Mr. Yuck Has A Circadian Rhythm July 31, 2009

First off, I miss the days of receiving Mr. Yuck stickers which I would subsequently affix to EVERYTHING; notebooks, the kitchen cabinets (Mom didn’t appreciate it), walls in the garage and the basement….hey! I was doing what I was told!. Anyways, an article published in PLOS today describes a circadian variation in pesticidal mortality rates due to circadian activity of enzymes. As a side note, if you ever need immediate treatment for a fertilizer overdose, come to my lab. We have the antidote; atropine.

I not only hope that the project researchers are at the next, upcoming Society of Biological Rhythms meeting, but they better have Mr. Yuck stickers to pass out.

GABA does it all July 30, 2009

GABA is a ubiquitous, inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. Featured in this week’s edition of the Journal of Neuroscience is a Claude Monet-esque neuroimage of GABA receptor expression in the hippocampus of both virgin (left) and pregnant (right) mice.

The researchers found a disparity in GABA expression in the hippocampus between virgin and pregnant mice as well as continuous GABA plasticity throughout pregnancy.

Want Sleep? Go Play! July 29, 2009

Children who sit around the TV all summer watching re-runs of Sponge Bob, music videos, and Family Feud (because Price Is Right sucks without Bob Barker) will take 3 minutes longer to fall asleep for every hour of TV watched. The bottom line is: children who play outside for hours at a time have better, more consolidated sleep. Perhaps moms already knew about this “secret” because why else would my mom make my brother and I play outside on Saturday morning besides for wanting to clean : )

Anyone interested in advocating for adult recess in the job world?! I’m in!

Beauty needs her sleep: A case study of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in Disney films July 27, 2009

Yes, sometimes nerdy scientists attempt to be “unnerdy.” While browsing NCBI ROFL again (please check it out!), I found another unconventional, peer-reiewed article, in a big name sleep journal; “REM behavior disorder and other sleep disturbances in animated Disney films.” The authors watched all 46 full-length Disney animated films (possible journal club/lab meeting activity?) and 500 short films (Holy?!). In summary, but not to spoil the “plot” too much, dogs of Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp are diagnosed with REM sleep behavior disorder (see previous blog entry, “Pathologies of Sleep” for full description, neurobiological causation, and a video), Goofy has a circadian rhythm disorder, recently defined as shift-work disorder (Sack et al., 2007), Sleepy has excessive daytime sleepiness co-morbid with obstructive sleep apnea (anyone have a BMI measure on this guy?), and the authors also discuss the efficacy of several hypnotics used in Sleeping Beauty and Snow White to sedate the young beauties. I know what I will be doing to prorastinate the next month…..watching Disney films in a manner that would classify me as “nerdy.”

The Sounds of Music: From Farts and Queefs July 23, 2009

Yesterday, my friend Erin sent me a link to this hilarious blog written by two “procrastinating” Berkeley graduate students called NCBI ROFL. A recently featured commentary is on flatufonia; the art of producing music from the….posterior region/s (i.e. farting and queefing). There was no university or research institution affiliated with the study, but it must certainly have been worthy of scientific appraisal because, it is on PubMed. Though there is presently no wikipedia entry for this unique talent, South Park certainly is enamored by its usefulness. Beware of the Road Warrior!

Where Not to Sleep July 22, 2009

An airport, of course. But which airports are the least sleep-friendly?  Three of the airports on the list (JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and Heathrow, I have slept overnight in the past). Of these, JFK was the most horrendous; I slept on a plastic sofa at a sushi bar in the food court. After attempting to fall asleep around midnight, I was awakened at 3 by the janitorial staff. Below is a picture from the overnight my labmates and I had a month ago in Chicago Midway. We were all flying back from our West Coast trips (see previous blog entries). At least this airport gave us cots, blankets, and pillows! But, they didn’t have a Cinnabon….

Bloody Marys in the Morning, Brewskis at Night: A Mouse Model July 20, 2009

I present new and exciting data from my dissertation. I am currently characterizing the chronopharmacokinetic profile of alcohol (refers to the rate of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of alcohol over 24 hours) in the C57BL/6J mouse, which is known to consume high levels of alcohol without any intervention, such as adding sweeteners. High levels of alcohol consumption in these mice manifest from hyperglycemia, which is mildly found in this in-bred strain, and hence, predisposes them to consume more alcohol. In humans, there is a similar co-morbifity between diabetes and alcoholism.

In order to characterize chronopharmacokinetics, we use a technique called microdialysis. After targeting a probe in the region of interest, in this case, the SCN, artificial cerebral spinal fluid is perfused through an inflow line, enters the targeted area, reaches equilibrium with the extracellular environment, and returns through an outflow line with subsequent traces of the substance for analysis, in this case alcohol. Below is a mouse undergoing microdialysis.

While sampling ensued for 24 hours, the mouse was freely-capable of consuming the 15% alcohol solution provided in its “sippy cup.” Below is a schematic of brain levels of alcohol within the SCN over the course of 24 hours. As shown, mice consume large amounts of alcohol in the beginning of their active period (a Bloody Mary, perhaps?) and towards the end of their active period (a six pack?). This drinking profile is very comparable to a human drinking profile, and is consistent with what has been found behaviorally in the literature….woo hoo!

Michigan Hearts Blueberries July 19, 2009

and I heart blueberries, therefore I heart Michigan (except for the U of M Wolverines, of course). While traveling down many of Michigan’s state routes this weekend, I passed numerous blueberry farms. I may never eat store-bought blueberries again. In terms of health benefits:

–Blueberries are enriched with Vitamin C and antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, glaucoma, cataracts, and UTIs. I haven’t found any literature (peer-reviewed, of course) on whether blueberries directly improve sleep, but blueberries would certainly mitigate any psychological and physiological stress related to unhealthy eating, and hence, indirectly improve sleep in that manner.

Of course, blueberry ice cream and pie don’t count. But a blueberry smoothie with yogurt, mmmm off to make one now. …

Beach Vaultin on the Mistake by the Lake July 18, 2009

I’m in Michigan, which is also acknowledged by Ohio State Buckeye fans as the “Mistake by the Lake.” Clearly, Ohioans do not travel much (I wonder what percentage own passports?) because the upper peninsula of Michigan is beautiful! The beach pole vault competition is on Lake Michigan, and adjacent to the Grand Haven lighthouse. I vault tomorrow at 9:30. Check out results and awesome photography from the competition here. I’m in the Masters division (age 25-29) because I am an old fart female pole vaulter now apparently. But, the most exciting event of tomorrow will not be my first place win (aren’t I modest?), but seeing present and future Olympians vault in the afternoon. Last year, Jeremy Scott jumped over 19 feet! Oh, in case you wonder, you don’t actually run in the sand. There’s an elevated wooden runway.

Why Neuroimaging Rocks July 16, 2009

This picture was  featured  in this week’s Journal of Neuroscience.

It illustrates ON-RED bipolar cells within the visual cortex, which are important for the integration of light and color.

The second image was taken many many years ago (1991) by my advisor, J. David Glass. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), which mediates the release of reproductive hormones (testosterone and estrogen), is localized within the median eminence in the hypothalamus. Get your mind out of the gutter.

The last picture is recent, and was done by my lab mate Jessie.  It depicts the localization of Neuropeptide Y within the SCN. This neuropeptide is critically important for the integration of light and nonphotic stimuli (exercise, antidepressants) within the SCN, and the mediatation of feeding within the arcuate nucleus. Again, get your mind out of the gutter.