliminary data shows male and female rats that performed aerobic exerciseduring extinction showed reduced cocaineseeking behavior, compared with locked-wheels andhome-caged groups. There are no differences between cocaine groups or saline groups in termsof active lever presses or infusions during self- administration. In addition, it appears that rats inthe saline group run more than those in the cocaine group. Expression of astroglial proteins AQP4and GFAP in NAc and PL seems to show no difference between groups, and no difference betweengroups was observed either in astroglial GLT-1 expression in the PL region. Our results replicatethose of previous studies, confirming that rats exposed to cocaine had reduced GLT-1 expressionin the NAc. However, according to our results aerobic exercise does not restore GLT-1 in the NAc tonormal levels, suggesting that exercise may use another molecular mechanism to attenuatecocaine- seeking behavior.

Abstract # 32

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Title: Effects of chronic stress on cocaine seeking behavior after forced abstinencein male and female rats

Roberto J Morales-Silva, Ursula Gelpi-Domínguez, Joshua Perez-Torres, Yobet Perez-Perez, Genesis Rodriguez-Torres , Marian Sepulveda-Orengo

Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-School of Medicine/Ponce Research Institute,Ponce, Puerto Rico 00732, USA

Generally, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are studiedindependently in preclinical studies, although they can occur concurrently in patients and in fact,PTSD patients exhibit higher rates of SUD. Exposure to stressful or traumatic events can lead to thedevelopment of PTSD, and stress has been associated with a higher probability of relapse.Previous studies have shown that modified single prolonged stress reduces cocaine self-administration in rats, as well as a reduced cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seekingbehavior, without any effects on acquisition and extinction of cocaine self-administration. Thesestudies used a short-access cocaine self-administration paradigm, and the effects of chronicstress on extended-access cocaine self-administration remain to be studied. Our objective is todetermine the effects of chronic stress on cocaine seeking behavior in male and female rats. Wehypothesize that unescapable footshocks prior cocaine self-administration will increase cocaineseeking behavior in both sexes. To test this hypothesis, we used unescapable footshocks for aperiod of 5 days at an intensity of 0.50mA (presented randomly), followed by 6-hour sessions ofextended-access cocaine self-administration for 10 days, and a 30 day forced abstinence period.Subsequently, we examined conditioned stimulus- and cocaine-induced cocaine-seekingbehavior. Our data show that unescapable footshocks prior cocaine acquisition increasescocaine-primed memory retrieval after withdrawal in male and female rats. Interestingly, onlyfemale rats show an increase in cue-induced cocaine seeking behavior in the stress group,compared with the control group. Furthermore, preliminary data show that the stress groupexhibits an increase in motivation for drug-seeking behavior in a fixed ratio 3 schedule of self-administration sessions, compared with control group. These results suggest that chronic stressprior cocaine exposure increases the reinforcing effects of cocaine after forced abstinence inmale and female rats, as well as the compulsivity of cocaine seeking behavior.

Abstract # 33

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Theme:Theme: Motivation and EmotionMotivation and Emotion

Title: Characterization of distinct neuronal activity and behavioral profiles in a novelapproach/avoidance conflict assay in mice.

Christian Bravo-Rivera, Leonardo J. Ramírez-Sánchez and Bo Li Reward is often present in risky environments, requiring individuals to weigh the benefits ofrewards against the associated risks. There are individuals that are unable to choose anappropriate response during risky reward opportunities and thus exhibit extreme avoidance orrisky behaviors that can severely impair quality of life or endanger people. It is thereforenecessary to characterize how neurons mediate reward approach and threat avoidance conflict.Here, we used a novel approach-avoidance conflict task to characterize individual differences inbehavior and neuronal activity in mice. Here, we adapted the platform-mediated avoidanceconflict task (Bravo-Rivera et al 2014; Bravo-Rivera et al 2021), such that water-deprived mice couldnose-poke for a light-signaled water reward (3 uL, 4 sec ITI) and avoid a tone-signaled (20 sec, 70dB) foot-shock (0.2 mA, 2 sec co-terminating) by stepping onto a safety platform away from thereward port. Mice were trained in two different conflict contingencies; in low conflict, reward wasavailable during safety periods (inter-tone intervals) and during the warning tone, whereas in highconflict, reward was available only during the warning tone. All mice (n = 10 males, 10 females)learned to actively avoid the signaled shock in >90% of trials by the tenth day of low conflicttraining. Interestingly, females mounted the platform earlier than males after tone onset (5 sec vs10 sec to reach 80% mount likelihood), and had a longer latency to leave the platform after toneoffset (16 sec vs 10 sec to reach 15% mount likelihood) in low conflict. Females also mounted theplatform earlier than males after tone onset (15 sec vs 17 sec to reach 80% mount likelihood) in highconflict. Males received more shocks than females (5 vs 2 out of 20) and received more waterreward (759 ul vs 609 ul) than females by the end of high conflict training. These results suggestthat females exhibit more avoidance behavior and less reward approach than males in the face ofapproach/avoidance conflict. We then used cFos immunolabeling to characterize neuronal activityprofiles of mice exhibiting variable conflict behavior after a high conflict session. This approachwill allow us to characterize sex differences in approach/avoidance conflict behavior and theneuronal activity profiles that may underlie those differences.

Abstract # 34

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Title: Effects of glyphosate on locomotion and grooming behavior in rats

Isabel Castro-Rivera, Marcel González-Pedraza, Alexdiel Figueroa Perez, Héctor G. Haddock-Martínez, Héctor A.Haddock Martínez, Gabriela Hernández-Busot, Melissa Rivera-López, Mauricio Cáceres-Chacón, OsmarieMartínez-Guzmán, and Demetrio Sierra-Mercado Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine Glyphosate is the active ingredient in several commercial herbicides. Though initially consideredsafe for mammals, recent reports suggest that glyphosate administration at unusually high dosesincreases anxiety-like behaviors. However, few studies have evaluated the neurobehavioral effectof glyphosate exposure at the low concentration levels that the Environmental Protection Agencyconsiders safe for human consumption. Grooming behavior , one of the most frequently performedbehaviors in rodents, has been proposed as a measurement for states of generalized anxiety.Thus, we hypothesized that prolonged exposure to levels of glyphosate thought to be safe forhumans will increase general anxiety-like behavior observed as abnormal grooming behavior inrats. To test this hypothesis, male Sprague Dawley Rats (n=13) had access ad libitum to drinkingwater containing glyphosate at a dose of glyphosate considered safe (2.0mg/kg) for 16 weeks,whereas control rats received filtered drinking water. After glyphosate exposure, rats wererecorded in their home cage for 5 minutes. Videos were scored for total time spent grooming, aswell as distance traveled and time where the rat was immobile. Preliminary data shows thatglyphosate exposure does not affect the total number of grooming bouts (glyphosate: 0.67, control:3.50; p=0.1268). Interestingly, however, glyphosate exposure decreased total distance traveled(glyphosate: 9.73, control: 15.79; p=0.0318) and increased the total time immobile (glyphosate:429.30, control: 329.10; p=0.0364. Future directions include assessing the brain tissue for changesin biomarkers of neuronal activity in the central amygdala , a brain region implicated in anxiety-like behaviors. The results of this study will allow us to elucidate the potential neurotoxic effectsthat glyphosate consumption may have on the brain, and how these effects could manifest asbehaviors in rats.

