Project description:To examine irreversible changes in the developing brain following seizures, juvenile inbred mice were intraperitoneally injected with kainate and nicotine. Keywords: seizure induction
Project description:To examine irreversible changes in the developing brain following seizures, juvenile inbred mice were intraperitoneally injected with kainate and nicotine. Experiment Overall Design: Kainate and nicotine were dissolved in sterile saline, and intraperitoneally injected into postnatal day 23 males at a dose of 15 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Control mice received a comparable injection of saline. The injection was repeated three times at 2-hour intervals in the daytime, and after one week, the P30 survivors were sacrificed for sample preparation. Neocortices and hippocampi were isolated from mice that had received the repeated injections of saline, kainate, and nicotine (n=6, 5, and 6 mice, respectively).
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility.
Project description:We collected whole genome testis expression data from hybrid zone mice. We integrated GWAS mapping of testis expression traits and low testis weight to gain insight into the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility. Gene expression was measured in whole testis from males aged 62-86 days. Samples include 190 first generation lab-bred male offspring of wild-caught mice from the Mus musculus musculus - M. m. domesticus hybrid zone.
Project description:EZH2 is a key epigenetic regulator that catalyzes histone methylation to effect transcriptional repression. Preliminary data suggested that EZH2 induction is a protective response mounted by the brain in response to seizures. To investigate the impact of EZH2 deletion in hippocampal neurons under pathological conditions, we generated whole transcriptome profiles using RNA sequencing in saline and kainate-treated wild-type (EZH2nWT) mice, as well as homozygous EZH2 neuronal knockout (EZH2nHom) mice. Our results reveal significant alterations in gene expression patterns in the hippocampus of EZH2nHom compared to EZH2nWT mice, particularly following kainate-induced seizures. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the transcriptional changes induced by EZH2 deletion in hippocampal neurons, highlighting its importance in regulating gene expression in response to epileptogenic insults.
Project description:To characterize the genetic basis of hybrid male sterility in detail, we used a systems genetics approach, integrating mapping of gene expression traits with sterility phenotypes and QTL. We measured genome-wide testis expression in 305 male F2s from a cross between wild-derived inbred strains of M. musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. We identified several thousand cis- and trans-acting QTL contributing to expression variation (eQTL). Many trans eQTL cluster into eleven ‘hotspots,’ seven of which co-localize with QTL for sterility phenotypes identified in the cross. The number and clustering of trans eQTL - but not cis eQTL - were substantially lower when mapping was restricted to a ‘fertile’ subset of mice, providing evidence that trans eQTL hotspots are related to sterility. Functional annotation of transcripts with eQTL provides insights into the biological processes disrupted by sterility loci and guides prioritization of candidate genes. Using a conditional mapping approach, we identified eQTL dependent on interactions between loci, revealing a complex system of epistasis. Our results illuminate established patterns, including the role of the X chromosome in hybrid sterility.
