The roles of NK3RMnPO and KNDy neurons in vasomotor symptoms, sleep, and cognition in E2 depleted mice
Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with low estradiol levels in menopausal women are a major source of distress, often accompanied by sleep disruption and cognitive issues, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. As part of the Brigham/Harvard SCORE Center for Stress and Neural Regulation of Reproductive Aging Health Outcomes, called the Reproductive Outcomes of Stress and Aging (ROSA) Center, we aim to characterize the roles of KNDy neurons in the arcuate nucleus and NK3R-expressing neurons in the median preoptic area in regulating core and skin temperature (biomarkers of VMS in mice), sleep, and cognition in response to stress hormones and/or restraint stress in a mouse model of estradiol depletion. This work will elucidate neural circuits underlying menopausal symptoms and may identify new therapeutic targets.
Interactions of Stress, Corticosteroids, and KNDy Neurons in Vasomotor Symptoms in Aging Females
This Project aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying the control of thermoregulation by sex steroids and how this can be modulated by stress. By using an animal model, investigators will use a series of genetic, behavioral and pharmacological approaches to identify the neuronal circuitry connecting the reproductive axis, stress, thermoregulation, and sleep quality.