Abstract # 35

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Title: Gut-brain Axis: Gut microbiota composition in Puerto Ricans diagnosed withpsychiatric disordersM.F. Dos Santos-Torres, C.D. López Vega¹, F Godoy Vitorino², and B.A. Torres Hernández³ 1 University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras; Faculty of Natural Sciences 2 University of Puerto Rico; Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus 3 University of Puerto Rico; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Medical Sciences

Introduction: It is known that the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome can alter aperson's mood given the physiological connection between the gut and the brain known as thegut-brain axis. Microbiome studies aiming to uncover and understand the mechanisms underlyingvarious aspects of psychiatric conditions have gained importance but are still in need of furtherresearch. Considering this, Hispanics-focused research in this area is scarce; nonetheless,psychiatric disorders are frequent among this ethnicity. Around 20 % Puerto Ricans are affectedwith a Mental Health condition such as anxiety disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder, toname the most frequent. Purpose: We aim to determine the differences in gut microbiota composition of Puerto Ricansdiagnosed with different psychiatric disorders and healthy cohorts. Methods: Puerto Rican patients diagnosed with different psychiatric conditions will be recruitedfrom private practice and clinics which offer mental health treatment. Healthy patients will berecruiting using advertisements and from previous healthy cohort. After signing the informedconsent, a stool sample will be collected and stored at -80C. Genomic DNA extractions will beperformed and the bacterial composition will be determined using variable region 4 of the16SrRNA genes, as per Human microbiome project protocols. Each participant will fill multiplequestionnaires, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) and Patient HealthQuestionnaire (PHQ)-9 will be used to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms. The otherquestionnaires will gather information related to their lifestyle, quality of live, clinical data amongother information. Expected results: We expect to find gut dysbiosis in people diagnosed with different psychiatricconditions when compared to the healthy cohort. Likewise, we expect bacterial diversity and levelsof anti-inflammatory bacteria to be significantly reduced in patients that present higher symptomseverity. In addition, we expect bacterial diversity levels to differ between different psychiatricconditions. Conclusion: The results will give associative information regarding the gut microbiota compositionof Puerto Ricans with different psychiatric disorders. Identification and differentiation of bacterialspecies composition in this population will be used to further research in the field, intounderstanding the gut-brain axis’s role and importance in psychiatric disorders in this cohort.Also, these results can provide valuable information for the use of personalized medicine in thetreatment of patients with mental health conditions. The use of specific pre and probiotics orcertain alimentation could be evaluated in future intervention. As we increase our knowledgeabout the gut-brain axis it can be used for greater insight into the causation of symptom severityand treatment response in Puerto Ricans with mental health conditions.

Abstract # 36

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Title: Developing new strategies to examine pair bonds in prairie volesChristian J. Esquilin-Rodriguez, Lisa Hiura, Dave Protter, Gabe Chapel, Ryan Cameron, Maya Paulson, IsaiahElges and Zoe Donaldson

Social monogamy is a rare behavior across mammalian species, only observed in about 5%-10%of mammals. Prairie voles are a rodent species capable of this behavior, which is why they are anoptimal model to examine how pair bonding might be expressed in humans. For three decades,pair bonds have been examined through the partner preference test (PPT), which is useful forobserving partner preference after pair bond formation. Due to the simplicity of the task, however,the actual motivation underlying a vole’s desire to be with its partner remains to be seen. As such,we have developed two new tasks aimed at understanding this motivation, implementing newfeatures that will allow us to quantify the effort input by voles to be with their partners. We foundthat an Operant Chamber task allowed us to quantify motivation through lever presses for partneror novel vole access. Meanwhile, motivation could be represented by time spent on top of thewheel in the Wheel task.

Abstract # 37

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1Abstract # 38Title: Localized infusion of C20 ceramide triggers reversible short-term behavioralchanges in female and male rats

Adariana Feliciano-Quiñones¹ , Lubriel Sambolin-Escobales ¹ , Cristina Suarez-Gomez ¹ , Lizmarie Tirado-Castro ¹, Wilfred Fonseca-Ferrer² , Kimberly Santos-Aviles¹, Maria Colon-Romero¹ , Anixa Hernández-Lopez¹ , James Porter ¹

1 Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR2 University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, PR

Previous data showed that rats with depressive-like behavior showed increased concentration ofC20 ceramides in serum. Moreover, depressive-like behavior has been associated with increasedmicroglia and the production of inflammatory mediators. However, it is unclear whetherincreasing C20 ceramides in the brain is sufficient to induce depressive-like behaviors andactivate microglia and astrocytes, which could induce localized production of inflammatorymediators. Therefore, we hypothesized that infusion of C20 ceramides into the ventralhippocampus (VH) of rats would activate microglia and astrocytes to induce depressive-likesymptoms. To test this hypothesis, adult male and female rats received 7 single infusions of C20ceramide or vehicle into the VH every 48 hours to assess short-term behavioral changes. Twenty-four hours after each C20 ceramide infusion, a sucrose preference test (SPT) was used todetermine changes in anhedonia-like behavior. Animals injected with C20 ceramides showed lesspreference for sucrose, suggesting increased anhedonia-like behavior. Five days after the lastinfusion of C20, a sucrose grooming test (SGT) and forced swim test (FST) were performed toexamine long-term changes in anhedonia and depressive-like behaviors. All groups showedsimilar behavior in the SGT and the FST, suggesting that behavioral changes induced by the C20ceramide infusions were reversible. Animals were sacrificed after the final FST, andimmunofluorescence staining was performed to determine the expression of Iba-1 and GFAP toassess microglia and astrocyte activation. The infusion of C20 ceramides increased the numberof microglial cells in the VH, but no changes were noted in the expression of astrocytes. Inconclusion, our data suggest that the localized presence of C20 ceramides in the VH of rats issufficient to cause short-term reversible behavioral changes and activate microglia.

Supported By: NIH-NIGMS 2R25GM082406 (PHSU RISE Graduate Training Program), NIM-HDMD007579 (B.R.A.I.N. and M.A.G.I.C. Core), NIH-NIGMS R15MH116345, and NIH-NIGMSR25GM096955 (UPR-Ponce PRISE Program).

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1Abstract # 39Title: Glyphosate increases threat response to novel neutral stimuli

A. Figueroa-Pérez, M. Cáceres-Chacón, S. Rodríguez-Rosado, G. Hernández-Busot, H. Haddock-Martínez, M. Rivera-López, O. Martínez-Guzmán, D. Sierra-Mercado

Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology., University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR

Glyphosate is the most common active ingredient in herbicides used in landscaping andagriculture. Glyphosate is thought to be safe for humans and animals because it acts by inhibitinga metabolic route almost exclusive to plants. However, recent studies in rodents have shown thatglyphosate at either high or low doses can increase the expression of anxiety-like behaviors.Moreover, studies have shown that emotional states influence how novel stimuli are interpreted.High levels of anxiety may lead to more negative valence or threatening responses to otherwiseneutral novel stimuli. The effect of glyphosate on threat responses to novelty has not beenassessed. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of prolonged oral consumption ofglyphosate-contaminated drinking water on threat response to novelty. To achieve this, rats weretreated with a target dose of 2.0mg/kg of glyphosate daily (chronic references dose approved bythe E.P.A.) in their drinking water. Control rats were treated in the same manner but receivedfiltered drinking water. After 10 weeks of exposure, we assessed for anxiety-like behavior in theelevated plus maze. Here, glyphosate decreased the time spent in the open arms (glyphosate:48.95, control: 103.7; p=0.0125). After an additional 4 weeks of exposure, animals were assessedfor time interacting with a novel object as an index of threat response. Here, glyphosate-treatedrats spent less time exploring the novel object (glyphosate: 44.35, control: 89.69; p = 0.0365).Lastly, after 16 weeks of exposure, animals were exposed to 5 repetitions of a novel auditory tone(30s, 4kHz, 77dB; 3 min intertrial interval) within a familiar context to further explorer threatresponse. A threat response was measured as time spent freezing during the tone. We observedthat glyphosate increased overall freezing to a novel tone (glyphosate: 14.05, control: 4.949; p =0.0201). For these reasons, it appears that glyphosate exposure increases threat responses todifferent types of neutral, novel stimuli. Future directions include evaluating brain regions involvedin anxiety-like behaviors for changes in neuronal activity.

