Article
Neurosciences
Kseniia Prokofeva, Yuki C. Saito, Yasutaka Niwa, Seiya Mizuno, Satoru Takahashi, Arisa Hirano, Takeshi Sakurai
Summary: To understand the regulation of sleep-wakefulness cycles, it is important to study the relationship between the preoptic area (POA) and lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), which have opposing roles in sleep-wakefulness regulation. This study revealed the direct connection between GABA- and galanin-producing neurons in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) and orexin-producing neurons in the LHA. It also discovered that the VLPOGABA-LHA pathway plays a previously unknown role in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Sarah L. Reitz, Max B. Kelz
Summary: The hypothalamic preoptic area (POA) plays a crucial role in regulating arousal states in both natural and drug-induced forms of unconsciousness. While known for promoting sleep and wake, the complexity and molecular heterogeneity of the POA make it challenging to distinguish between different populations of neurons involved in these processes.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Kevin R. Coffey, Vaishnavi Venkat, Mark O. West, David J. Barker
Summary: Neurons in the lateral preoptic area show varied responses to different components of drug self-administration. The majority of these neurons signal the operant response with increases in spiking activity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Dillon J. McGovern, Abigail M. Polter, David H. Root
Summary: Glutamate and GABA are the main excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters of the nervous system, with distinct inputs to VTA glutamate neurons participating in reward and aversion-based behaviors. Through the use of genetically-encoded fluorescent indicators, the study identified differential and dynamic signaling of glutamate and GABA inputs to VTA glutamate neurons in response to reward and aversion cues and outcomes, shedding light on the neurochemical mechanisms underlying motivated behaviors. The research provides foundational evidence linking specific neurotransmitters to the regulation of motivated behaviors by VTA glutamate neurons.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrey Kostin, Md. Aftab Alam, Anton Saevskiy, Chenyi Yang, Peyman Golshani, Md. Noor Alam
Summary: This study used calcium imaging to characterize the activity dynamics of ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) neurons and found that they play an important role in spontaneous sleep-waking and homeostatic sleep regulation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Musa Iyiola Ajibola, Jei-Wei Wu, Wahab Imam Abdulmajeed, Cheng-Chang Lien
Summary: The study demonstrates that subcortical input from the SuM selectively regulates the activities of different DG neurons through distinct synaptic mechanisms in mice. While SuM activation leads to synaptic excitation and inhibition in all post-synaptic cells, the ratio of these components varies depending on cell type. Specifically, dendrite-targeting interneurons primarily receive synaptic excitation, soma-targeting interneurons and granule cells mainly receive synaptic inhibition.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Rebecca Rothhaas, Shinjae Chung
Summary: Sleep and body temperature are tightly interconnected in mammals, with the preoptic area of the hypothalamus playing a crucial role in regulating these behaviors. Recent research on sleep- and thermo-regulatory POA neurons has raised new questions about the overlap and pathways of these neurons and the role of signaling molecules in coordinating sleep and body temperature regulation.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Marcos Garcia-Juarez, Ailyn Luna-Hernandez, Sandra Tapia-Hernandez, Omar Montes-Narvaez, Raymundo Dominguez-Ordonez, Miriam B. Tecamachaltzi-Silvaran, James G. Pfaus, Oscar Gonzalez-Flores
Summary: This study investigated the effect of apelin-13 on different brain areas at varying doses, and found that it can induce lordosis behavior, with a more pronounced effect in the VMH of EB-primed rats, and only the 0.75 μg infusion of apelin in the POA induced significant lordosis at 120 and 240 min.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ismael Gonzalez-Garcia, Cristina Garcia-Caceres
Summary: Astrocytes are functionally integrated into neuronal regulatory circuits for metabolic control, particularly in the hypothalamus, where early cellular rearrangements may play a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Shuyun Xiao, Valerie Michael, Richard Mooney
Summary: This study reveals that neurons suppressing vocalizations are activated by predator cues or inhibitory social contexts in mice. It also uncovers how the brain weighs factors promoting and suppressing vocal production, and how the activation of specific neurons influences the decision to vocalize in mice.
