Research solves mystery of memory and mood
1 June 2015
About
We are interested in understanding the fundamental mechanisms that drive the renewal of neurons in the adult brain and harness this form of neural plasticity to relieve the emotional and cognitive burdens associated with chronic stress and depression. The discovery of neural stem cells capable of generating new, functional neurons (i.e. neurogenesis) in the adult mammalian brain has led to a paradigm shift in neuroscience. The hippocampus is one such area where new neurons are generated and integrated into the existing neural circuitry throughout life, making a significant contribution to the regulation of mood and cognition. However, our understanding of how these newborn neurons regulate such diverse brain functions remains incomplete.
Our studies have revealed that distinct populations of quiescent stem cells that are activated by multiple, discrete neurochemical signals exist in the adult hippocampus. Our current efforts are focused on understanding the molecular and functional potential of these distinct stem cells, how their activity is modulated by stress, and what role they play in the regulation of mood versus cognition in mouse models of depression/anxiety. We are also interested in determining whether new neurons confer behavioural resilience and are important during recovery following chronic stress. A key aspect of our research program is to determine whether selective activation of quiescent neural stem cells could provide a new approach for the treatment of depressive/anxiety disorders and lead to the development of novel, effective and safe antidepressants.
Research Areas
- Neural plasticity
- Chronic stress and depression
- Neurogenesis in the adult brain
- Stem cell activation in the hippocampus
- Stem cell regulation of mood versus cognition
Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., O'Keeffe, Imogen, Robinson, Gregory J., Zhao, Qiong-Yi, Zhang, Zong Hong, Nink, Virginia, Narayanan, Ramesh K., Osborne, Geoffrey W., Wray, Naomi R. and Bartlett, Perry F. (2015) Purification of neural precursor cells reveals the presence of distinct, stimulus-specific subpopulations of quiescent precursors in the adult mouse hippocampus. Journal of Neuroscience, 35 21: 8132-8144. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0504-15.2015
A comparative study of techniques for differential expression analysis on RNA-seq data
Zhang, Zong Hong, Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., Marshall, Vikki M., Bauer, Denis C., Edson, Janette, Narayanan, Ramesh K., Robinson, Gregory J., Lundberg, Andreas E., Bartlett, Perry F., Wray, Naomi R. and Zhao, Qiong-Yi (2014) A comparative study of techniques for differential expression analysis on RNA-seq data. PLoS One, 9 8: 1-11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103207
Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., Nanavaty, Ishira, Prosper, Boris W., Marathe, Swanand, Husain, Basma F. A., Kernie, Steven G., Bartlett, Perry F. and Vaidya, Vidita A. (2014) Opposing effects of α2- and β-adrenergic receptor stimulation on quiescent neural precursor cell activity and adult hippocampal neurogenesis. PLoS One, 9 6: e98736.1-e98736.11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098736
Saharan, Sumiti, Jhaveri, Dhanisha J. and Bartlett, Perry F. (2013) SIRT1 regulates the neurogenic potential of neural precursors in the adult subventricular zone and hippocampus. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 91 5: 642-659. doi:10.1002/jnr.23199
Taylor, Chanel J., Jhaveri, Dhanisha J. and Bartlett, Perry F. (2013) The therapeutic potential of endogenous hippocampal stem cells for the treatment of neurological disorders. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 7 JANUARY 2013: 5.1-5.7. doi:10.3389/fncel.2013.00005
Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., Taylor, Chanel J. and Bartlett, Perry F. (2012) Activation of different neural precursor populations in the adult hippocampus: Does this lead to new neurons with discrete functions?. Developmental Neurobiology, 72 7: 1044-1058. doi:10.1002/dneu.22027
Oncostatin M regulates neural precursor activity in the adult brain
Beatus, Paul, Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., Walker, Tara L., Lucas, Peter G., Rietze, Rodney L., Cooper, Helen M., Morikawa, Yoshihiro and Bartlett, Perry F. (2011) Oncostatin M regulates neural precursor activity in the adult brain.Developmental Neurobiology, 71 7: 619-633. doi:10.1002/dneu.20871
Activation of neural precursors in the adult neurogenic niches
Vukovic, Jana, Blackmore, Daniel, Jhaveri, Dhanisha and Bartlett, Perry F. (2011) Activation of neural precursors in the adult neurogenic niches. Neurochemistry International, 59 3: 341-346. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2011.04.003
Norepinephrine directly activates adult hippocampal precursors via beta(3)-adrenergic receptors
Jhaveri, Dhanisha J., Mackay, Eirinn W., Hamlin, Adam S., Marathe, Swananda V., Nandam, L. Sanjay, Vaidya, Vidita A. and Bartlett, Perry F. (2010) Norepinephrine directly activates adult hippocampal precursors via beta(3)-adrenergic receptors. Journal of Neuroscience, 30 7: 2795-2806. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3780-09.2010
Yanpallewar, Sudhirkumar U., Fernandes, Kimberly, Marathe, Swananda V., Vadodaria, Krishna C., Jhaveri, Dhanisha, Rommelfanger, Karen, Ladiwala, Uma, Jha, Shanker, Muthig, Verena, Hein, Lutz, Bartlett, Perry, Weinshenker, David and Vaidya, Vidita A. (2010) α2-adrenoceptor blockade accelerates the neurogenic, neurotrophic, and behavioral effects of chronic antidepressant treatment. Journal of Neuroscience, 30 3: 1096-1109. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2309-09.2010
5-HT7, neurogenesis and antidepressants: A promising therapeutic axis for treating depression
Nandam, L. Sanjay, Jhaveri, Dhanisha and Bartlett, Perry (2007) 5-HT7, neurogenesis and antidepressants: A promising therapeutic axis for treating depression. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 34 5-6: 546-551. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1681.2007.04608.x
The slice-sphere assay: A combinatorial approach to evaluate neural precursor activity
Jhaveri, DJ, Nandam, LS and Bartlett, PF (2007) The slice-sphere assay: A combinatorial approach to evaluate neural precursor activity. Journal of Neurochemistry, 102 185-185.
Distinct types of glial cells populate the Drosophila antenna
Sen, A., Shetty, C., Jhaveri, D. and Rodrigues, V. (2005) Distinct types of glial cells populate the Drosophila antenna.BMC Developmental Biology, 5 25: 1-11. doi:10.1186/1471-213X-5-25
Positioning sensory terminals in the olfactory lobe of Drosophila by Robo signaling
Jhaveri, Dhanisha, Saharan, Sumiti, Sen, Anindya and Rodrigues, Veronica (2004) Positioning sensory terminals in the olfactory lobe of Drosophila by Robo signaling. Development, 131 9: 1903-1912. doi:10.1242/dev.01083
Jhaveri, D and Rodrigues, V (2002) Sensory neurons of the Atonal lineage pioneer the formation of glomeruli within the adult Drosophila olfactory lobe. Development, 129 5: 1251-1260.
Jhaveri, D, Sen, A and Rodrigues, V (2000) Mechanisms underlying olfactory neuronal connectivity in Drosophila - The atonal lineage organizes the periphery while sensory neurons and glia pattern the olfactory lobe. Developmental Biology, 226 1: 73-87. doi:10.1006/dbio.2000.9855
Jhaveri, D, Sen, A, Reddy, GV and Rodrigues, V (2000) Sense organ identity in the Drosophila antenna is specified by the expression of the proneural gene atonal. Mechanisms of Development, 99 1-2: 101-111. doi:10.1016/S0925-4773(00)00487-1
Epigenetic signatures of abnormal adult neurogenesis in Rett syndrome
(2017–2019) NHMRC Project Grant