Research

Oxytocin (OXT) is a hypothalamus-derived neuropeptide majorly secreted via the neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary). During social, feeding and reproductive behaviors, OXT is released via synapses both centrally and into the peripheral blood circulation. Reduced hypothalamic OXT content in autism-like mice models and claims of genetic polymorphisms in oxytocin receptor gene of children with social deficits led to the controversial OXT-deficit hypothesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Thus, investigating the molecular mechanisms that regulate OXT content and release can aid in understanding factors underlying ASD.
At a molecular level, neurohypophyseal OXT synapses-associated glial pituicytes can secrete factors that affect OXT content or release. However, the identity and the role of pituicyte-derived secreted factors that can regulate synaptic OXT are largely unknown. Finally, situated outside the blood-brain barrier (BBB), glial pituicytes are directly exposed to the blood-borne molecules and are highly responsive to physiological challenges to promote synaptic plasticity. But the identity and the role of the pituicyte-derived cues that regulate the plasticity of OXT axonal terminals and OXT neuropeptide content upon challenges are largely unknown.
Our group combines molecular and advanced light microscopy techniques to study the role of glial pituicytes using zebrafish as vertebrate model organism.

Research grants

1. Rola intronowego mikroRNA indukowanego oligonukleotydem antysensownym w morfogenezie aksonów u danio pręgowanego
   National Science Centre (SONATA 17)

2. Rola interakcji akson-glej, w której pośredniczy Sfrp5 w morfogenezie aksonów danio pręgowanego podwzgórzowo-przysadkowa
   National Science Centre (SONATA BIS 10)

Current group members