Article
Cell Biology
Shuo Yang, Yu Lin Tan, Xiaohua Wu, Jingjie Wang, Jingjing Sun, Anqi Liu, Linhua Gan, Bo Shen, Xiaocui Zhang, Yu Fu, Ju Huang
Summary: Enhanced appetite in response to low temperature serves as a behavioral thermoregulation mechanism, with AgRP neurons in the hypothalamus being activated by cold exposure. Neurons in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) make excitatory synapses onto AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), modulating feeding behavior in cold-evoked conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Giulia Miracca, Berta Anuncibay-Soto, Kyoko Tossell, Raquel Yustos, Alexei L. Vyssotski, Nicholas P. Franks, William Wisden
Summary: The lateral preoptic hypothalamus plays a crucial role in NREM and REM sleep induction and NREM sleep homeostasis. Surprisingly, calcium signals in the lateral preoptic hypothalamus were found to be highest during REM sleep. NMDA receptors in the lateral preoptic hypothalamus were identified as the main drivers of excitation. Deleting these NMDA receptors led to insomnia and fragmented sleep patterns. The sleep fragmentation was specifically attributed to NMDA receptors on GABA neurons in the lateral preoptic hypothalamus.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jason L. He, Mark Mikkelsen, David A. Huddleston, Deana Crocetti, Kim M. Cecil, Harvey S. Singer, Richard A. E. Edden, Donald L. Gilbert, Stewart H. Mostofsky, Nicolaas A. J. Puts
Summary: The study found that lower GABA levels in the supplementary motor area were associated with more severe and frequent premonitory urges in children with Tourette syndrome, but not with tic severity. This suggests that GABA neurotransmission plays a role in the experience of urges in children with Tourette syndrome.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elda Arrigoni, Patrick M. Fuller
Summary: The article reviews the history of the preoptic area, focusing on the role of the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) in sleep-wake control. It also attempts to synthesize the current understanding of the circuit, cellular, and synaptic bases of the VLPO.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew P. Patton, Emma L. Morris, David McManus, Huan Wang, Yulong Li, Jason W. Chin, Michael H. Hastings
Summary: The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the master mammalian circadian clock. GABA plays a role in circuit-level timekeeping of SCN neurons, despite the inhibitory effect of increased neuronal firing. The astrocytic clocks in SCN maintain the circadian clockwork by controlling GABAergic inhibition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Developmental Biology
Jonathan W. VanRyzi, Lindsay A. Pickett, Margaret M. McCarthy
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Margaret M. McCarthy
Review
Neurosciences
Margaret M. McCarthy
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Neurosciences
Kathryn M. Lenz, Lindsay A. Pickett, Christopher L. Wright, Katherine T. Davis, Aarohi Joshi, Margaret M. McCarthy
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Psychiatry
Christopher L. Wright, Jessica H. Hoffman, Margaret M. McCarthy
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2019)
Review
Neurosciences
Jonathan W. VanRyzin, Ashley E. Marquardt, Lindsay A. Pickett, Margaret M. McCarthy
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Margaret M. McCarthy
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Liisa A. M. Galea, Elena Choleris, Arianne Y. K. Albert, Margaret M. McCarthy, Farida Sohrabji
FRONTIERS IN NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sheryl E. Arambula, Margaret M. McCarthy
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Margaret M. McCarthy
Summary: Placental allopregnanolone deficiency affects cerebellar development in mice, leading to impaired social and communication skills in male offspring but not in female offspring. Replacing allopregnanolone can restore normal myelination and behavior.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Rashmi Joglekar, Marty Cauley, Taylor Lipsich, David L. Corcoran, Heather B. Patisaul, Edward D. Levin, Joel N. Meyer, Margaret M. McCarthy, Susan K. Murphy
Summary: Nicotine exposure during development may affect the sexual differentiation of the developing brain, potentially influencing adult sexual behavior in rodents. This study found that developmental nicotine exposure had an impact on the sexual differentiation of the preoptic area (POA) in rats, with the normal sex differences in male sexual behavior and POA area eliminated in nicotine-treated animals. In neonates, nicotine exposure also induced changes in gene expression and DNA methylation levels at sexually-dimorphic regions, suggesting the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the masculinization of the rat POA.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
S. L. Stockman, K. E. Kight, J. M. Bowers, M. M. McCarthy
Summary: This study reveals sex-specific regulation of cell genesis in the dentate gyrus of rodents, with DNA methylation playing a critical role in males and histone acetylation being essential for cell genesis in females.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wahid Zada, Jonathan W. VanRyzin, Miguel Perez-Pouchoulen, Samantha L. Baglot, Matthew N. Hill, Ghulam Abbas, Sarah M. Clark, Umer Rashid, Margaret M. McCarthy, Abdul Mannan
Summary: Modulating the endocannabinoid system (ECS) shows potential in treating depressive disorders, and isoflavonoids as FAAH inhibitors are promising therapeutic targets.
PHARMACOLOGY RESEARCH & PERSPECTIVES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lindsay A. Pickett, Jonathan W. VanRyzin, Ashley E. Marquardt, Margaret M. McCarthy
Summary: The SDN-POA is a sexually dimorphic brain structure that is larger in males and is associated with mating preference. Microglia play a crucial role in reducing the size of the SDN in females by engulfing more neurons. Inhibiting microglia phagocytosis increases the SDN volume in females and affects their preference for male odors in adulthood.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Jonathan W. VanRyzin, Ashley E. Marquardt, Margaret M. McCarthy
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLAY
(2020)
