Van A. Doze, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Project: Noradrenergic regulation of neurogenesis and cognitive function
Mentor: Van A. Doze, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Location: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Description: Norepinephrine (NE), an important neuromodulator in the brain, modulates cognitive function and synaptic plasticity. NE mediates its effects via activation of adrenergic receptors (ARs). We discovered that adult mice with chronically activated alpha1A-ARs exhibit significantly improved learning and memory, synaptic transmission, mood, and lifespan. In contrast, we found that mice lacking alpha1A-ARs have reduced cognitive function, mood, and lifespan. The mice with activated alpha1A-ARs also show increased neurogenesis in their hippocampi, an area of the brain critical for learning and memory. The molecular cues and genes regulating this process include a wide range of growth and survival factors, but a direct link between NE activity, gene regulation, and neurogenesis, has not been explored. This project will test the hypothesis that NE, through alpha1A-AR activation regulates differentiation and cell fate of neuronal and glial progenitors in the adult mouse brain, and subsequently enhances cognitive function. Through immunolabeling, electrophysiology, behavioral studies, and confocal imaging, this project will characterize alpha1A-AR influences on adult neurogenesis and learning and memory.