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1Abstract # 40Title: Ethanol Guided Behavior in Female Drosophila melanogaster

*C. Irizarry-hernandez, N. Fuenzalida, A. Anqueira-gonzalez, I. M. Santiago-velazquez, A. Ghezzi

Univ. of Puerto Rico In Bayamon, Bayamon, PR; Dept. of Biol., Univ. of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, San Juan, PR;Neurosci., Columbia Univ. - City of New York, City of New York, NY; Biol., Univ. of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras, RioPiedras, PR

Alcohol consumption is known to induce cognitive impairments mainly affecting executivefunctions, episodic memory, and other capacities related to brain function. Nevertheless, thecellular and molecular mechanisms underlying such interactions are still unknown. Recentevidence has uncovered a similar interaction between ethanol exposure and cognitive function inthe fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which opens the way for molecular studies in a geneticallytractable model system. Using olfactory conditioning assays where an odorant is used as aconditioned stimulus (CS) and is paired with a heat shock used as an unconditioned stimulus (US),it was shown that Drosophila larvae can learn to avoid the odor in future exposures.However,when the animals are exposed to a short acute dose of alcohol, they are no longer ableto learn this association. Interestingly, larvae that have undergone prolonged chronic ethanolexposure seem to successfully avoid the odorant paired with the heat shock just as well as controlethanol-naive larvae, which is suggestive of ethanol-induced neuroadaptations. Our aim is tounderstand the genetic and cellular components responsible for this adaptation. For this, weemploy RNA Sequencing technology to evaluate differences in gene expression in the brain oflarvae chronically exposed to ethanol and in control larvae. With the knowledge obtained from thisstudy we could be able to understand ethanol’s effect on learning and memory and gain aninsight into how addiction may be contributing to damages in this behavior.

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Title: Deep Brain Stimulation Shortens Extinction of Persistent Morphine Seeking

Lloret-Torres Mario E ¹, Martinez-Rivera Freddyson J ², Barreto-Estrada Jennifer L ¹ 1 University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico 2 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City

Opiate addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug use and drugseeking regardless of negative consequences. In the United States, opiate related deathscontinue to increase in what is being classified as a public health crisis. Currently opiateaddiction is treated with a combination of behavioral therapies and replacement medicationhowever, for a significant portion of opiate addicts these treatments remain ineffective. Onepotential new treatment for opiate addiction is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS consists ofapplying electrical current directly to a desired brain region by way of a surgically implantedelectrode. Because DBS is both reversible and adjustable it more clinically viable than othersurgical interventions. Studies on DBS for addiction have shown positive results but they tend tobe limited due to low number of participants, and some studies show adverse effects. To obtainmore consistent results more studies on the underlying mechanisms of DBS are required.Previously we have found the LF-DBS to the NAc during morphine Extinction facilitated long termextinction after cessation of stimulation, however this was done a partial extinction paradigm andas such the effects on full extinction remain unknown. Here we study the effects of DBS on fullextinction of morphine CPP. First, we surgically implanted stimulation electrodes into the rats NAc.We then used a Conditioned place preference model to condition our animals for morphine.Finally, we applied low-frequency DBS to the animals during extinction sessions and allowed themto fully extinguish their preference and measured the number of sessions required. We alsoperformed a 2 reinstatement tests at 24 hours and 7 days after the final day of extinction. Wefound that animals that underwent DBS extinguished their conditioned preference withsignificantly less extinction session P < 0.001. Our data suggest that LF-DBS to the NAc couldfacilitate full extinction of morphine CPP which is consistent with previous animals data as well ashuman case studies.

1Abstract # 41

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Title: The role of the endocannabinoid and serotonergic functional interactionswithin the limbic system in depression-like behaviors in rats

*Astrid P. Ramos-Rolón, Wickensonn Norze, Paula A. Muñoz-Rodríguez, Amanda I. Rodríguez-Leon, PaolaEusebio Severino, Kristie M. Torres-Montero, Keimarie Berrios-Rodríguez, Alexander I. Acevedo-Jetter, ValeriaM. Schleier-Albino, Miciely C. Aponte-Reyes, C. S. Maldonado-Vlaar University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, Department of Biology, PO BOX 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 1 Universityof Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, Department of Biology, PO BOX 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the United States. Studieshave shown that the endocannabinoid system (eCB) has been implicated in the pathophysiologyof depression. The cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1) plays a role in depression-like behavior bymodulating the serotonergic system. Other studies have revealed that aerobic exercise decreasesdepression-like behavior by upregulating serotonin (5-HT) release. However, it is still unknown ifthe eCB system modulates the antidepressive properties of exercise through an alteration in 5-HTfiring. This project aims to observe if manipulating the CB1 receptor would enhance thetherapeutic effect of aerobic exercise in depression. We hypothesized that the eBC system’sactivation modulates 5-HT firing mediating antidepressive properties of exercise. Male SpragueDawley rats were exposed to an aerobic exercise protocol, while a group remained sedentary.Within the sedentary and exercise group, some rats received intraperitoneal injections of anagonist of the eCB receptors, (+)-WIN 55,212-2, while the others received control injections. Therats were divided into four groups: sedentary with the vehicle (Sed/Veh), sedentary withWIN55,212-2 (Sed/WIN), exercise with the vehicle (Exe/Veh), and exercise with WIN55,212-2(Exe/WIN). We used the forced swim test (FST) paradigm as an animal model that characterizesdepression-like behaviors in rodents. The FST results showed no significant differences of theagonist treatment between the group that experienced exercise vs. the sendentary group. We alsoperformed western blots to quantify the concentration of the CB1 receptors and the 5-HT 1Areceptors within limbic brain regions such as the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. Nosignificant differences regardless of treatment were detected for the CB1 receptor and the 5-HT1A receptor in both the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. The present studies did notdetect a potential cross talk between eCB and 5HT in the anti-depressive effects of exercise.Further studies are needed to better understand potential molecular mechanisms involved in newtreatments for depression. Keywords: Endocannabinoid system, depression, serotonin, and aerobic exercise

1Abstract # 42

70

Title: Exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide increases anxiety-like behaviors in Rats

S. Rodríguez-Rosado, M. Cáceres-Chacón, A. Figueroa-Pérez, H. Haddock-Martínez, G. Hernández-Busot, M. Rivera-López, O. Martínez-Guzmán, D. Sierra-Mercado

Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology., University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are the most commonly used herbicides worldwide.Glyphosate was initially considered safe for mammals because it acts by inhibiting a metabolicroute not present in mammals. Recent studies have correlated an increase in the diagnosis ofanxiety with the increased use of glyphosate. Studies in rodents have shown that large doses ofglyphosate increase anxiety-like behaviors. Glyphosate exposure is regulated by theEnvironmental Protection Agency, which has established a chronic reference dose for glyphosateof 2.0mg/kg daily. Interestingly, the effects of this dose of glyphosate on anxiety has not beenexplored. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of prolonged consumption of GBH-contaminated drinking water on anxiety-like behaviors. To achieve this, rats were given access toglyphosate-contaminated drinking water ad libitum. Water was prepared with the requiredconcentration of glyphosate to obtain a target dose of 2.0mg/kg daily. Control rats receivedfiltered drinking water. After 4 weeks of exposure to GBH, we assessed for anxiety-like behaviorusing the open field test. No difference was observed in neither the amount of time spent in thecenter (GBH: 47.68; control: 49.01; p = 0.9051,), nor the number of entries into the center (GBH:17.62; control: 17.33; p=0.9463). Moreover, after 10 weeks of exposure to GBH, anxiety-like behaviorwas reassessed in the elevated plus maze. Here, consumption of GBH resulted in a decrease inthe time spent in the open arms (GBH: 45.36; control: 103.7; p=0.0086), as well as a decrease in thenumber of entries into the open arms (GBH: 4.39; control: 9.50, p=0.0214). Lastly, after a total of 14weeks of exposure to GBH consumption, we assessed anxiety-like behaviors using the light/darkbox. Similar to our previous observations, GBH reduced the percent of time spent in the light (GBH:3.32; control: 13.03; p = 0.0173). Together, these results indicate that prolonged exposure toglyphosate at low doses increases anxiety-like behavior. Future directions include assessingother emotional memories such as fear conditioning, and performing immunohistochemistry onbrain regions involved in anxiety-like behaviors such as the basolateral amygdala and bednucleus of the stria terminalis.

