University of Puerto Rico at Ponce

English Department
Technical Writing 4021 Section: L03

DATE: March 9th, 2020

TO: Prof. Pier Le Compte
FROM: Aris M. Class Rivera
SUBJECT: Trip Report - Conference “Learn About Current Biomedical Sciences Research Projects”

Abstract
The purpose of this conference was to inform and educate about the importance of research. The conference
was held on March 5th, 2020 and started at 12:00 pm. Its presenters were Yesenia Castillo and Roberto
Morales. It was held in the conference room of the Adelina Copín Alvarado library of the University of Puerto
Rico in Ponce. The conference ended at 1:15 pm. The students present were Mario A. Tejero, María del Mar
Méndez, Fabiola Camacho, Carlos J. Pérez, Alberto C. Fernández and Dormarie Rivera.

What is a PTSD?
PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) is a disease that has no physical damage but emotional state is
vulnerable. The factors that can cause PTSD are: rape, combat exposure, childhood neglect and physical
attack. For this first experiment, the hippocampus was used as a reference, which sends signals to the
amygdala. The amygdala is the one who expresses fear. A rat was used to which fluorophore virus was
injected. In this way the rat could go through different conditioning. The results are not yet completely finished.
But a conclusion was reached and it is that male rats use a pathway to develop PTSD but females do not. Due
to the gender difference.

Coccaine addictions in rats

In this investigation we wanted to verify how stress is able to modulate a rat and how it is capable of
developing an addiction. For this, chronic stress would be inserted into the rat. The rat would be in a box and
would have a 10-minute section with 12 electric shocks for five days in a row. After five days of rest, exposure
to cocaine was achieved through surgery in which a catheter would be placed in the jugular vein. Then the rat
would gradually create a cocaine addiction after pressing a lever with a specific color. Finally, an addiction
phenotype was observed.

Conclusion
Two investigations were achieved, they were intended to work with PTSD in rats and how this could generate
addictions. This conference enriched us with much knowledge in the area of research and all the possibilities
that exist. In the second investigation presented by Roberto Morales it was possible to prove that while chronic
stress was inserted into the rat and this gradually created an addiction to cocaine. It is important that research
be promoted in students and the benefits that this entails. Being able to hear the experience of both PhD
students of the PHSU motivates me to continue research studies.