Project description:Microdissected ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) was profiled to identify transcriptional changes after Nkx2-1 ablation in female mice. Total RNA was extracted from conditional mutants (Nkx2-1 f/f; Sf1Cre) and floxed controls (Nkx2-1 f/f) at postnatal day 10 (P10) and profiled using Mouse ref8 v2.0 Illumina chips and reagents (n=4/group). The tissue profiled is microdissected ventromedial hypothalamus from P10 female mice. Controls and mutants are analyzed in quadruplicate.
Project description:To uncover the cellular architecture of the mouse ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), we used single nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) from wild-type mice.
Project description:To uncover the cellular architecture of the macaque ventromedial (VMH) and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), we used single nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) from a Rhesus macaque
Project description:The paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) is crucial for food intake control, yet the presynaptic mechanisms underlying PVH neurons remain unclear. Here, we show that RUVBL2 in the PVH is significantly reduced during energy deficit, and knockout (KO) of PVH RUVBL2 results in hyperphagic obesity in mice. RUVBL2-expressing neurons in the PVH (PVHRUVBL2) exert the anorexigenic effect by projecting to the arcuate hypothalamus, the dorsomedial hypothalamus, and the parabrachial complex. We further demonstrate that PVHRUVBL2 neurons form the synaptic connections with POMC and AgRP neurons in the ARC. PVH RUVBL2 KO impairs the excitatory synaptic transmission by reducing presynaptic boutons and synaptic vesicles near active zone. Finally, RUVBL2 overexpression in the PVH suppresses food intake and protects against diet induced obesity. Together, this study demonstrates an essential role for PVH RUVBL2 in food intake control, and suggests that modulation of synaptic plasticity could be an effective way to curb appetite and obesity.
Project description:Analysis of gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus (PVH) of WT and Sim1-Cre specific DNMT3a deletion mice. Results provide important information about genes regulated by DNMT3a.
Project description:The balance between energy intake and expenditure is controlled by the hypothalamus, a small brain region composed of several subregionalised nuclei with high neuronal diversity which are key to controlling appetite and food intake through response to circulating hormones and metabolic. However, the cellular and functional characteristics of this highly specialised neural region has been studied mainly in animal models due to a lack of access to human experimental counterparts. Here, we fine-tuned the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells toward hypothalamic nuclei, including the arcuate nucleus (ARC), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and we identified key subtype-specific progenitor markers of hypothalamic subregions. We show that the timing for addition and withdrawal of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) was essential for controlling sub-regional specification of tuberal hypothalamic progenitors along the anterior-posterior axis, balancing VMH versus ARC fates. A particular population of SHH-/NKX2.1+/RAX+/FGF10+/TBX3high posterior tuberal progenitors was identified as the source for generation of ARC-associated agouti-related peptide (AGRP) neurons and tanycytes whilst anterior tuberal SHH+/NKX2.1+/RAX+/TBX3low progenitors generated VMH phenotypes including NR5A1 neurons. Upon maturation in 2D, 3D and in vivo, ARC-patterned progenitors gave rise to multiple key appetite-regulating cell types including AGRP, prepronociceptin (PNOC), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons and characteristic tanycyte glial cells. Differentiated ARC cultures showed high transcriptomic similarity to the human ARC and displayed evidence of functionality by AGRP secretion and responsiveness to leptin and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1). In summary, our work provides new insights into the developmental lineages underlying human hypothalamic subregional specification and enables access to highly characterized human hypothalamic ARC cultures, which will provide novel opportunities for investigating the cellular and molecular pathways triggered by obesity-associated genetic variants and appetite-regulating drugs and peptides.
Project description:The balance between energy intake and expenditure is controlled by the hypothalamus, a small brain region composed of several subregionalised nuclei with high neuronal diversity which are key to controlling appetite and food intake through response to circulating hormones and metabolic. However, the cellular and functional characteristics of this highly specialised neural region has been studied mainly in animal models due to a lack of access to human experimental counterparts. Here, we fine-tuned the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells toward hypothalamic nuclei, including the arcuate nucleus (ARC), ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and we identified key subtype-specific progenitor markers of hypothalamic subregions. We show that the timing for addition and withdrawal of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) was essential for controlling sub-regional specification of tuberal hypothalamic progenitors along the anterior-posterior axis, balancing VMH versus ARC fates. A particular population of SHH-/NKX2.1+/RAX+/FGF10+/TBX3high posterior tuberal progenitors was identified as the source for generation of ARC-associated agouti-related peptide (AGRP) neurons and tanycytes whilst anterior tuberal SHH+/NKX2.1+/RAX+/TBX3low progenitors generated VMH phenotypes including NR5A1 neurons. Upon maturation in 2D, 3D and in vivo, ARC-patterned progenitors gave rise to multiple key appetite-regulating cell types including AGRP, prepronociceptin (PNOC), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons and characteristic tanycyte glial cells. Differentiated ARC cultures showed high transcriptomic similarity to the human ARC and displayed evidence of functionality by AGRP secretion and responsiveness to leptin and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1). In summary, our work provides new insights into the developmental lineages underlying human hypothalamic subregional specification and enables access to highly characterized human hypothalamic ARC cultures, which will provide novel opportunities for investigating the cellular and molecular pathways triggered by obesity-associated genetic variants and appetite-regulating drugs and peptides.
Project description:The purpose of this study was to identify miRNA that are differentially regulated in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothaamus (ARC) and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) after perinatal exposure to maternal obesity.
Project description:Atypical social behaviors modeling autism spectrum disorder have been observed in various genetic mutants and after embryonic perturbations in mice. We previously showed selective vulnerability of parvocellular oxytocin (OT) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) in mice with social deficits following embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA). Here, we demonstrate that VPA induces transcriptional abnormalities in PVH microglia.
Project description:Analysis of gene expression regulated by FoxO1 in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) of wildtype and knockout mice. Results provide important information of gene expression in the VMH. The transcription factor FoxO1 contributes to leptin and insulin action, including cells in the brain. However, the neurons mediating these effects and the identity of the molecular targets through which FoxO1 exerts metabolic actions remains to be defined.