Thesis supervisor: László Magor Lőrincz
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience Faculty of Scienses University of Szeged Abbreviation of location of studies: Phys
Description of the research topic:
The neuromodulator serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine, 5-HT) has been implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological functions. Specifically, 5-HT has been shown to affect the spontaneous activity, but not sensory responses suggesting it could play an important role in sensory coding, but the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. On the other hand, the activity of serotonergic neurons in the brainstem dorsal raphé nuclei correlates with various sensory events. To reveal the effects of 5-HT on various identified cortical cell types and the mechanisms involved we will perform a combination of electrophysiological, anatomical and optogenetic techniques. Specifically, SERT-cre mice will be infected with a cre-dependent adenoassociated virus driving the expression of the light gated cation channel channelrhodopsin (ChR2) in raphé 5-HT neurons allowing specific and temportally precise 5-HT release. Optogenetic stimulation of raphé ChR2 expressing 5-HT fibers in the olfactory cortex will be performed in vitro with simultaneous whole-cell patch clamp recordings and post-hoc morphological reconstruction of the neurons recorded. The results could have important implication for central sensory information processing and neuromodulation.
Required language skills: english Number of students who can be accepted: 1