1Abstract # 43

71

Title: Identification of gene variants in Puerto Rican Patients with Anxiety andDepression

Fernando Vera-Urbina¹, Jessica Renta-Torres², Jorge Duconge-Soler ³ and Bianca A. Torres-Hernández³

1 University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras; Faculty of Natural Sciences 2 University of Puerto Rico; Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus 3 University of Puerto Rico; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Medical Sciences Campus

Introduction: Anxiety and depression are among the most frequent psychiatric conditions affectingPuerto Ricans and contributing to a lower quality of life. More than 500 genes, such as HTR1B, SLC6A4,and BDNF, have been previously associated with the risk of major depressive disorder amongindividuals suffering from other psychiatric and neurological disorders. The prevalence of anxiety anddepressive symptoms differs across various ethnicities, and studies have shown that Puerto Ricanshave a higher prevalence than other Hispanics. Although few studies have evaluated actionablepolymorphisms in Puerto Rican patients with mental health conditions, one of those studies found anovel allele, CYP2D6*31, in these Puerto Rican patients but not in North American Caucasians or AfricanAmericans. Objective: This study aims to determine the most frequent genetic variants occurring in patients withanxiety and depressive symptoms and their influence on the effectiveness of pharmacologicaltreatments and psychotherapies in these patients. We hypothesized that patients who carrier multiplepolymorphisms in neuroplasticity-related genes and other genes such as CYP will have severesymptoms at the time of the diagnostic of anxiety and depression. Also, patients with multiple variants ingenes of interest will require longer treatments than those with only a single mutation in thesepharmacogenes. Methods: We are recruiting Puerto Rican patients diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression from theUniversity of Puerto Rico Center for the Study and Treatment of Fear and Anxiety and PsychiatricDepartment, whose parents and grandparents are Puerto Ricans. Due to COVID-19 protocols, theinformed consent form is discussed with the patients through a videoconference. After signing thewritten informed consent, samples were was collected using buccal swabs and then DNA was extractedusing the QIAcube®. Genotyping was performed using the Infinium® Multi-Ethnic AMR/AFR Bead Chip. Results: Up to now, we have eighteen patients consented with the sample collected. Preliminary analysis(n=8) identified a total of 13,353 variants across the genome associated with anxiety and depression.From the 13,353 variants, 11,832 variants were unmapped to genes. A CORE analysis was conducted toidentify variants associated with anxiety and depression and the pathways related to the variantsmapped to genes. In this analysis, 6,186 unique genes were identified for the 13,353 variants mappedacross the whole genome, and 643 pathways were identified for these 6,186 unique genes. Thesegenetic data will be evaluated, along with clinical data extracted from health records, to determine ifthere is an association between symptom severity, treatment response, and the presence of specificgenetic variants. Conclusion: This research project will help us determine what genes and genetic variants aresignificantly associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in Puerto Ricans. Also, we will develop apolygenic risk score to predict the likelihood of severe symptoms of anxiety and depression or treatmentfailure. This score will consider the prevalence and effect size of unique genetic variants present inPuerto Ricans. The results will give us insight into what genes are more relevant to anxiety anddepression in our population and thus help guide future research studies.

1Abstract # 44

72

Theme:Theme: CognitionCognition

Title: Niveles de Actividad Física y Memoria de trabajo en un Grupo de Adolescentesde Puerto Rico

Lopez-Navarro, Brayan

Ponce Health Sciences University

La actividad física es cualquier movimiento corporal producido por los músculos esqueléticos,ello incluye las actividades realizadas al trabajar, jugar, viajar, realizar tareas domésticas yactividades recreativas. La actividad física es de importancia para mantener un estilo de vidasaludable, prevenir enfermedades crónicas y fortalecer la capacidad cognitiva que implica: lamemoria de trabajo, atención y flexibilidad cognitiva. Estos procesos cognitivos son necesariospara lograr la adquisición adecuada del la educación formal e informal. La adolescencia implicacambios físicos, cognoscitivos y psicosociales. Los cambios más importantes son: velocidad deprocesamiento, función ejecutiva, atención selectiva, toma de decisiones, control inhibitorio derespuestas impulsivas y memoria de trabajo. La memoria de trabajo implica la habilidad pararegistrar, mantener y manipular información visual y auditiva en conciencia que requieren deatención y concentración, así como discriminación visual-auditiva y secuenciación. El objetivo deeste estudio es evaluar la relación entre los niveles de actividad física y la memoria de trabajo enun grupo de adolescentes universitarios de Puerto Rico. Participaron 6 adolescentes de 16 a 20años con edad promedio de 19.50 años (DE = 1.52), reclutados por disponibilidad. Estoscontestaron los cuestionarios Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) y Escala deMemoria. Utilizando el Statistical Package for Social Sciences (versión 25), estimamoscorrelaciones Pearson. Encontramos una relación lineal inversa y estadísticamente significativaentre los niveles de actividad física y la memoria de trabajo (r = -.107). Los resultados confirmanque los adolescentes tienen niveles bajos de actividad física. Además, conviene examinar si larelación observada con los niveles de actividad física y la memoria de trabajo se replica enmuestras de mayor tamaño, pero con una relación directa.

1Abstract # 45

74

Title: Diesel exhaust particles induces inflammatory responses in mice withexecutive functions deficits

Nicole A. Pagán, Génesis D. Rivera, Amanda Mojica, Héctor J. Rosa, Karla M. Casillas, Loyda B. Méndez Division of Science & Technology, Universidad Ana G. Méndez -Recinto de Carolina, Puerto Rico

