title: Molecular anatomy of the gut-brain axis revealed with transgenic technologies: implications in metabolic research.
abstract: Neurons residing in the gut-brain axis remain understudied despite their important role in coordinating metabolic functions. This lack of knowledge is observed, in part, because labeling gut-brain axis neurons and their connections using conventional neuroanatomical methods is inherently challenging. This article summarizes genetic approaches that enable the labeling of distinct populations of gut-brain axis neurons in living laboratory rodents. In particular, we review the respective strengths and limitations of currently available genetic and viral approaches that permit the marking of gut-brain axis neurons without the need for antibodies or conventional neurotropic tracers. Finally, we discuss how these methodological advances are progressively transforming the study of the healthy and diseased gut-brain axis in the context of its role in chronic metabolic diseases, including diabetes and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Swalpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Udit
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gautron
keywords: autonomic nervous system; morphology; mouse models; obesity; vagus nerve
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