Zenodo

The group has been working on the neuronal functions of a centre in the brainstem, the nucleus incertus and its signalling system, the neuropeptide relaxin 3 and its receptor RXFP3. The nucleus, which is located on the midline of the floor of the 4th ventricle at the level of the Pons, displays an extensive system of projections on telencephalic and diencephalic areas related to metabolic, emotional and memory functions. The targets of the nucleus incertus include the supramammillary nucleus, the medial septum, the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus and the amygdala. The behavioural data have effectively corroborated the hypothesis of a modulatory role of the incertus-relaxin3-rxfp3 system on some aspects of emotional behaviour. Recent research by the group indicates that these functions would be performed through phosphorylation of signalling molecules such as ERK and would result in the modulation of behaviours such as social recognition, spatial memory and extinction of Pavlovian conditioning. At the physiological level, the activity of the incertus nucleus induces an increase in the theta band power spectrum of synchronous oscillations in the hippocampus, and this increase would be made through activation of the septal region. The increase in this oscillation is involved in the level of arousal; in fact, the activation of the nucleus induces an increase in exploratory behaviour, vigilance and locomotor activity. On these bases our projects are aimed at exploring the specific mechanisms by which the nucleus incertus and its relaxin-3 / rxfp3 signalling system modulate social recognition, memory and emotion. Knowledge about such participation can open new avenues that may allow us to know the aetiology of some neurological and mental pathologies associated with deficits of memory and social behaviour and open new ways for their treatment.

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