A5045780041- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
- Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Inflammatory mediators and NSAID effects
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Spinal Dysraphism and Malformations
- Aortic Disease and Treatment Approaches
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
2021-2025
Rutgers Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
2024
W. M. Keck Foundation
2021-2023
State Library of Ohio
2023
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
2017-2021
Institut de Biologie du Développement Marseille
2017-2021
Aix-Marseille Université
2014-2021
Pleasurable touch is paramount during social behavior, including sexual encounters. However, the identity and precise role of sensory neurons that transduce remain unknown. A population labeled by developmental expression G protein-coupled receptor Mrgprb4 detects mechanical stimulation in mice. Here, we study relevance Mrgprb4-lineage reveal these are required for receptivity sufficient to induce dopamine release brain. Even isolation, optogenetic through back skin a conditioned place...
Abstract Patients with bi-allelic loss of function mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7 present congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), whilst low threshold mechanosensation is reportedly normal. Using psychophysics (n = 6 CIP participants and n 86 healthy controls) facial electromyography 3 8 controls), we found that these patients also have abnormalities encoding affective touch, which mediated by specialized afferents C-low mechanoreceptors (C-LTMRs). In mouse, C-LTMRs...
C-LTMRs are known to convey affective aspects of touch and modulate injury-induced pain in humans mice. However, a role for these neurons temperature sensation has been suggested, but not fully demonstrated. Here, we report that deletion C-low-threshold mechanoreceptor (C-LTMR)-expressed bhlha9 causes impaired thermotaxis behavior exacerbated formalin-evoked male, female, Positive modulators GABAA receptors failed relieve inflammatory formalin decrease the frequency spontaneous excitatory...
Introduction Hox genes govern rostro-caudal identity along the developing spinal cord, which has a well-defined division of function between dorsal (sensory) and ventral (motor) halves. Here we exploit developmental Hoxb8 expression, normally restricted to cord below obex, genetically label cord-to-brain (“spinofugal”) axons. Methods We crossed two targeted (knock-in) non-targeted recombinase-expressing lines (Hoxb8-IRES-Cre Hoxb8-T2AFlpO; Hoxb8-Cre Hoxb8-FlpO, respectively) with appropriate...
Abstract Primary sensory neurons are heterogeneous by myriad of molecular criteria. However, the functional significance this remarkable heterogeneity is just emerging. We precedently described GINIP + as a new subpopulation non peptidergic C-fibers encompassing free nerve ending cutaneous MRGPRD and C-LTMRs. Using our recently generated ginip mouse model, we have been able to selectively ablate assess their role in somatosensation. found that ablation affected neither contents nor central...
The heparan sulfate proteoglycan Glypican 4 (Gpc4) is strongly expressed in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells where it controls the maintenance of self-renewal by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling activities. Here we show that ES carrying a hypomorphic Gpc4 allele, single-step neuronal differentiation protocol, increased into dopaminergic neurons expressing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and nuclear receptor related-1 protein (Nurr1) 1. In contrast to wild-type cells, these differentiating...
Abstract Pleasurable touch during social behavior is the key to building familial bonds and meaningful connections. One form of occurs sexual encounters. Although initiated in part by touch, ongoing throughout copulation, identity role sensory neurons that transduce remain unknown. A population labeled G-protein coupled receptor Mrgprb4 detect stroking mice, however, these have never been implicated any natural behaviors. Here, we study relevance Mrgprb4-lineage genetically engineering mice...
Tactile perception relies on reliable transmission and modulation of low-threshold information as it travels from the periphery to brain. During pathological conditions, tactile stimuli can aberrantly engage nociceptive pathways leading touch pain, known mechanical allodynia. Two main drivers peripheral information, mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) postsynaptic dorsal column neurons (PSDCs), terminate in brainstem nuclei (DCN). Activity within DRG, spinal cord, DCN have all been implicated mediating...
Tactile perception relies on reliable transmission and modulation of low-threshold information as it travels from the periphery to brain. During pathological conditions, tactile stimuli can aberrantly engage nociceptive pathways leading touch pain, known mechanical allodynia. Two main drivers peripheral information, mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) postsynaptic dorsal column neurons (PSDCs), terminate in brainstem nuclei (DCN). Activity within DRG, spinal cord, DCN have all been implicated mediating...
Abstract Ongoing pain is often driven by direct activation of pain-sensing neurons and neuroimmune mediated sensitization. These heightened states alter physiology, reduce motor function, motivation to engage in normal behaviors. The complexity the state has evaded a comprehensive definition, especially nonverbal animals. Here mice, we capture physiological sensitized at different time points post-inflammation used computational tools automatically map behavioral signatures evoked...
ABSTRACT Uncovering the intricacies of recovery trajectory following spinal cord injury (SCI) has remained a critical exploration for researchers and clinicians, fostering need innovative approaches to offer insight into underlying dynamics this complex phenomenon. Existing methods, such as Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) kinematic analyses, have provided valuable insights, yet limitations in their ability comprehensively capture behavioral nuances call more sophisticated approaches. This study...
SUMMARY To achieve smooth motor performance in a changing sensory environment, outputs must be constantly updated response to feedback. Inhibitory interneurons the spinal cord play an essential role shaping activity by gating transmission of information and setting pattern rhythm neurons. Here, we identify medial deep dorsal horn as “hot zone” convergent proprioceptive cutaneous from hindlimb, where inhibitory neurons show increased responsiveness input are preferentially recruited during...
Improvements in the speed and cost of expression profiling neuronal tissues offer an unprecedented opportunity to define ever finer subgroups neurons for functional studies. In spinal cord, single cell RNA sequencing studies support decades work on cord lineage studies, offering a unique probe adult function based developmental lineage. While Cre/Flp recombinase intersectional strategies remain powerful tool manipulate neurons, field lacks genetic tools restrict manipulations mouse at which...
SUMMARY Improvements in the speed and cost of expression profiling neuronal tissues offer an unprecedented opportunity to define ever finer subgroups neurons for functional studies. In spinal cord, single cell RNA sequencing studies 1,2 support decades work on cord lineage 3–5 , offering a unique probe adult function based developmental lineage. While Cre/Flp recombinase intersectional strategies remain powerful tool manipulate 6–8 field lacks genetic tools restrict manipulations mouse at...
Ongoing pain is often driven by direct activation of pain-sensing neurons and neuroimmune mediated sensitization. These heightened states alter physiology, reduce motor function, motivation to engage in normal behaviors. The complexity the state has evaded a comprehensive definition, especially nonverbal animals. Here mice, we capture physiological sensitized at different time points post-inflammation used computational tools automatically map behavioral signatures evoked spontaneous...