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We study how the brain monitors and regulates body hydration. Our aim is to define how networks of neurons and astrocytes participate in the control of thirst, vasopressin release and autonomic output. Changes in hydration status and autonomic tone characterize many clinical conditions and could form the elusive link between salt intake and hypertension. Current projects investigate:
Mechanisms of blood sodium detection, thermosensation and osmoreception
Glial taurine and neuronal firing
Astroglial plasticity
Clock neurons & circadian rhythms
Control of burst firing
Local signaling in dendrites
TRPV1 and TRPV4 ion channels
Cytoskeleton and mechanosensation
Osmoregulatory circuits & septicemia
Impact of chronic high salt intake on osmoregulatory circuits
The supraoptic nucleus features glial cells (blue) intermingled with neurons secreting oxytocin and vasopressin (yellow).
Keywords: neuroscience, electrophysiology, pharmacology, biophysics, patch-clamp, synaptic transmission, synapse, glia, glial cells, gliotransmission, taurine, glycine, glycine receptor, volume regulated anion channel, neuron, vasopressin, oxytocin, neurohypophysis, pituitary, endocrinology, neuroendocrinology, cytoskeleton, actin, microtubules, mechanotransduction, mechanosensitivity, osmolality, osmotic, osmosensing, osmosensory, osmoreceptor, NMDA, GABA osmoreception, osmoregulation, peptide, neuropeptide, thirst, diuresis, natriuresis, salt appetite, salt sensing, sodium sensing, transient receptor potential, TRP, TRPV, trpv1, trpv2, trpv3, trpv4, trpa1, vanilloid, burst, bursting, rhythms, phasic, depolarizing after-potential, plateau, dendrite, dendritic, autocrine, neurosecretion, nerve terminal, axon terminal, action potential, graduate studies, postdoctoral studies, postdoc, imaging, calcium, calcium channel, calcium imaging, single channel, dehydration, hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypertension, diabetes insipidus, circadian rhythms.
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Last update: May 4, 2012
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