Main goals

Investigation of the functional wiring and the dynamics of sleep-wake circuits using multidisciplinary approaches including mouse genetics, optogenetic, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology and behavioural phenotyping in rodent models.

Group members and their position

Carolina Gutierrez Herrera (Res. Assoc.)

Previous and current research

We have pioneered the use of in vivo optogenetics to probe neural circuits controlling sleep and wakefulness. We established causal link between the optogenetic activation of hypocretin/orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons and arousal and REM sleep behaviors in freely-moving mice.

Future projects

Current projects focus on:
– Optogenetic deconstruction of hypothalamic (MCH, GABA, etc.) regulation of sleep-wake states.
– Characterization of thalamic gating of arousal inputs.
– Role of sleep states in memory consolidation.
– Pathophysiology of sleep-wake architecture from neuropsychiatric mouse models (Narcolepsy, Alzheimer’s Disease).

Techniques / methods

In vitro and in vivo optogenetics, molecular biology, in situ hybridization, in vitro (whole-cell patch clamp) and in vivo (EEG/EMG/LFPs, multi-unit recordings) electrophysiology, mouse genetic engineering, mouse behavior.

Equipment

Polysomnographic recording (Vital recorder, SleepSign, mouse)
Patch clamp recording rig
Neuralynx (high-density electrophysiology recording)
Optogenetic set up
Mouse behavior (sleep, cognition, stress/anxiety)

Selected publications

Jego S, Glasgow SD, Herrera CG, Ekstrand M, Reed SJ, Boyce R, Friedman J, Burdakov D, Adamantidis AR. Optogenetic identification of a rapid eye movement sleep modulatory circuit in the hypothalamus. Nat Neurosci. 2013 Nov;16(11):1637-43.
Adamantidis, A.R. *, Zhang, F., * Aravanis, A.M., Deisseroth, K., and de Lecea, L. Neural substrates of awakening probed with optogenetic control of hypocretin neurons. Nature 450, 420–424. (2007).
Adamantidis A., Salvert D., Goutagny R., Lakaye B., Gervasoni D., Grisar T., Luppi P.H., Fort P. Sleep architecture of the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1-knockout mice. Eur. J. Neurosci. 27(7):1793-800 (2008)
Zhang F.*, Gradinaru V.*, Adamantidis A.R.*, Durand R., Airan R.D., de Lecea L., Deisseroth K. Optogenetic interrogation of neural circuits: technology for probing mammalian brain structures. Nat Protoc. 5(3):439-56. (2010).
Adamantidis, A.R., Tsai, H.-C., Boutrel, B., Zhang, F., Stuber, G.D., Budygin, E.A., Touriño, C., Bonci, A., Deisseroth, K., and de Lecea, L. Optogenetic interrogation of dopaminergic modulation of the multiple phases of reward-seeking behavior. J. Neurosci. 31, 10829–10835. (2011).

Selected lectures, seminars, colloquia

TBD.

Funding

CIHR, NSERC, CFI, FRSQ (Canada)
Human Frontier Science Program