Epidemiological studies have reported associations between air pollution exposure andimpairments in children cognition. Executive functions are neurocognitive processes that requirecontrol and direction, such as goal-oriented behavior, planning, reasoning, problem solving,cognitive flexibility and self-regulation among others. Previous results from our laboratory,showed significant deficits in cognitive processes of problem-solving skills and shot-term memorytasks on mice exposed to diesel exhaust particles (DEP), but not in long-term memory, whencompare to controls. Therefore, the results suggested that the cognitive effects were specific toexecutive functions. Studies have associated the adverse health effect of air pollutants toinflammatory responses. These responses have been linked to several Central Nervous System(CNS) disorders. In-vitro and in-vivo studies have showed an increase of proinflammatory markersin animal models after exposure to DEP in both lung and brain. These proinflammatory markerscan be present on tissue or in circulation. Therefore, we hypothesized that cognitive deficits inDEP exposed mice is associated with concomitant inflammatory responses in the lung and brain.To test this hypothesis, we measured the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in braintissue and assess the infiltration of inflammatory cell into the lungs. Briefly, C57BL/6J mice wereexposed via intranasal instillation in postnatal days (PND) 25 to 33, to either saline or differentconcentrations of DEP (2.5 and 5 µg). After completing the cognitive and behavioral evaluations,mice were euthanized and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tissue were collected forfurther processing. To evaluate pro-inflammatory responses in the CNS, the brain tissue washomogenized with PBS and a multiplex bead-based immunoassay was used to measure theconcentration of cytokines. To assess the influx of inflammatory cell into the lungs, the number ofmacrophages, lymphocytes and granulocytes were quantified in the BALF after differentialcytological staining. In the brain, analysis showed a significant dose-response increase in theconcentration of IL-6 & GM-CSF in mice exposed to DEP, with a r2 ≥0.96, but not in TNF-a. GM-CSFwas significantly increased at both DEP exposure doses but IL-6 only at the highest dose. In thelungs, DEP exposed mice showed a dose-dependent increase in the influx of inflammatory cellswhen compared to controls, with a r2 ≥ 0.9. This increase was significant in the number ofgranulocytes in the highest dose of DEP. Results suggest that the pro-inflammatory responsesinduced by DEP exposure might contributed to the cognitive deficits observed in mice. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by Puerto Rico IDeA Network of Biomedical ResearchExcellence 5P20GM103475-18.

1Abstract # 46

75

Title: Executive function deficits in juvenile mice exposed to diesel exhaust particles

Hector J. Rosa, Karla M. Casillas, Loyda B. Méndez

Division of Science & Technology, Universidad Ana G. Méndez - Recinto de Carolina, Puerto Rico

Epidemiological studies have found associations between exposure to ambient particulate matter(PM) and adverse neurocognitive outcomes. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects ofambient PM since their CNS is still in development, especially in regions related to executivefunctions, which develop significantly between the ages of 6 to 10 years. Toxicological studieshave reported cognitive impairments, alteration in the levels of neurotransmitters, oxidative stressand neuroinflammatory responses in mice exposed to different types of PM. However, moststudies have focused on prenatal, perinatal, and adult PM exposures. Therefore, the goal of thisstudy was to assess if PM exposure impairs the postnatal development of executive function inan in-vivo model. To this extent, both female and male C57BL/6J mice (n=14/group) were exposedintranasally to either saline or increasing doses of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) during postnataldays (PND) 25 to 33. Neurocognitive processes were evaluated on PND36-38 with the Open FieldTest and the Puzzle Box paradigm, which is a problem-solving test for screening general cognitiveabilities and executive function in rodents. DEP exposure did not impair mice locomotion orexploratory behavior. However, mice exposed to DEP exhibited significantly higher latencies inproblem-solving and short-term memory tasks, but not in long-term memory, when compared tocontrols. No sex related differences were observed. Thus, the results suggest DEP exposurespecifically impairs the development of executive function related cognitive processes in juvenilemice.

1Abstract # 47

76

Title: Processing Goal Directed Navigation

Sabrina Santos De León, Michael Starrett, PhD, and Liz Chrastil, PhD

Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto Río Piedras, University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine)

Spatial Navigation and awareness play an important aspect in memory, learning, attention, anddecision making. It is already known that novel environments pose a challenge for subjectexploration; however, the characterization of spatial navigation behaviors depending oninstructions about the start and target has not yet been explored. We use virtual realityenvironments and behavioral analysis tools to explore the role of path direction order in spatialperception and navigation. Statistical evidence showed that path direction order had asignificant effect in behavioral accuracy between the two conditions. Human subjects betweenthe ages of 25 to 35 were able to complete a significantly greater number of trials when impartedthe standard version of the instructions. However, the subjects’ general performance during thesecorrect trials remained statistically unaffected. Our findings suggest that instructionrearrangement could take place in the brain to process and execute these tasks.

1Abstract # 48

77

Theme:Theme: TechniquesTechniques

Title: COBRE Phase 2 Neuroplasticity Center: Its Neuroimaging & ElectrophysiologyFacility (NIEF) Core and Pilot/Seed Programs for Neuroscientists in Puerto Rico

Miranda JD, Bismark M, Silva WI, Miller MM and Lasalde J

UPR-Medical Science Campus, UPR-Rio Piedras Campus, Molecular Science Research Center and Institute ofNeurobiology

The COBRE Phase 2 Neuroplasticity Center at the UPR defines pathways and benchmarks forbasic and translational research to ensure the sustained growth and evolution of a program thatwill advance the trajectory of competitive biomedical research in Puerto Rico over the nextdecades. Key components of the center are its Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility(NIEF), research Subprojects, Pilot and Seed projects. The NIEF is a research core facility thatprovides specialized technical services, training, and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation.NIEF holds the most recent technology in fluorescence microscopy, electrophysiology and analysissoftware, and it is also certified by Nikon Instruments, Inc as one of the few Nikon Center ofExcellence around the world. NIEF is currently located at the Molecular Sciences and ResearchCenter (MSRC) and the Institute of Neurobiology (INB). NIEF provides the opportunity to capturehigh-quality confocal images of subcellular structures and molecular events with great sensitivityand high speed as well as the detection of action potentials and ion channel currents fromprimary and recombinant cells to cellular tissues and animal models. NIEF facilities operate 7 daysa week as it may be required while counting with key support personnel. Most importantly, theNIEF serves as a coalescing hub for research Subprojects, Pilot (CP3) and Collaborative SeedsProjects (CCSP) sponsored by the Center in the past two decades of a broad network ofneuroscientists within the UPR and collaborating institutions island- and world-wide. ResearchSubprojects and CP3 advance the Center’s goals of fostering development of junior investigatorsinto competitive researchers on the thematic of Neuroplasticity. Meanwhile, CCSP assuresinteractions amongst the COBRE Phase 2 award components, infrastructure and humanresources. It strongly promotes island-wide synergism in the thematic area of Neuroplasticity byproviding seed funds to support small scale research activities that promote interdisciplinarycollaborations between a UPR-based investigator and a collaborating investigator frominstitutions of higher education in Puerto Rico (public and private). The establishment of the NIEFand research projects (Subprojects, Pilots and Collaborative Seeds) was propitiated by financialsupport of an institutional development award under the COBRE grant (NIH-NIGMS grantP20GM103642) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and institutional fundsfrom the University of Puerto Rico.

1Abstract # 49

79

Title: Modern Glyoxal fixation in Light and Electron Microscopy

Jailenne I. Quiñones-Rodriguez and Thomas Schikorski

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Chemical fixation is nearly indispensable in the biological sciences, especially in circumstanceswhere cryo-fixation is not applicable. While universally employed for the preservation of cellorganization, chemical fixatives often introduce artifacts that can confound identification of truestructures. However, toxicity of formaldehyde causes an environmental concern and may demandsubstitution of this reagent. Glyoxal has become a prominent substitute to formaldehyde as amodern chemical fixative because of the health safety profile, faster reaction rate and selectivecontrol over crosslinking. Using light and electron microscopy, we highlight how adequate fixationcan lead to an improvement in ultrastructure and increase antigenicity of cellular components inneuron synaptic vesicles. The overall synaptic morphology has traditionally been studied byelectron microscopy, which enables the visualization of synaptic structure in detail. Besides, thehigher speed of membrane penetration seen with glyoxal was coupled to a better preservation ofthe general cell morphology, as observed by imaging cells during fixation. The immunostainingintensity of all these structures, defined by the fluorescent protein signals, has a tendency higherafter glyoxal fixation. Indeed, using the glyoxal fixation in electron microscopy, showed asubmicroscopic organization of the most membranous structures of the cytoplasm similar to PFA,this similarity extends to some of the fine organelle’s structural details but also to cytoskeletalassemblies. We showed that glyoxal can be a valuable and superior alternative to PFA for lightand electron microscopy.

