Daniel Spergel, PhD
Associate Research Scientist in Neurosurgery
Research & Publications
Biography
Research Summary
Dr. Spergel uses state-of-the-art molecular, genetic, electrophysiological, and imaging approaches to better understand the activities and roles of hypothalamic neurons in reproduction, energy homeostasis, and sleep-wake regulation, which may help in the development of novel strategies to treat various disorders and diseases.
Research Interests
Feeding and Eating Disorders; Appetite Regulation; Electrophysiology; Hypothalamus; Infertility; Ion Channels; Mice, Transgenic; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Neuropeptides; Neurosciences; Neurosecretion; Obesity; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Puberty; Puberty, Delayed; Puberty, Precocious; Reproduction; Sleep; Sleep Wake Disorders; Synapses; Viruses; Molecular Probes; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Receptors, Neuropeptide; Neurotransmitter Agents; Calcium Signaling; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Optogenetics
Selected Publications
- Neuropeptidergic modulation of GnRH neuronal activity and GnRH secretion controlling reproduction: insights from recent mouse studies.Spergel DJ. Neuropeptidergic modulation of GnRH neuronal activity and GnRH secretion controlling reproduction: insights from recent mouse studies. Cell And Tissue Research 2019, 375:179-191.
- Dynamic Network Activation of Hypothalamic MCH Neurons in REM Sleep and Exploratory Behavior.Blanco-Centurion C, Luo S, Spergel DJ, Vidal-Ortiz A, Oprisen S, Van den Pol AN, Liu M, Shiromani PJ. Dynamic Network Activation of Hypothalamic MCH Neurons in REM Sleep and Exploratory Behavior. The Journal Of Neuroscience : The Official Journal Of The Society For Neuroscience 2019, 39:4986-4998.
- Modulation of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neuron Activity and Secretion in Mice by Non-peptide Neurotransmitters, Gasotransmitters, and Gliotransmitters.Spergel DJ. Modulation of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neuron Activity and Secretion in Mice by Non-peptide Neurotransmitters, Gasotransmitters, and Gliotransmitters. Frontiers In Endocrinology 2019, 10:329.
- Deciphering the Contributions of CRH Receptors in the Brain and Pituitary to Stress-Induced Inhibition of the Reproductive Axis.Raftogianni A, Roth LC, García-González D, Bus T, Kühne C, Monyer H, Spergel DJ, Deussing JM, Grinevich V. Deciphering the Contributions of CRH Receptors in the Brain and Pituitary to Stress-Induced Inhibition of the Reproductive Axis. Frontiers In Molecular Neuroscience 2018, 11:305.
- Kisspeptin inhibits high-voltage activated Ca2+ channels in GnRH neurons via multiple Ca2+ influx and release pathways.Zhang XB, Spergel DJ. Kisspeptin inhibits high-voltage activated Ca2+ channels in GnRH neurons via multiple Ca2+ influx and release pathways. Neuroendocrinology 2012, 96:68-80.
- Effects of leptin and melanocortin signaling interactions on pubertal development and reproduction.Israel DD, Sheffer-Babila S, de Luca C, Jo YH, Liu SM, Xia Q, Spergel DJ, Dun SL, Dun NJ, Chua SC. Effects of leptin and melanocortin signaling interactions on pubertal development and reproduction. Endocrinology 2012, 153:2408-19.
- Innervation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons by peptidergic neurons conveying circadian or energy balance information in the mouse.Ward DR, Dear FM, Ward IA, Anderson SI, Spergel DJ, Smith PA, Ebling FJ. Innervation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons by peptidergic neurons conveying circadian or energy balance information in the mouse. PloS One 2009, 4:e5322.
- Calcium and small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons before, during, and after puberty.Spergel DJ. Calcium and small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons before, during, and after puberty. Endocrinology 2007, 148:2383-90.
- Impaired reproductive behavior by lack of GluR-B containing AMPA receptors but not of NMDA receptors in hypothalamic and septal neurons.Shimshek DR, Bus T, Grinevich V, Single FN, Mack V, Sprengel R, Spergel DJ, Seeburg PH. Impaired reproductive behavior by lack of GluR-B containing AMPA receptors but not of NMDA receptors in hypothalamic and septal neurons. Molecular Endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.) 2006, 20:219-31.
