Our research group analyze in different Animals Models of mental illness such as anxiety, depression, epilepsy pain, narcolepsy-cataplexy among others.

Our approach is holistic because our aim is to analyze behavior plus different techniques such as electrophysiology, pharmacology, endocrine, and molecular biology approaches.

We have two rat biomodels one with a high anxiety and depression the so-called low-yawning (LY) subline of Sprague Dawley rats. The other one is the High-yawning (HY) subline of Sprague-Dawley that had resiliency to stress, anxiety and depression, the most common mental illnesses.

At present, we are tested classical anxiolytics and antidepressant drugs and importantly new compounds that are more effective, safer and that are better tolerate.

Additionally, we have a tubulin mutant rat that is equal to the human leukodystrophy called hypomyelination with atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum (H-ABC).

Taiep is the acronym of motor signs that the rat showed along the first year of life such as: tremor, ataxia, immobility epilepsy and paralysis. In this tubulin mutant, we are currently analyzing the absence crisis of epilepsy and the sleep-wake alterations, as well on the rapid eye movement type of sleep because the rat is an excellent model of narcolepsy cataplexy.

Importantly taiep rats showed the same pattern of demyelination and atrophy of the putamen and cerebellum associated with a point mutation of Tubulin  4A protein (TUBB4A) that is

Behavioral Neurophysiology Research Group

Dr. Jose Ramon Eguibar Cuenca
Dra. Ma. del Carmen Cortés
M. en C. Araceli Ugarte
M.V.Z. Omar Isidro
Behavioral research group was founded in 1981.

The aim of our research group is to analyze using different techniques such as neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuropharmacology and molecular biology different pathologic of the nervous system with a holistic approach.

Professor Jose R. Eguibar
PhD in Neuroscience, Dept. of Physiology, Biophysic and Neuroscience CIVNESTAV del IPN 1998
MD University of Puebla 1985
Phone: (222)2295500 Ext. 5732
E-mail: jose.eguibar@correo.buap.mx
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jose_Eguibar
ORCID 0000-0001-6594-1141

Professor Carmen Cortes PhD in Biomedical research, Faculty of Medicine, UNAM Psychology Universidad de las Americas Puebla Phone: (222) 2295500 Ext. 7331 E-mail: carmen.cortes@correo.buap.mx https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carmen_Cortes ORCID: 0000-0002-9163-2665

Research interact

Relevant topics

The research group analyze electrical brain activity to continuous electroencephalography (EGG) electromyography (EMG) and electrooculography (EOG) activities to 24 hours in freely movement rats.
Under these circumstances, we are able to record the epilepsy, sleep-wake cycle, food and water consumption in order to analyze brain activity.
In the case of Taiep rats, we are able to record the absence crisis in both sexes along the Circadian cycle and different ages. We also are currently analyzing the action of anti-absence drugs such as lamotrigine, etlosuximide and 4 aminopiridine, as well as inhibitors of GABA recapture pregabaline and Gabapentine.
Indication for sleep-wake cycle Taiep rats shown a REM sleep disorder similar to Human narcolepsy-cataplexy.
We are also analyzing the activation of hypothalamus hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal gland axis through the secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone in control and restraint stress subjects. In these animals, we also analyze the quality and distribution of sleep.

Current members

Araceli Ugarte, Master in Science, Q.F.B. BUAP and Master in Biological Sciences.
The aim of her work is to analyze maternal care and its consequences particularly does relate with mother-pup interaction stress responses and memory.

M.V.Z. Omar Isidro Maldonado
He is a veterinary Physician with a specialization on laboratory rodents, particularly rats. He is the responsible person of our animal room facilities and maintain of high and low-yawning rats, taiep and an outbred stock of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Post-doctoral fellows

Dra. Maria de los Angeles Carrasco Ruiz.
She is an expert on Western Blot and other molecular biology techniques. Currently Carrasco Ruiz is analyzing the distribution of GABA receptors in various brain areas including cerebral cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and thalamus in taiep rats at different ages.

1) Norman Lima Serrano.
Maestría en Ciencias Fisiológicas con la tesis titulada “Efectos del bisfenol A sobre la conducta materna y el neurodesarrollo temprano en las ratas de alto y bajo bostezo”. Matrícula No. 222470044. CVU 1173475. Período de julio 2021 a diciembre 2023.

2) Elizabeth Alexandra Rojas Sánchez.
Maestría en Ciencias Fisiológicas con la tesis titulada “Efecto de la progesterona y la alopregnenlonona en las crisis de ausencia de la rata taiep”. Matrícula No. 222470278. CVU 1133116. Período enero 2023- diciembre 2024.

3) Diego Adrián Martínez Martínez.
Maestría en Ciencias Fisiológicas con la tesis titulada “Análisis de la marcha en ratas taiep macho tratadas con agonistas serotonérgicos y 4-aminopiridina”. Matrícula No. 223470113. CVU 1268254. Período enero 2023- diciembre 2024.

4) Rosa Hallel Aquino Bezies.
Maestría en Ciencias Fisiológicas con la tesis titulada “Vocalizaciones ultrasónicas en ratas macho antes distintos estímulos sexuales”. Matrícula No. 223470104. CVU 1261033. Período enero 2023- diciembre 2024.

5) Karla Eleazin Vázquez Olalla.
Maestría en Ciencias Fisiológicas con la tesis titulada “Efecto de la administración de acetato de medroxiprogesterona en las crisis de ausencia de la rata taiep”. Matrícula No. 223470115. CVU 1268024. Período enero 2023- diciembre 2024.

1) Biomédico Dahab América Kuri López.
Facultad de Medicina, con la tesis titulada “Evaluación del efecto del pitolisant en el ciclo sueño-vigilia de la rata taiep”. XX de 2024, graduada por unanimidad de votos.

2) Biomédico Laura Victoria Cruz Ortega.
Facultad de Medicina, con la tesis titulada “Efectos del agonista dopaminérgico D1 dihidrexidina en la conducta de aseo en ratas de alto (HY) y bajo Bostezo (LY)”. XX de 2024, graduada por unanimidad de votos.

3) Biomédico Elizabeth López Andrade.
Facultad de Medicina, con la tesis titulada “Inducción de bostezo y erecciones del pene por el agonista específico D₂ pramipexole en ratas de alto y bajo bostezo”. XX de 2024, graduada por unanimidad de votos.

4) Mexicano Nicho Diana Laura.
Licenciado en Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina con la tesis titulada ““Efectos del agonista dopaminérgico D1 dihidrexidine sobre la conducta de aseo en ratas de alto y bajo bostezo”. de 2023, graduado por unanimidad de votos. XX de YY de 2023, graduado por unanimidad de votos.

5) Biomédico Vázquez Gómez María de los Ángeles.
Licenciado en Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina con la tesis titulada “Efectos del agonista dopaminérgico D1 dihidrexidine sobre la conducta de aseo en ratas de alto y bajo bostezo”. XX de YY de 2023, graduado por unanimidad de votos.