Dr Lora Heisler
University position
Lecturer
Dr Lora Heisler is pleased to consider applications from prospective PhD students.
Departments
Home page
http://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/staff/A... (personal home page)
Research Theme
Interests
We aim to elucidate the neuroendocrinology of energy homeostasis and neural influences on peripheral metabolism, in order to define novel therapeutic targets for obesity and type 2 diabetes. There is significant genetic and pharmacological evidence that central melanocortin pathways, mostly through melanocortin-4 receptors, are critical in the regulation of neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters associated with energy balance/type 2 diabetes. However, relatively little is known about the downstream pathways involved. We are adopting complementary neuroanatomical, pharmacological, genetic, physiological, and behavioral approaches to investigate such brain circuitry. Specifically, our data suggest that the central serotonin system modulates melanocortin pathways, and we are currently exploring the expression of different serotonin receptors on melanocortin-containing cell bodies, and their differential modulation of effects on key nuclei in the hypothalamus and brainstem.
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Research Focus
Keywordsserotonin obesity food intake corticotropin releasing hormone 5-HT |
Clinical conditionsDiabetes Digestion and nutrition disorders |
Equipment
Behavioural analysis
Cell culture
Immunohistochemistry
Microscopy
Neuropsychological testing
Collaborators
Cambridge |
Key publications
Heisler LK, Jobst EE, Sutton G, Zhou L, Borok E, Liu HY, Zigman JM, Balthasar N, Kishi T, Lee CE, Aschkenasi CJ, Zhang C-Y, Yu J, Boss O, Mountjoy KG, Lowell B, Friedman J, Butler A, Horvath T, Elmquist JK, Cowley MA (2006), “ Serotonin reciprocally regulates melanocortin neurons to modulate food intake” Neuron 51(2):239-49 Details
Heisler LK, Cowley MA, Tecott LH, Fan W, Low MJ, Smart JL, Rubinstein M, Tatro J, Marcus JN, Holstege HH, Lee CE, Cone RD, Elmquist JK (2002), “Activation of central melanocortin pathways by fenfluramine” Science 297:609-611
Publications
2011
Marston OJ, Garfield AS, Heisler LK (2011), “Role of central serotonin and melanocortin systems in the control of energy balance.” Eur J Pharmacol Details
2010
Osundiji MA, Zhou L, Shaw J, Moore SP, Yueh CY, Sherwin R, Heisler LK, Evans ML (2010), “Brain glucosamine boosts protective glucoprivic feeding.” Endocrinology 151(4):1499-508 Details
Stanley S, Pinto S, Segal J, Pérez CA, Viale A, DeFalco J, Cai X, Heisler LK, Friedman JM (2010), “Identification of neuronal subpopulations that project from hypothalamus to both liver and adipose tissue polysynaptically.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(15):7024-9 Details
Xu Y, Jones JE, Lauzon DA, Anderson JG, Balthasar N, Heisler LK, Zinn AR, Lowell BB, Elmquist JK (2010), “A serotonin and melanocortin circuit mediates D-fenfluramine anorexia.” J Neurosci 30(44):14630-4 Details
2009
Garfield AS, Heisler LK (2009), “Pharmacological targeting of the serotonergic system for the treatment of obesity.” J Physiol 587(Pt 1):49-60 Details
Garfield AS, Lam DD, Marston OJ, Przydzial MJ, Heisler LK (2009), “Role of central melanocortin pathways in energy homeostasis.” Trends Endocrinol Metab 20(5):203-15 Details
Lam DD, Zhou L, Vegge A, Xiu PY, Christensen BT, Osundiji MA, Yueh CY, Evans ML, Heisler LK (2009), “Distribution and neurochemical characterization of neurons within the nucleus of the solitary tract responsive to serotonin agonist-induced hypophagia.” Behav Brain Res 196(1):139-43 Details
2008
Lam DD, Przydzial MJ, Ridley SH, Yeo GS, Rochford JJ, O'Rahilly S, Heisler LK (2008), “Serotonin 5-HT2C receptor agonist promotes hypophagia via downstream activation of melanocortin 4 receptors.” Endocrinology 149(3):1323-8 Details
Xu Y, Jones JE, Kohno D, Williams KW, Lee CE, Choi MJ, Anderson JG, Heisler LK, Zigman JM, Lowell BB, Elmquist JK (2008), “5-HT2CRs expressed by pro-opiomelanocortin neurons regulate energy homeostasis.” Neuron 60(4):582-9 Details
2007
Heisler LK, Pronchuk N, Nonogaki K, Zhou L, Raber J, Tung L, Yeo GS, O'Rahilly S, Colmers WF, Elmquist JK, Tecott LH (2007), “Serotonin activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis via serotonin 2C receptor stimulation.” J Neurosci 27(26):6956-64 Details
Zhou L, Sutton GM, Rochford JJ, Semple RK, Lam DD, Oksanen LJ, Thornton-Jones ZD, Clifton PG, Yueh CY, Evans ML, McCrimmon RJ, Elmquist JK, Butler AA, Heisler LK (2007), “Serotonin 2C receptor agonists improve type 2 diabetes via melanocortin-4 receptor signaling pathways.” Cell Metab 6(5):398-405 Details
Research and Collaboration
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