- Codon-improved Cre recombinase (iCre) expression in the mouse.Shimshek DR, Kim J, Hübner MR, Spergel DJ, Buchholz F, Casanova E, Stewart AF, Seeburg PH, Sprengel R. Codon-improved Cre recombinase (iCre) expression in the mouse. Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000) 2002, 32:19-26.
- Using reporter genes to label selected neuronal populations in transgenic mice for gene promoter, anatomical, and physiological studies.Spergel DJ, Krüth U, Shimshek DR, Sprengel R, Seeburg PH. Using reporter genes to label selected neuronal populations in transgenic mice for gene promoter, anatomical, and physiological studies. Progress In Neurobiology 2001, 63:673-86.
- GABA- and glutamate-activated channels in green fluorescent protein-tagged gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in transgenic mice.Spergel DJ, Krüth U, Hanley DF, Sprengel R, Seeburg PH. GABA- and glutamate-activated channels in green fluorescent protein-tagged gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in transgenic mice. The Journal Of Neuroscience : The Official Journal Of The Society For Neuroscience 1999, 19:2037-50.
- Immortalized GnRH neurons express large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels.Spergel DJ, Catt KJ, Rojas E. Immortalized GnRH neurons express large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels. Neuroendocrinology 1996, 63:101-11.
- L-type Ca2+ channels mediate joint modulation by gamma-amino-butyric acid and glutamate of [Ca2+]i and neuropeptide secretion in immortalized gonadodropin-releasing hormone neurons.Spergel DJ, Krsmanovic LZ, Stojilkovic SS, Catt KJ. L-type Ca2+ channels mediate joint modulation by gamma-amino-butyric acid and glutamate of [Ca2+]i and neuropeptide secretion in immortalized gonadodropin-releasing hormone neurons. Neuroendocrinology 1995, 61:499-508.
- Glutamate modulates [Ca2+]i and gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion in immortalized hypothalamic GT1-7 neurons.Spergel DJ, Krsmanovic LZ, Stojilkovic SS, Catt KJ. Glutamate modulates [Ca2+]i and gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion in immortalized hypothalamic GT1-7 neurons. Neuroendocrinology 1994, 59:309-17.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons: intrinsic pulsatility and receptor-mediated regulation.Stojilkovic SS, Krsmanovic LZ, Spergel DJ, Catt KJ. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons: intrinsic pulsatility and receptor-mediated regulation. Trends In Endocrinology And Metabolism: TEM 1994, 5:201-9.
- Differential modulation by extracellular ATP of carotid chemosensory responses.Spergel D, Lahiri S. Differential modulation by extracellular ATP of carotid chemosensory responses. Journal Of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 1993, 74:3052-6.
- Dependence of carotid chemosensory responses on metabolic substrates.Spergel D, Lahiri S, Wilson DF. Dependence of carotid chemosensory responses on metabolic substrates. Brain Research 1992, 596:80-8.
- Intracellular pH and oxygen chemoreception in the cat carotid body in vitro.Iturriaga R, Rumsey WL, Lahiri S, Spergel D, Wilson DF. Intracellular pH and oxygen chemoreception in the cat carotid body in vitro. Journal Of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 1992, 72:2259-66.
- In vitro perfused-superfused cat carotid body for physiological and pharmacological studies.Iturriaga R, Rumsey WL, Mokashi A, Spergel D, Wilson DF, Lahiri S. In vitro perfused-superfused cat carotid body for physiological and pharmacological studies. Journal Of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 1991, 70:1393-400.
- Optical measurements of the dependence of chemoreception on oxygen pressure in the cat carotid body.Rumsey WL, Iturriaga R, Spergel D, Lahiri S, Wilson DF. Optical measurements of the dependence of chemoreception on oxygen pressure in the cat carotid body. The American Journal Of Physiology 1991, 261:C614-22.
- Segmental differentiation in the leech nervous system: the genesis of cell number in the segmental ganglia of Haemopis marmorata.Stewart RR, Spergel D, Macagno ER. Segmental differentiation in the leech nervous system: the genesis of cell number in the segmental ganglia of Haemopis marmorata. The Journal Of Comparative Neurology 1986, 253:253-9.