A5037931280- Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
- Renal and related cancers
- Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Connexins and lens biology
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Gynecological conditions and treatments
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Evaluation of Teaching Practices
- Advanced Adaptive Filtering Techniques
- Higher Education Practises and Engagement
- Congenital heart defects research
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Pediatric Pain Management Techniques
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research
- Teacher Education and Leadership Studies
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
University of Newcastle Australia
2014-2025
Hunter Medical Research Institute
2017-2025
Hair cells are specialised mechanosensitive responsible for mediating balance and hearing within the inner ear. In mammals, hair limited in number do not regenerate. Human pluripotent stem (hPSCs) provide a valuable source deriving human to study their development design therapies treat and/or prevent degeneration. this we used dynamic 3D Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) ear organoids from hPSCs. We show RCCS-derived recapitulate stages of give rise an enriched population displaying...
Müllerian ducts are paired tubular structures that give rise to most of the female reproductive organs. Any abnormalities in development and differentiation these lead anatomical defects tract organs categorized as duct anomalies. Due limited access fetal tissues, little is understood human associated Although organoids represent a powerful model decipher disease, such from not available. Here, we developed fallopian tubes uteri compared them with their adult counterparts. Our results...
Surgical removal of vestibular end organs is a final treatment option for people with intractable Ménière's Disease (MD). We describe the use surgically excised neuroepithelium from patients MD 1) anatomical investigation hair cell and nerve fibres markers using immunohistochemistry 2) functional studies electrophysiological recordings voltage-activated currents. Our data shows considerable reduction in disorganization cells cristae ampullares while are contact remaining sensory receptors...
In the mammalian vestibular periphery, electrical activation of efferent system (EVS) has two effects on afferent activity: 1) it increases background discharge and 2) decreases sensitivity to rotational stimuli. Although cellular mechanisms underlying these contrasting responses remain obscure, we postulated that reduction in was attributed, part, α9- containing nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (α9*nAChRs) small-conductance potassium channels (SK) type II hair cells, as demonstrated...
The inner ear is a complex organ containing highly specialised cell types and structures that are critical for sensing sound movement. In vivo , the difficult to study due osseous nature of otic capsule its encapsulation within an intricate bony labyrinth. As such, mammalian explants invaluable tool manipulation intercellular connections, structures, this organ. greatest strength technique complete Corti, or peripheral vestibular organs including hair cells, supporting cells accompanying...
We present preliminary functional data from human vestibular hair cells and primary afferent calyx terminals during fetal development. Whole-cell recordings were obtained or in semi-intact cristae prepared fetuses aged between 11 18 weeks gestation (WG). During early development (11–14 WG), expressed whole-cell conductances that qualitatively similar but quantitatively smaller than those observed previously mature rodent type II cells. As progressed (15–18 peak outward increased putative did...
Abstract Organoid technology has provided a unique opportunity to study early human development and decipher various steps involved in the pathogenesis of disease. The is already used clinics improve patient outcomes. However, limited knowledge methodologies required establish organoid culture systems domestic animals slowed advancement application veterinary medicine. This particularly true for field reproduction assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Here, we have developed platform...
In many mammals, the lipid platelet-activating factor (PAF) has important functions in female reproduction and fertility. This study shows that PAF is present reproductive tissues of mares involved processes related to ovulation early pregnancy.
The precise functional role of the Efferent Vestibular System (EVS) is still unclear, but auditory olivocochlear efferent system has served as a reasonable model on effects cholinergic and peptidergic input inner ear organs. However, it important to appreciate similarities differences in structure two systems, especially within same animal model. Here, we examine anatomy mouse EVS, from its central origin Nucleus (EVN) brainstem, peripheral terminations vestibular organs, compare these...
Abstract Cholinergic circuits in the central nervous system are vulnerable to age-related functional decline, but it is not known if aging impacts cholinergic signaling vestibular sensory organs, which critically important balance maintenance and visual gaze stability. We have previously shown neurotransmission between efferent terminals type II mechanosensory hair cells requires alpha9 (Chrna9) nicotinic receptor subunit. Homozygous knockout of subunit causes vestibulo-ocular reflex...