1Abstract # 50

80

Theme:Theme: History, Education, and SocietyHistory, Education, and Society

Title: MDMA

Kianie M. Cruz-Rosado, Fernando J. Figueroa-Otero, Courtney A. George-Félix, Krystal Guardiola-Flores,and Rosely A. Malavé-Hernández

Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus

La droga de abuso 3,4-metilendioxi-metanfetamina o mejor conocida como MDMA o Éxtasis fuefabricada por una empresa alemana en el 1912. Aunque fue originalmente creada para el controlde hemorragias, no fue hasta los 1980 que fue popularidaza por sus cualidadespsicoterapeuticas. Sin embargo, justo cuando comenzó a tener auge en la comunidad científica,esta droga fue catalogada en el Anexo 1 por la DEA. Se conoce que esta tiene efectos a nivelcerebral aumentando la liberación de neurotransmisores clásicos como serotonina, dopamina ynorepinefrina. La liberación de grandes cantidades de dichos transmisores influye en los efectosnegativos de la droga en las personas que la consumen. Además, es un estimulante que puedegenerar alucinaciones y aumenta la empatía y conciencia de uno mismo. El uso prolongado deesta sustancia puede causar efectos a largo plazo como alucinaciones intermitentes, ansiedad ypsicosis crónica. Actualmente, en PR no hay estadísticas sobre el uso o presencia de MDMA en laisla, y en EU son pocas las que hay. Estadísticas que existen nos dicen que esta droga tiende averse más en ambientes nocturnos de fiesta, pero sería preferible tener mejores estadísticaspara tener el panorama más claro. Los tratamientos actuales más efectivos para los pacientescon un trastorno por consumo de MDMA son las intervenciones cognitivo-conductuales que estándiseñadas para ayudar a modificar el pensamiento, las expectativas y los comportamientos delpaciente, y para aumentar las habilidades para hacer frente a los factores estresantes de la vida.Aunque no se ha aprobado ningún medicamento específicamente para la desintoxicación deMDMA, muchos especialistas en recuperación recomiendan antidepresivos para ayudar acombatir los inevitables sentimientos depresivos que surgen.

1Abstract # 51

82

Title: Neuroboricuas PUCPR: Neuroscience pioneers in the south of Puerto Rico

Moreu Muñiz, Fabiola; Rivera Avilés, Nilenid; Rivera Vélez, José; Merced Torres, Ivián; Cruz Torres, Emmanuel

The southern area of Puerto Rico (PR) has very few opportunities of scientific nature, even less sowhen it comes to Neuroscience. This lack of neuroscience knowledge is reflected in schools,universities, and throughout the whole population. Due to this growing need, a NeuroBoricuaschapter was established in January 2021 to perpetuate the interest in the discipline ofNeuroscience and Scientific Research at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR,spanish acronym) at Ponce. Our chapter, NeuroBoricuas PUCPR, plans to accomplish this goal byincreasing Neuroscience training opportunities and exposure to Neuroscience throughconferences, workshops, among other educational experiences; thus promoting the study ofNeuroscience at the undergraduate and graduate level. To determine the impact ofNeuroBoricuas PUCPR so far, responses to a questionnaire were collected from 62 (out of 66)members of the association. We collected demographic information and found that the majority ofstudents are from the southern region of Puerto Rico and in the range of 20 and 21 years of age.To measure our impact, we asked our members whether being part of NeuroBoricuas PUCPRchanged their professional goals. Interestingly, we found that 32% of members changed theirprofessional interests after attending the activities sponsored by NeuroBoricuas PUCPR. Most ofthe members that changed their professional goals opted to pursue a more research focusedcareer path (i.e. choosing to pursue a Ph.D. instead of M.D.). In addition, more than half of theresponses demonstrated that, prior to being part of NeuroBoricuas PUCPR, our members havenever been exposed to Neuroscience (58%) and, due to this exposure, their interest in researchincreased (97%). In conclusion, our results demonstrate the importance of promotingNeuroscience in places where knowledge about this discipline is still lacking. We hope to continueimpacting the members of our association as well as the whole community in the near and distantfuture.

1Abstract # 52

83

Title: History of heroin as a drug of abuse, effects on the individual, and impact onpublic health in Puerto Rico and the United States

Cristhian Negrón Rodríguez, Ana Figueroa Vázquez, Amanda Morales Rivera, Rosario Loperena, and Marcel De Jesús Vega

Heroin addiction is currently a significant health crisis that affects millions of people in the UnitedStates and Puerto Rico, for which effective treatments are yet to be developed. Due to this ongoinghealth crisis and to educate about the effects and current treatments for this narcotic in thepopulation, the prevalence, number of heroin overdoses, and deaths in Puerto Rico and the UnitedStates were studied. Heroin is an opioid based on morphine, which tends to be injected, snorted,or smoked, where users frequently mix it with other drugs, such as crack and fentanyl. Since the1990’s, opioid production has been on the rise due to the relentless search for novel drugs thataid in the management of pain. This led to the manufacture of synthetic opioids that began to beprescribed with fewer restrictions. Eventually, it was discovered that they were very addictive.Because restrictions were added to these novel prescribed opioids, people addicted to themstarted looking for alternatives like heroin. The increase in use of this narcotic was due to itsaccessibility, cost effectiveness, and equal or greater potency. This resulted in the constant abuseand death of thousands of people. It is estimated that 80% of heroin users first began usingprescription opioids inappropriately. Statistics show that in 2019 there were 14,019 heroinoverdose deaths in the United States. That same year, 1,510 heroin users diagnosed with anopioid-related disorder were reported in Puerto Rico. The swift entrance to the brain and itsbinding to opioid receptors located in regions engaged in the sensation of pain, pleasure, as wellas the control of heart rate, sleep, and breathing, contribute to the constant urge in users toconsume the drug. Among the short and long-term effects of the use of this narcotic, the cloudymental functioning, a state between being conscious and unconscious, insomnia, depression,and antisocial personality disorders, are the most recurrent. In addition, different disorders anddisabilities have been associated with heroin abuse, such as hypothalamic, pituitary, andgonadal dysfunction. Medications such as lofexidine, methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexoneare nowadays being used to treat these symptoms. However, the implementation of bettertreatments that make the process more attractive is imperative for more people to seek and enterthese services. That is why this initiative has the purpose to educate about the trajectory of herointhroughout history, understand the treatments that currently exist and think of better ways toimpact this sector of the population, who represent a public health problem in Puerto Rico and theUnited States.

1Abstract # 53

84

Title: Cocaine Use: Knowledge, Treatment, and Prevalent Social Problems at Present

Caroline Casiano-Rivera¹, Ian Díaz-Nieves¹, Ilanis Rodriguez-Torres¹, Paola Rolán-Otero¹, Omaris Vélez-Acevedo¹

1 Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant with a high potential for abuse. Chronic use of cocaine causeschanges in the brain’s mesocorticolimbic system. Currently, there is a gap in translating research-based information to current social settings. This gap leads to situations such as viewing cocaineuse disorder as a choice, straying from treatment due to negative stigma, and accidentaloverdoses due to cross-contamination. Overdose deaths involving cocaine have been on a steadyrise since 2014, becoming a prevalent public health problem. Recent statistics also show thatapproximately 5.5 million individuals in the United States use cocaine. Therefore, it is crucial tocontinue educating the general public on cocaine use disorder, risks of consumption, andprevention of overdoses. Furthermore, it is essential to also study the mechanisms of action from aphysiological and psychological perspective to continue the development of effective treatment.Our objective is to raise awareness by compiling information about cocaine’s history, statistics,pharmacological effects, behavioral effects, and possible treatments.

