Project description:This project involved bulk-RNAseq analysis of mouse brain regions involved in energy balance. Two mouse embryonic stem cell controls were included
Project description:Plasticity in the daily timing of activity has been observed in a wide variety of species, yet the underlying mechanisms driving nocturnality and diurnality remain to be discovered. By regulating how much wheel-running activity will be rewarded with a food pellet, we can manipulate energy balance, and switch mice to be nocturnal or diurnal. Here we present the rhythmic transcriptome of 21 tissues, including 17 brain regions (hypothalamic, thalamic, cortical), sampled every 4 hours over a 24-hour period from nocturnal and diurnal male CBA/CaJ mice. Rhythmic gene expression across tissues comprised a different set of genes with minimal overlap between nocturnal and diurnal mice. We show that genes other than clock genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of nocturnal and diurnal mice change, and the habenula was the most affected tissue. Our results indicate that adaptive flexibility in daily timing of behavior is supported by gene expression dynamics in many tissues and brain regions, especially in the habenula, which suggests a crucial role for the observed nocturnal-diurnal switch.
Project description:Brain derived EVs (bdEVs) from eight brain regions, including orbitofrontal gyrus(ORB), postcentral gyrus (POSTC), hippocampus (HIPPO), thalamus (THAL), occipital gyrus (OCC), medulla (MED), corpus callosum (CORP), and cerebellum (CBLM) were separated and characterized by small RNA sequencing. We aim to provide an atlas of bdEV molecular profiles with brain region specificity.
Project description:Rhesus macaque is a prime model animal in neuroscience. A comprehensive transcriptomic and open chromatin atlas of the rhesus macaque brain is key to a deeper understanding of the brain. Here we characterize the transcriptome of 416 brain samples from 52 regions of 8 rhesus macaque brain. We identify gene modules associated with specific brain regions like the cerebral cortex, pituitary, and thalamus. In addition, we discover 9703 novel intergenic transcripts, including 1701 coding transcripts and 2845 lncRNAs. Most of the novel transcripts are only expressed in specific brain regions or cortical regions of specific individuals. We further survey the open chromatin regions in the hippocampal CA1 and several cerebral cortical regions of the rhesus macaque brain using ATAC-seq, revealing CA1- and cortex-specific open chromatin regions. Our results add to the growing body of knowledge regarding the baseline transcriptomic and open chromatin profiles in the brain of rhesus macaque.
Project description:The melanocortin system is a brain circuit that influences energy balance by regulating energy intake and expenditure. In addition, the brain-melanocortin system controls adipose tissue metabolism to optimize fuel mobilization and storage. Specifically, increased brain-melanocortin signaling or negative energy balance promotes lipid mobilization by increasing Sympathetic Nervous input to adipose tissue. In contrast, calorie-independent mechanisms favoring energy storage are less understood. Here we demonstrate that obesogenic signals, including reduction of brain-melanocortin signaling or high-fat feeding, actively promote fat mass gain independently of caloric intake via efferent nerve fibers conveyed by the common hepatic branch of the vagus nerve. These signals promote adipose tissue expansion by activating lipogenic program and adipocyte and endothelial cell proliferation independently of insulin action or the sympathetic tone to adipose tissue. These data reveal a novel physiological mechanism whereby the brain controls energy stores that may contribute to increased susceptibility to obesity.
Project description:Granulosa cells of dominant follicles originating from dairy cows with severe negative energy balance (BHBH) or mild negative energy balance (BHBL) were compared. Mild negative energy balance (BHBL) is the reference. Two conditions experiment (BHBH and BHBL); Four pools of 3 biological replicates for each group (total = 12 cows for each group); Two technical replicates per pool (dye-swap).
Project description:Granulosa cells of dominant follicles originating from dairy cows with severe negative energy balance (BHBH) or mild negative energy balance (BHBL) were compared. Mild negative energy balance (BHBL) is the reference.