Geschlechtsspezifische Neuromodulation in adaptiven instinktiven Verhaltensweisen
Kognitive, systemische und Verhaltensneurobiologie
Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse
Instinctive behaviours—such as hunting, mating, and avoiding threats—are crucial for survival of the animal and its offspring. These behaviours do not require prior learning, but their expression can be shaped by factors like stress, reproductive state, past experiences, or the surrounding environment. A key brain region involved in the execution of these behaviours is the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a conserved structure in the midbrain across the vertebrate species. Despite its importance, we still know very little about the molecular makeup of the PAG or how it changes in response to different internal or external conditions. We described the properties of tonically active GABAergic neurons in the dPAG and their role in modulating the threshold to the initiation of escape behaviour. Further, we used liquid chromatography/ mass spectrometry to identify the proteins expressed in the PAG. We also compared this region to sensory cortices and the dorsal hippocampus — areas in the brain which are wellknown for being plastic — across both male and female brains of animals exposed to different social environments. We described the protein composition of the PAG, including the expression of synaptic proteins, which strongly suggests that plastic changes can occur in this brainstem region. Specifically, we identified changes in the expression of synaptic proteins, e.g. Shank3, Grin2b, in the PAG in response to changes in the social environment. On top of a “core” proteomic response to changes in the environment, which was largely shared across the brain regions, we found a sex-specific response, which was different across brain regions. These findings may help uncover how social and biological factors influence brain function at the molecular level, providing insights into the flexible nature of instinctive behaviours and the brainstem’s capacity to adapt. In the future, we will continue investigating how the reproductive status of the individual impacts the molecular composition and thus the function of the PAG.
Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)
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Proteomic signatures of sex and social environment:comparative analysis of the brain periaqueductal gray, hippocampus, and cortex. 72nd ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, 2024, Anaheim, California
Desch K., Kutsarova E., Chalas P., Wüllenweber, I., Rosiles G., Stempel A.V. & Langer J.D.
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The proteomic profile of the midbrain periaqueductal gray: impact of sex and social environment. FENS Forum 2024, European Neuroscience Society Biannual Meeting, Vienna, Austria
Kutsarova E., Desch K., Chalas P., Wüllenweber, I., Rosiles G., Langer J.D. & Stempel A.V.
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Tonically active GABAergic neurons in the dorsal periaqueductal gray control instinctive escape in mice. Current Biology, 34(13), 3031-3039.e7.
Stempel, A. Vanessa; Evans, Dominic A.; Arocas, Oriol Pavón; Claudi, Federico; Lenzi, Stephen C.; Kutsarova, Elena; Margrie, Troy W. & Branco, Tiago
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The proteomic profile of the midbrain periaqueductal gray: impact of sex and social environment. NWG 2025, German Neuroscience Society 16th Biannual Meeting, Göttingen, Germany
Kutsarova E., Desch K., Chalas P., Wüllenweber, I., Meier-Credo J., de Biasi E., Rosiles G., Langer J.D. & Stempel A.V.
