2020
MC4R Signaling in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Controls Feeding, Anxiety, and Depression
Bruschetta G, Jin S, Liu ZW, Kim JD, Diano S. MC4R Signaling in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Controls Feeding, Anxiety, and Depression. Cell Reports 2020, 33: 108267. PMID: 33053350, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108267.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDorsal raphe nucleusNeuronal activationR neuronsDepressive-like behaviorMajor depressive disorderChemogenetic activationR miceChemogenetic inhibitionRaphe nucleusSerotonin levelsDepressive disorderMood behaviorΑ-MSHDRN infusionsControl feedingMiceWeight lossNeuronsSelective knockdownDepressionBehavioral phenotypesAnxietyActivationFeedingPRCPImpaired hypocretin/orexin system alters responses to salient stimuli in obese male mice
Tan Y, Hang F, Liu ZW, Stoiljkovic M, Wu M, Tu Y, Han W, Lee AM, Kelley C, Hajos M, Lu L, de Lecea L, de Araujo I, Picciotto M, Horvath TL, Gao XB. Impaired hypocretin/orexin system alters responses to salient stimuli in obese male mice. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2020, 130: 4985-4998. PMID: 32516139, PMCID: PMC7456212, DOI: 10.1172/jci130889.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHcrt cellsObese miceDiet-induced obese miceObese male miceExcessive energy intakeNeuropeptide hypocretin/orexinHypocretin/orexinHcrt neuronsMale miceHcrt systemClinical studiesCommon causeSynaptic transmissionObese animalsEnergy intakeAcute stressCognitive functionSalient stimuliAlters responsesExact mechanismMiceHomeostatic regulationNeuronal networksBehavioral changesNeurons
2018
Endometriosis alters brain electrophysiology, gene expression and increases pain sensitization, anxiety, and depression in female mice†
Li T, Mamillapalli R, Ding S, Chang H, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Taylor HS. Endometriosis alters brain electrophysiology, gene expression and increases pain sensitization, anxiety, and depression in female mice†. Biology Of Reproduction 2018, 99: 349-359. PMID: 29425272, PMCID: PMC6692844, DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEffect of endometriosisPain sensitizationPain perceptionBrain electrophysiologyEstrogen-dependent inflammatory disorderReproductive-aged womenDetection of endometriosisRegions of brainPatch-clamp recordingsCentral sensitizationPelvic painGene expressionInflammatory disordersEndometriosis miceFemale miceSham controlsMood disordersEndometriosisPainClamp recordingsBehavioral testsMiceBrain gene expressionSensitizationElectrophysiology
2017
DRP1 Suppresses Leptin and Glucose Sensing of POMC Neurons
Santoro A, Campolo M, Liu C, Sesaki H, Meli R, Liu ZW, Kim JD, Diano S. DRP1 Suppresses Leptin and Glucose Sensing of POMC Neurons. Cell Metabolism 2017, 25: 647-660. PMID: 28190775, PMCID: PMC5366041, DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.01.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptorPOMC neuronsLeptin sensitivityHypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsPro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronsCounter-regulatory responseProliferator-activated receptorMitochondrial sizeFed miceGlucoprivic stimuliNeuronal activationFl/Glucose metabolismMetabolic environmentNeuronsFasted animalsIntracellular mechanismsReduced expressionGlucose responsivenessGreater activationInducible deletionROS productionMiceStrong inhibitionMitochondrial fission regulator
2013
Hypothalamic melanin concentrating hormone neurons communicate the nutrient value of sugar
Domingos AI, Sordillo A, Dietrich MO, Liu ZW, Tellez LA, Vaynshteyn J, Ferreira JG, Ekstrand MI, Horvath TL, de Araujo IE, Friedman JM. Hypothalamic melanin concentrating hormone neurons communicate the nutrient value of sugar. ELife 2013, 2: e01462. PMID: 24381247, PMCID: PMC3875383, DOI: 10.7554/elife.01462.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRewarding effectsHormone neuronsMelanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neuronsMCH neurons projectStriatal dopamine levelsStriatal DA releaseStriatal dopamine releaseMCH neuronsSucrose ingestionNeurons projectDA releaseDopamine levelsDopamine releaseOptogenetic activationNeural pathwaysArtificial sweetenersNeural circuitryNeuronsNormal preferenceFood preferencesFood rewardGlucoseNutrient sensingMiceSweetener sucralose
2012
Prolyl Endopeptidase-Deficient Mice Have Reduced Synaptic Spine Density in the CA1 Region of the Hippocampus, Impaired LTP, and Spatial Learning and Memory
D'Agostino G, Kim JD, Liu ZW, Jeong JK, Suyama S, Calignano A, Gao XB, Schwartz M, Diano S. Prolyl Endopeptidase-Deficient Mice Have Reduced Synaptic Spine Density in the CA1 Region of the Hippocampus, Impaired LTP, and Spatial Learning and Memory. Cerebral Cortex 2012, 23: 2007-2014. PMID: 22767632, PMCID: PMC3841400, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs199.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic spine densitySpine densityCA1 regionProlyl endopeptidaseHippocampal long-term potentiationLong-term potentiationHippocampal-mediated learningImpaired LTPWild-type controlsSpatial memory formationHippocampal plasticityCognitive impairmentPharmacological manipulationNeurodegenerative disordersSpatial learningMemory formationHippocampusPossible roleMicePhysiological functionsSerine proteasesBehavioral approachPotentiationDiseaseNeuropeptides
2010
Direct Evidence for Wake-Related Increases and Sleep-Related Decreases in Synaptic Strength in Rodent Cortex
Liu ZW, Faraguna U, Cirelli C, Tononi G, Gao XB. Direct Evidence for Wake-Related Increases and Sleep-Related Decreases in Synaptic Strength in Rodent Cortex. Journal Of Neuroscience 2010, 30: 8671-8675. PMID: 20573912, PMCID: PMC2903226, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1409-10.2010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMiniature EPSCsAmplitude of mEPSCsFrontal cortex slicesNet synaptic potentiationCerebral cortexCortex slicesLarge brain areasSynaptic potentiationSynaptic currentsBrain areasRodent cortexStrong synapsesRecovery sleepSynaptic homeostasisSynaptic strengthSleepCortexSynapsesEPSCsTime of dayRatsPotentiationMiceDirect evidence
2007
Prolonged wakefulness induces experience-dependent synaptic plasticity in mouse hypocretin/orexin neurons
Rao Y, Liu ZW, Borok E, Rabenstein RL, Shanabrough M, Lu M, Picciotto MR, Horvath TL, Gao XB. Prolonged wakefulness induces experience-dependent synaptic plasticity in mouse hypocretin/orexin neurons. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2007, 117: 4022-4033. PMID: 18060037, PMCID: PMC2104495, DOI: 10.1172/jci32829.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHypocretin/orexin neuronsLong-term potentiationOrexin neuronsGlutamatergic synapsesSynaptic plasticitySleep lossExperience-dependent synaptic plasticityDopamine D1 receptorsChronic sleep lossSleep-wake regulationModafinil treatmentLateral hypothalamusD1 receptorsSimilar potentiationBrain slicesNeuronal activityNeuronal circuitryDopamine systemNervous systemSynaptic strengthNeuronsPathological conditionsGentle handlingMiceWakefulness