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Sleep and synaptic plasticity in zebrafish| old_uid | 10190 |
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| title | Sleep and synaptic plasticity in zebrafish |
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| start_date | 2011/09/23 |
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| schedule | 11h |
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| online | no |
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| details | séminaire organise conjointement avec le CBD |
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| summary | Philippe’s group at Stanford focuses on the identification and characterization of genes and neural circuits underpinning basic vertebrate behaviours. They use zebrafish (Danio rerio), a diurnal vertebrate that can be genetically modified and is optically transparent, qualities make zebrafish an ideal model for the study of brain/circuit function in behaving animals using non-invasive approaches such as calcium imaging and optogenetics. His team is characterizing the neuropeptidergic hypocretin (HCRT) and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) systems in zebrafish, and has shown that these systems are composed of compact but phenotypically conserved networks of neurons. The simpler organization of these systems in zebrafish compared to mammals has allowed Philippe and his collaborators to visualize entire circuits and permitted the identification of an HCRT-pineal gland circuit that regulates melatonin release and sleep consolidation. Furthermore, due to the advantages of visualizing synapses with transgenic pre- and post-synaptic markers fused to EGFP in a transparent model organism, they have been able to monitor the spatial and temporal development of synaptic densities in live zebrafish. Using these techniques, his team has recently demonstrated roles for both sleep and circadian rhythms in synaptic plasticity, and has identified a neuronal pentraxin involved in this process. |
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| responsibles | Rampon |
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