Briana Gonzalez
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Pedro Lowenstein
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Neurosurgery / Medicine
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 5 (2:40pm – 3:30pm)
Authors: Briana Gonzalez, Anna Argento, Pedro Lowenstein
Abstract
The goal of this research project is to unveil which specific neurons in the brain control blood sugar to improve the treatment of diabetes. Previous research has shown that the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) controls blood sugar, however we still do not know which specific neurons are involved. Thus, our study aims to identify which specific neurons in the VMN control blood sugar. We have previously shown that estrogen receptor expressing neurons (Esr1) in the VMN are the group of neurons with the most elevated and pronounced response to low blood sugar. Therefore, we predict that this VMN neuron population is involved in glucose metabolism. In order to manipulate and study the Esr1 neurons, we use stereotaxic surgery to anatomically target the them efficiently. Within the VMN, Esr1 neurons are located in the ventrolateral region (vlVMN), and thus our first step was to ensure that we are correctly hitting that region during surgery. Following stereotaxic injection of dye into the vlVMN, we used immunohistochemistry to confirm our hit site. Once we confirmed accurate targeting, we then injected a viral tracer into Esr1 neurons in the VMN. We observed an accurate vlVMN hit site and identified the specific brain regions which these neurons project to, enabling us to identify other brain regions that receive downstream signaling from these neurons. Having successfully optimized the vlVMN surgical procedures, we are now able to study the function of Esr1 neusonr in the vlVMN in regulating blood glucose levels and determine if these neurons are involved in the development of diabetes.
