I.H.E.M - Conicet CCT Mendoza

Research
This group was formed as a branch of research teams involved in projects on the area of Neuroendocrinology and Neuropharmacology. Earlier publications addressed the effects of excitatory lesions on the development of hypothalamic responses on the neonatal rat and later on, the interests focused on the role of the peptide Angiotensin II in the developing brain. The main topics of research throughout the past years have been to study the participation of the brain angiotensinergic system in mechanisms of brain injury and repair during the early post natal period.
For this aim, we have adapted the classical animal model of neonatal brain injury of hypoxia/ischemia (Rice III, J.E., Vanucci, R.C. and Brierley, J.B., Ann. Neurol., 9 (1981) 131-141) introducing additional steps to induce hypoxia preconditioning.

At the moment we are interested in the cellular and molecular aspects of the preconditioning phenomena, and mainly in the participation of the peptide angiotensin II by means of its receptors AT1 and AT2, located either at vascular, neuronal and glial sites. We are also interested in studying the endogenous repairing mechanisms induced by the preconditioning. One of the problems we are currently focused on is the possible induction of neurogenesis. For that we are looking for participation of the transcription factor NeuroD1 in the preconditioned animals. Our efforts are aimed in the future, to characterize the lesion in a strain of stoke prone rats (SHR). For that reason we have started our research using the control strain Wistar Kyoto (WKY).

Collaborations (present)
In the past years the laboratory has been regularly collaborating with other established researchers and their groups of Argentina and other countries. In the present we are actively participating in the following projects
Catedra de Bioquimica Avanzada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Director: Gladys Ciuffo PhD. Title : “Angiotensin receptors in brain and kidney development”.
Laboratorio de Ciencias Fisiologicas (Catedra de Bacteriologia y Virologia Medicas. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas), Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Director: Maria Ester Cobe PhD. Title: “Effects of Hipo and Hiper thyroidism on the ovaric and hypothalamic functions during pregnancy and lactation”.

Graduate
Biochemist Francisco López Aguilera Fellow ANCYT. Period: 2008-2011
Medical Doctor Carolina Ayala. Fellow ANCYT. Period: 2008-2011
Biochemist Veronica Silvina Biaggio. Postdoctoral fellow CONICET. Period 2010-2012

Undergraduate
Student Diego Alvarez (Licenciatura on Molecular Biology- UNSan Luis :Period in the SPBD 2007-2009)
Student Maria Gabriela Plateo Licenciatura on Molecular Biology- UNSan Luis 2009-2010)
Student Marcia Zuloaga . Facultad de Ciencias Medicas UNCuyo

Publications (past 3 years)
“Acute intrastriatal administration of quinolinic acid affects the expression of the coat protein AP-2 and its interaction with membranes”. Borgonovo J, Seltzer A, Sosa MA. . J Neural Transm. 2009 Oct;116(10):1201-8. Epub 2009 Jul 14. PMID: 19597933.

“Angiotensin II AT(1) receptor blockade selectively enhances brain AT(2) receptor
expression, and abolishes the cold-restraint stress-induced increase in tyrosine
hydroxylase mRNA in the locus coeruleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Bregonzio C, Seltzer A, Armando I, Pavel J, Saavedra JM. Stress. 2008;11(6):457-66.

“Advancement of reproductive senescence and changes in the early expression of oestrogen, progesterone and µ-opioid receptors induced by neonatal hypoxia in the female rat.Marcelo Eduardo Ezquer Susana R Valdez; Alicia M Seltzer; Graciela A Jahn. Brain Res.. 2008 Jun 12;1214:73-83.

”Inhibition of ANG II receptors during pregnancy induces malformations in developing rat kidney” Susana I. Sánchez, Alicia M. Seltzer, Lucia B. Fuentes, Myriam L. Forneris, and Gladys M. Ciuffo. Eur J Pharmacol. 2008 Jun 24;588(1):114-23. Epub 2008 Apr 9.pISSN: 0014-2999

" Acute sublethal global hypoxia induces transient increase of GAP-43 inmunoreactivity in the striatum of neonatal rats" Valdez SR. Paterson SI, Esquer ME, Torrecilla M, Lama MC, Seltzer AM, Synapse. 2007 Mar, 61 (3) : 124-37 USA PMID 17146769. ISSN0887-4476

1997. Raul Otoya . Doctor in Medicine. Director: Dr. Afredo Donoso. Co-Director: Alicia Seltzer. Títle: “Neurotoxidad de los aminoácidos excitatorios” Facultad de Ciencias Médicas UNCuyo Mendoza, Argentina .

2005. Mariela Sanchez. Doctor in Phonoaudiology. Title: ”Alteraciones de las funciones cognitivas en accidentes cerebro-vasculares: un estudio longitudinal “.Director: Dr, Héctor Iddon Co-Director: Dra. Alicia Seltzer. Convenio Universidad del Aconcagua (UDA- Mendoza) / Universidad del Museo Social Argentino, Buenos Aires. Argentina.

2006. Marcelo Ezquer Doctor in Cell and Molecular Biology. Title: “Hipoxia-hipóxica e hipoxia-isquemia neonatal: estudios neuronales y de marcadores tempranos en sistema nigro- estriatal; estudios endocrinos sobre la pubertad y reproducción en la rata” Director: Dra. Alicia Seltzer; Co-Director: Dra. Graciela Jahn. CONICET. PROBIOL UNCuyo.

2009. Diego Alvarez. Lic .in Molecular an Cell Biology. Title:”Analysis of the expresión of AT2 receptors of Angiotensin II in a model of Hypoxic-Ischemic Perinatal Brain Lesion “. Director Alicia Seltzer. Universidad Nacional de San Luis

PICT-2006-00451, ANPCyT Argentina. : Title :”Angiogenesis and Neurogenesis in the perinatal ischemic brain lesion: Role of Angiotensin II receptors and of NeuroD1 “ Responsible Researcher: A.Seltzer PhD , Associated: Muñoz,Estela PhD.

PME 2006-00306, ANPCyT, Argentina. : Title: Consolidation of a network of Cell Biology laboratories for the resolution of human and animal health problems. Responsible Researcher: María Isabel Colombo, Ph.D., Associated: A.M.Seltzer

PICT-R 32529 ANPCyT Argentina Nodo: Dra Cobe BID 1728 Title: “Effects of Hipo and Hiper thyroidism on the ovaric and hypothalamic functions during pregnancy and lactation”. Responsible Researcher: Maria Ester Cobe PhD