1Abstract # 54

85

Title: Xanax Addition: A Discussion of its Effects and the Importance of Awareness

G. Rodríguez, P. Carrasquillo, K. Luna, J. Mercado, A. Cedeño

University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR.

Addiction and drug abuse are common social problems that are shared across the globe.However, this topic is often limited to certain illicit drugs. Medicines such as barbiturates,benzodiazepines, and amphetamines are prescribed drugs that could lead to their abuse andeven addiction. Alprazolam, a benzodiazepine commercially known as Xanax, is a frequentlyprescribed drug used to treat multiple anxiety disorders. It works through the GABAergic systemmodulating the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Benzodiazepinesarise as a substitute to barbiturates since the latter have been known to pose a risk of inducingrespiratory depression. Being approved in 1981 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),Xanax was developed because of its short-term higher efficacy as well as its higher toleranceagainst the placebo effect. This drug is classified as a Schedule 4 controlled substance, havinglow potential for abuse and dependence, which delimits its clinical applications. It has a highprescription rate, with an increase of three million prescriptions in 14 years (2004 – 2018), and,although it is described as a drug with low potential for addiction, it accounts for a high rate ofabuse in young people, emergency room visits, and overdose deaths. Because Xanax’s primarypharmacological effects are sedation and anxiety reduction (anxiolytic), it is used to treatgeneralized anxiety disorder and panic attacks, as well as alcohol withdrawal syndrome anddepression. Nonetheless , as with all medications, multiple side effects could interfere with theoverall health of the consumer, one of the most significant being the general depression of thecentral nervous system. Due to its abuse potential, Xanax could lead to the development of anaddiction problem which in turn can cause other severe complications that should be treated.Currently, treatment for Xanax addiction is primarily based on behavior modifications with the useof cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and residential transfer treatments. Other options that arebeing studied at this time are substitute drugs, such as CBD and Flumazenil. Xanax is a highlyprescribed and accessible drug, and it often does not cause physiological disorders after its use.However, it is a drug that has the possibility to generate abuse, dependency and even addictionso it is necessary to acknowledge its limitations and be more aware of its administration. It isimportant to provide information about this drug and its possible adverse effects, not only tocreate awareness about the possibility of developing addiction, but also to promote thediscussion of the available treatments for those who are already affected by this drug.

1Abstract # 55

86

Title: Alcohol: Una droga de abuso con implicaciones sociales y de salud

Rolon, J., Aran, A., Irizarry, C., Santos, S., Urdaz, J.


El alcohol como sustancia de uso generalizado ha tenido un largo recorrido histórico, desde susinicios hace 30,000 años hasta la actualidad. Desde sus usos medicinales y religiosos enculturas antiguas, su uso ha evolucionado a uno de abuso en donde se comenzaron a establecerleyes prohibitivas durante los siglos 19 y 20. Gracias a su gran importancia cultural,específicamente en Puerto Rico en donde está atado a actividades de recreación social ycelebraciones, al igual que se ve plasmado constantemente en el entretenimiento y los anunciospublicitarios, existe un gran problema de salud pública por el abuso de alcohol. En los EstadosUnidos en estudios realizados el 2019, se reportó que 85.6% de las personas habían consumidoalcohol y 25.8% reportaron haberlo consumido de manera excesiva. Además, en otrasestadísticas conducidas en el mismo año, se estima que 10,142 personas fallecieron por conducirbajo los efectos del alcohol. Asimismo, se estima que 22.1% de las muertes por sobredosis enEstados Unidos está relacionado con la mezcla del alcohol con opiáceos recetados y 18.5% de laspersonas que llegan a urgencias se debe a algún problema con el alcohol. Se estima que casi 15millones de personas en EE.UU actualmente viven con algún tipo de trastorno por consumo dealcohol y esta condición lleva a una alta tasa de muertes por diferentes causas. Por esto, seinvestigó a fondo sobre los efectos que esta sustancia tiene fisiológica y conductualmente ya quepuede causar problemas en la conducta y cambios en el sistema anímico. Estos pueden incluircomportamientos inadecuados, estados de ánimo inestables, alteración de la capacidad dejuicio, dificultad para hablar, problemas de atención o memoria y problemas en la coordinación.La acción psicofisiológica y farmacodinámica del alcohol es fundamentalmente depresiva, por lareducción de la transmisión sináptica en el sistema nervioso humano. Se sabe que el consumoexcesivo de alcohol causa una disfunción crónica del cerebro, produciendo trastornos en elsistema nervioso central, causando alteraciones en la memoria y en las funciones intelectualescomo comprensión y aprendizaje. Las propiedades sedantes del alcohol hacen que éste tengasobre el organismo un efecto anestésico en algunas áreas del cerebro, disminuyendo suactividad; y como todo medicamento sedante-hipnótico, actúa para favorecer la inhibiciónsináptica, producida por el transmisor denominado ácido gamma-aminobutírico. También, sepresentan los diferentes componentes de posibles tratamientos para el alcoholismo. Aunqueactualmente no exista una cura para la adicción al alcohol, se han desarrollado diversosprogramas de tratamientos efectivos para la recuperación y rehabilitación. Estos tratamientosprofesionales comienzan con la desintoxicación con benzodiazepinas para tratar los síntomas dela retirada de alcohol, luego la farmacoterapia, usualmente se utiliza Disulfiram para evitar elconsumo, junto con las terapias conductuales y los programas de rehabilitación, como AAA, paraalcanzar la abstinencia a largo plazo. Como estrategias para manejar esta crisis de abuso, sedebe educar a la población general sobre los peligros del alcohol al igual que aumentar elalcance de los tratamientos establecidos para las personas con trastornos de abuso.

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Title: An overview on methamphetamine use disorder

Kristie M. Torres, Amanda I. Rodríguez, Isabel Castellanos, Patricia Torres, and Alexander Acevedo


Methamphetamine is a widely abused psychostimulant with the second-highest prevalence ofdrug abuse after cannabis, with approximately thirty-five million users worldwide. The moleculewas first synthesized from ephedrine in 1893 by a Japanese scientist as a medical treatment fornarcolepsy, asthma, and as a weight-loss drug. Later in 1919, Akira Ogata crystallizedmethamphetamine by reducing ephedrine using red phosphorus and iodine. Methamphetaminecauses an increase on catecholamine extracellular levels on the nervous system by releasingthem independently of nerve cell firing, by reversing their transport, or inhibiting their reuptake. Inhumans, methamphetamine produces immediate physiological and behavioral effects such asincreased alertness, irregular heart rate, euphoria, and insomnia. Moreover, prolonged use ofmethamphetamine causes changes in the brain's dopamine system, affecting areas associatedwith coordination, emotion, and memory. Therefore, continued abuse of this substance can leadto serious outcomes like paranoia, hallucinations, violent behavior, impaired verbal learning, andin some cases, death. Approximately 52.9% of the people with methamphetamine use disorderresult in overdose and other serious health issues. Despite this, due to the drug's addictivepotential, the estimated methamphetamine use among adults during 2015-2018 was 6.6 per 1,000individuals. Also, methamphetamine-related admissions to addiction treatment centers increasedfrom 15.1% in 2008 to 23.6% in 2017. Some medications have found promising results in studieswith animal models as a treatment for methamphetamine addiction. Also, recent studies show thata combination of Bupropion and Naltrexone helps treat methamphetamine addiction in humans.Nevertheless, preventing initial exposure to the drug is equally important as finding effectivetreatments. Hence, understanding the biological mechanisms of methamphetamine, the trends ofits uses, and its risk factors serves to raise awareness and thereby, prevent its addiction.