The efferent vestibular system (EVS) is a feedback circuit thought to modulate afferent activity by inhibiting type II hair cells and exciting calyx-bearing afferents in the peripheral organs. In previous study, we suggested EVS may contribute effects of motion sickness. To determine an association between sickness activity, examined provocative (PM) on c-Fos expression brainstem nucleus (EVN) neurons that are source innervation organs.c-Fos immediate early gene product expressed stimulated...
Sodium channel expression in inner ear afferents is essential for the transmission of vestibular and auditory information to central nervous system. During development, however, there also a transient Na+ channels hair cells. Using qPCR analysis, we describe four genes, SCN5A (Nav1.5), SCN8A (Nav1.6), SCN9A (Nav1.7), SCN10A (Nav1.8) human fetal cristae ampullares, utricle, base, middle, apex cochlea. Our data show distinct patterns gene with age between these organs. In was general trend...
Deiters' neurons, located exclusively in the lateral vestibular nucleus (LVN), are involved vestibulospinal reflexes, innervate extensor motoneurons that drive antigravity muscles, and receive inhibitory inputs from cerebellum. We investigated intrinsic membrane properties, short-term plasticity, synaptic of mouse non-Deiters' neurons within LVN. distinguished by their very low input resistance (105.8 vs. 521.8 MΩ, respectively), long axons project as far ipsilateral lumbar spinal cord,...
Abstract Surgical removal of vestibular end organs is a final treatment option for people with intractable Ménière’s Disease. We describe the use surgically excised neuroepithelium from patients Disease 1) anatomical investigation hair cell and nerve fibres markers using immunohistochemistry 2) functional studies electrophysiological recordings voltage-activated currents. Our data shows considerable reduction in disorganization cells cristae ampullares while are contact remaining sensory...
Abstract Compulsive actions have been confusingly described as reflecting both excessive habitual and goal-directed action control. Here we sought to resolve this contradiction by inducing the neuropathology commonly observed in individuals with compulsive disorders examining behavioural outcomes. We found that neuroinflammation dorsomedial striatum of rats caused them be excessively goal-directed, they acquired maintained under conditions would otherwise produce habits. Immunohistochemical...
The Efferent Vestibular System (EVS) originates in brainstem Nuclei (EVN) and modifies afferent vestibular signals at their source, peripheral organs. Recent evidence suggests that EVS is also involved the development of motion sickness symptoms, including vertigo nausea, but underlying mechanism unknown. One possible link between EVN symptoms through neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP often co-exists with substance P pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide...
In this paper we apply a continuous-time system identification method, known as the Simplified Refined Instrumental Variable method for Continuous-time systems (SRIVC), to problem of estimating membrane properties vestibular Type II hair cells. Due non-ideal characteristics experimental system, additional parameters, other than those are required be estimated. The SRIVC algorithm is modified allow poles and zeros forced into estimator. This then applied cells, yielding results commensurate...
The roles and connectivity of specific types neurons within the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) are being delineated at a rapid rate to provide an increasingly detailed view circuits underpinning pain processing. However, effects these connections for broader network activity in DH remain less well understood because most studies focus on single small microcircuits. Alternatively, use microelectrode arrays (MEAs), which can monitor electrical across many cells, provides high spatial temporal...
Recent global events have given rise to explosive growth in preprint deposition. With the subsequent response from volunteers willing evaluate increased volume and with software development connect pipeline, is there a realistic way forward for “publish first” model of publication? Preprinting Biomedical Life Sciences general not new concept. Briefly, it entails an author or authors depositing early version their scientific manuscript public server as soon they deem ready, thereby...
The roles and connectivity of specific types neurons within the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) are being delineated at a rapid rate to provide an increasingly detailed view circuits underpinning pain processing. However, effects these connections for broader network activity in DH remain less well understood because most studies focus on single small microcircuits. Alternatively, use microelectrode arrays (MEAs), which can monitor electrical across many cells, provides high spatial temporal...
ABSTRACT Organoid technology has provided us with a unique opportunity to study early human development and decipher various steps involved in the pathogenesis of diseases. The is already used clinics improve patient outcomes. However, limited knowledge methodologies required establish organoid culture systems domestic animals slowed advancement application veterinary medicine. Here, we have developed platform grow organoids from animal tissue samples characterized oviductal five species....