Andrea Paz Reyes Alvear

Ms. Andrea Paz Reyes Alvear


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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27 March 2020 in Annals of Forest Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
FPFrida I. Piper
Frida I. Piper
AAAndrea Paz Reyes Alvear
Andrea Paz Reyes Alvear

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CMCarlos Morgan
Carlos Morgan
PSPatricio Sáez-Briones
Patricio Sáez-Briones
RPRafael Barra Pezo
Rafael Barra Pezo
AAAndrea Paz Reyes Alvear
Andrea Paz Reyes Alvear
KZKatherine Zepeda-Morales
Katherine Zepeda-Morales
AHAlejandro Hernández
Alejandro Hernández
A loss of neuroplastic control on nucleus accumbens (NAc) neuronal activity exerted by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) through long-term depression (LTD) is involved in triggering drug-seeking behavior and relapse on several substances of abuse due to impaired glutamate homeostasis in tripartite synapses of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core. To test whether this maladaptive neuroplastic mechanism underlies the addiction-like behavior induced in young mice by a high-fat diet (HFD), we utilized 28-days-old male mice fed HFD ad-libitum over 2 weeks, followed by 5 days of HFD abstinence. Control groups were fed a regular diet. HFD fed mice showed increased ΔFosB levels in the NAc core region, whereas LTD triggered from the mPFC became suppressed. Interestingly, LTD suppression was prevented by an i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg N-acetylcysteine 2.5 h before inducing LTD from the mPFC. In addition, excessive weight gain due to HFD feeding was diminished by adding 2mg/mL N-acetylcysteine in drinking water. Those results show a loss of neuroplastic mPFC control over NAc core activity induced by HFD consumption in young subjects. In conclusion, ad libitum consumption of HFD can lead to neuroplastic changes an addiction-like behavior that can be prevented by N-acetylcysteine, helping to decrease the rate of excessive weight gain.