Project description:Area CA2 has emerged as a functionally and molecularly distinct part of the hippocampus, and in mice, its development as such appears to rely critically on the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR; Nr3c2). To better understand the fate (or state) of the neurons resulting from MR conditional knockout, we used a spatial transcriptomics approach. We found that without MRs, ‘CA2’ neurons acquire a CA1-like molecular and anatomical phenotype.
Project description:How do neurons match generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by mitochondria to the bioenergetic demands of regenerative activity? Although the subject of speculation, this coupling is still poorly understood, particularly in neurons that are tonically active. To help fill this gap, pacemaking substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons were studied using a combination of optical, electrophysiological and molecular approaches. In these neurons, spike-activated calcium (Ca2+) entry through Cav1 channels triggered Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, which stimulated mitochondrial OXPHOS through two complementary Ca2+-dependent mechanisms: one mediated by the mitochondrial uniporter and another by the malate-aspartate shuttle. Disrupting either mechanism impaired the ability of dopaminergic neurons to sustain spike activity. While this feedforward control helps dopaminergic neurons meet the bioenergetic demands associated with sustained spiking, it also is responsible for their elevated oxidant stress and possibly to their decline with aging and disease.
Project description:Mitochondria represent central regulators of neuronal function, and their network is dynamically restructured via fission and fusion. The mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) serves as an adaptor protein that recruits and organizes the core fission machinery at the outer mitochondrial membrane. Here, we investigated the role of MFF in AgRP neurons of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) in their regulation of systemic energy homeostasis. We demonstrated that mice lacking MFF in AgRP neurons exhibited increased mitochondrial size, both in AgRP neuron somata and their axonal compartments. This translated into increased mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake capacity, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and a shift toward a more reduced mitochondrial NAD(P)H redox state. Ultimately, these changes resulted in increased neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release to functionally enhance dynamic food intake during energy state transitions. Collectively, MFF-dependent mitochondrial fission links cell type-specific neuronal mitochondrial dynamics via mitochondrial Ca2+-handling to control of systemic metabolism.
Project description:Gene expression analysis of hearts from double transgenic mice with conditional, cardiomyocyte-specific, overexpression of the mineralocorticoid (MR) or of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR).
Project description:Gene expression analysis of hearts from double transgenic mice with conditional, cardiomyocyte-specific, overexpression of the mineralocorticoid (MR) or of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GR-mice vs controls, MR-mice vs controls. GR: 3 sample pools hybridized to 2 microarrays each. MR: 1 sample pool hybridized to 3 microarrays. Microarray contains triplicate spots.
Project description:Aldosterone, the main mineralocorticoid hormone in Humans, has a major role in maintaining the hemo-electrolytique homeostasis, by acting in the distal part of nephron. This steroid hormone mainly acts through its binding to a ligand-induced transcription factor, the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). MR binds to specific genomic sequences, where it recruits transcriptional coregulators, to activate or repress target gene transcription. The aim of this work was to access the whole aldosterone-dependand MR target genes, by comparing sequenced data from aldosterone or vehicle-treated samples. Anti-MR ChIP-seq in Human Kidney GFP-hMR cells treated with vehicle or Aldosterone.
Project description:We used a smooth muscle cell-specific mineralocorticoid receptor knockout mouse to generate young and aged MR-intact and SMC-MR-KO aortic miRNA to examine the effect of age on vascular miRNA alterations in the presence and absence of SMC-MR. For more information about the mouse model see: McCurley, A et al. Direct regulation of blood pressure by smooth muscle cell mineralocorticoid receptors. Nat Med. 2012 Sep;18(9):1429-33 Total miRNA was extracted from young (3-4 mo) and aged male (12mo) MR-intact and SMC-MR-KO mice to investigate aging-induced alterations in vascular miRNA expression