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Theme:Theme: COVID-19COVID-19

Title: Nuestra Experiencia: A look at the impact of recent natural disasters oncumulative stress in Puerto Rican communities since 2017

Javier Jusino, BS¹, José Espinal, BS¹, Laura Bou Delgado, BA¹, Nicole Estarellas, BS¹, Claudia Francia, BS¹,Neshmaidy Negron, BS¹, Jose Quintana, BS¹, Gabriela Roldan, BS¹, Claudia Silva, BS¹, Awilda Ramos, MD²,Melissa Valerio, MPH, PhD²

1 Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Bayamón, PR 2 University of Texas Health System, Houston, Texas

Background: Puerto Rican families across the island were drastically affected following the 2017hurricanes Irma and María, 2019-2020 earthquakes and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Basichealth statistics in Puerto Rico indicate that the island faced significant health disparities prior tothese disasters compared to the United States. There is concern that the stress level of PuertoRicans has severely increased with the exposure to these major consecutive disasters. Thus, ourresearch question is: What has been the experience of the Puerto Rican population (21-65 years ofage) exposed to multiple disasters and how has this exposure contributed to their stress levels?While literature on stress due to natural disasters is available, literature related to cumulativestress due to multiple consecutive disasters is scarce. Objective: The main objective of this project is to identify and define cumulative stress from acommunity perspective in Puerto Rico after experiencing multiple disasters in a relatively shortperiod of time.

Methods: Six focus groups of 10-12 participants will be completed after IRB approval. Communityleaders will assist with recruitment representing communities across the island. Participantsbetween the ages of 21 – 65 will complete informed consent and a demographic survey prior tothe focus groups. We will complete two groups from Metro region (largest COVID-19 impact), twofrom Caguas region (high hurricane impact) and two from Ponce region (closest to earthquakes’epicenter). The 2-to-2.5-hour sessions will be via WEBEX and moderated by researchinvestigators. All sessions shall be in Spanish and will be recorded and transcribed to completequalitative coding and data analysis for generation of summary reports and development of acumulative stress framework to guide future research.

Results: We will use NVivo data software to analyze the transcriptions and identify key themesacross the groups. We hope to use these themes to identify an increase in community cumulativestress and address that increase to treat existing health inequities in Puerto Rico that couldworsen such as depression and diabetes.

Conclusions & Impact: We hypothesize that having been exposed to a greater number of disasterswill translate into an increase in the level of cumulative stress in the Puerto Rican community. Withthese results, we hope to contribute towards the body of knowledge for disaster responseimprovement and recuperation of the Puerto Rican as well as other Latino populations withdisparate burden of illness and stress.

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Title: Nuestra Experiencia: A look at the impact of recent natural disasters oncumulative stress in Puerto Rican communities since 2017

Natalie Machargo Carlo and Camelia Del Valle Torres

UCC COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, Universidad Central del Caribe, Puerto Rico

This study aims to identify sociodemographic factors, as well as correlations betweendetermining factors that may impact the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among Hispanicpregnant women living in Puerto Rico. Such factors can provide valuable information that targetsthe most prevalent worries among this population, regarding the administration of the COVID-19vaccine. This can allow for a better physician-patient conversation when talking and educatingabout the vaccine administration; one focused on the most common worries and hesitancy factorsthat are of prevalence for the Hispanic pregnant women population. The methodology is based ona three-part survey that includes the following: demographic and socioeconomic factors, pastobstetric history, and attitudes and beliefs on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. 100 Hispanicwomen, who were (or are) pregnant at the time the vaccine was accessible to them, completed thesurvey. Our hypothesis stated that if pregnant women used unreliable sources to decide whetherto accept or refuse the vaccine, then the chances of receiving the vaccine would decrease. As aresult, the majority (40%) of women used as a primary source of information the opinion of theirprimary doctor or OB/GYN. Likewise, 58% of the women’s primary doctor or OB/GYN hadrecommended receiving the vaccine administration. Only 12.1% said they used social media as aprimary source of information, and 29.3% used informative articles (from sources such as CDC, orACOG’s). According to these data, it's crucial to recognize the importance of a doctor’scommunication with their patients. We’d like to give a profound acknowledgement to Dr. Salgado and the VITA Healthcare Inc. clinicfor providing the necessary tools to complete the recruitment process.

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Title: Preliminary Data: Opinions on Pediatric Vaccine against COVID-19 fromParents and Guardians of the Northern area of Puerto Rico

Miranda Valle, Addyth G., Freytes Terrada, Gisselle M., Mitwalli Tania, Colón Berríos Sara S., Rivera RiveraLlelyane, P., Martínez Rodríguez Natalia M., Meléndez Nieves, Bianca P., and Prats Figueroa, Natalia N.

Mentor: Dr. Wanda Figueroa Cosme

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pediatric population has been one of the most vulnerablegroups of our society, due to the unprecedented consequences of social distancing measures andlockdowns. In order to protect this population, vaccines against COVID-19 have been developed,yet there is evidence showing some resistance from parents and guardians. In order to achievethe success of vaccination campaigns in Puerto Rico, we believe that it is imperative for thescientific community to identify the possible hindrances to pediatric immunizations againstCOVID-19. This study aims to investigate parents’ and guardians’ opinions towards the vaccineadministration for their children. Our preliminary data is based on 81 participants from theNorthern area of Puerto Rico that answered a questionnaire based on the parents’ and guardians’perspectives on the approval or denial of the administration of COVID-19 vaccines for theirchildren. This questionnaire was answered by the participants before the latest approval of thevaccine for the ages of 5 and older. Of the answers we obtained, 67% were parents of childrenyounger than 12 years old, while 33% were 12 years old or older. In addition, 81% of the responderwere mothers, 17% were fathers and a 2% identified as “Other.” From the responses obtained,only 19% of the participants completely agreed with the premise stating that the informationprovided regarding the vaccine against COVID-19 was trustworthy; 42% of the participantsanswered that they agreed, yielding an approximate total of 61% of participants that trust theinformation provided in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. On the other hand, 26% neither agreednor disagreed; while 10% of the participants disagreed with the premise, and 4% completelydisagreed. When asked if they would vaccinate their child against COVID-19, 64% responded infavor of vaccinating their child. In contrast, 21% answered that they would not vaccinate theirchild, while 15% of the participants remained unsure whether they would vaccinate or not theirchild. Taking into consideration this preliminary data, there seems to be a correlation between the61% of the participants trusting the information provided and the 64% that are willing to let theirchild receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The results of this study could be crucial for the success ofvaccination campaigns and programs, thereby helping Puerto Rico’s public health and thepediatric population in need.

1Abstract # 60

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AFTERNOONAFTERNOONACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

On this page, you will find the links for the evaluationquestionnaires for the conference.

MORNINGMORNINGACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

https://es.surveymonkey.chttps://es.surveymonkey.com/r/PRNeuro2021_AMom/r/PRNeuro2021_AM

https://es.surveymonkey.chttps://es.surveymonkey.com/r/PRNeuro2021_PMom/r/PRNeuro2021_PM

There are two links available for the questionnaires:Evaluation Form for Morning Activities &Evaluation Form for Afternoon Activities

EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRESEVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRES

Thank you for completing the evaluation questionnaire.Thank you for completing the evaluation questionnaire. We value your opinion greatly!We value your opinion greatly!

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https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/PRNeuro2021_AM

https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/PRNeuro2021_PM

Thank you!Thank you!

All graphic art was created by Ms. Natalia P. Figueroa Rosado, MBA Graduate Student, School ofBusiness Administration, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPR-RP). Program designed byMs. Figueroa Rosado and Mrs. Marimar Velázquez Vargas, Administrative Officer of the NeuroIDProgram at the UPR-RP.

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