Deciphering the mechanisms of homeostatic plasticity in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system--genomic and gene transfer strategies.
The hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS) is the specialised brain neurosecretory apparatus responsible for the production of a peptide hormone, vasopressin, that maintains water balance by promoting water conservation at the level of the kidney. Dehydration evokes a massive increase in the regulated release of hormone from the HNS, and this is accompanied by a plethora of changes in morphology, electrical properties and biosynthetic and secretory activity, all of which are thought to facilitate hormone production and delivery, and hence the survival of the organism. We have adopted a functional genomic strategy to understand the activity dependent plasticity of the HNS in terms of the co-ordinated action of cellular and genetic networks. Firstly, using microarray gene-profiling technologies, we are elucidating which genes are expressed in the HNS, and how the pattern of expression changes following physiological challenge. The next step is to use transgenic rats to probe the functions of these genes in the context of the physiological integrity of the whole organism.
Sharman
Greig
G
Molecular Neuroendocrinology Research Group, The Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, University of Bristol, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Whitson Street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK.
Ghorbel
Mohamed
M
Leroux
Marie
M
Beaucourt
Stephanie
S
Wong
Liang-Fong
LF
Murphy
David
D
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000473:pathology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014867:Water; D014667:Vasopressins