Regulation of neuropeptidergic cell homeostasis

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The hypothalamus is a region of the brain that is important for maintaining a variety of physiologies, such as body temperature, body weight, electrolyte balance, and sleep. We are interested in a type of neuron that is found in the hypothalamus, called a neurosecretory cell. Neurosecretory cells are the key organizing unit of the hypothalamus and are responsible for sending hormonal signals to other parts of the brain or to peripheral organs to regulate physiology. Upon activation, package neuropeptides that reside in the plasma membrane of primed neurosecretory cells are released into the blood. To ensure a rapid response, neurosecretory cells must quickly replenish packaged neuropeptides at the plasma membrane, allowing for the next round of rapid release. We know very little about how hormones are replenished in neurosecretory cells. In this proposal we will explore how neurosecretory cells regulated hormone levels. We will do this by determining which genes enable neurosecretory cells to sense intracellular hormone levels, and explore if other neurons in the hypothalamus use a similar signaling mechanism.