果冻影院

Research Lab Bench

果冻影院 Mouradian Laboratory

The Mouradian Lab investigates the role of distinct populations of pulmonary vagal sensory neurons in the neural control of breathing in health and chronic lung diseases, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; chronic lung disease of preterm infants) and COPD.
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Current Projects

We model BPD and COPD in wild-type and transgenic mouse lines and use whole-body plethysmography and respirometry to measure breathing. We use optogenetics and chemogenetics to turn on/off specific cell types in vivo (DREADDs and DTR), various viral vectors for cell-specific labeling or lesioning, RNA Scope and immunofluorescence for tissue and cellular visualization, and patch-clamp with or without single-cell RNA Sequencing for cellular phenotyping, molecular fingerprinting, and mechanism testing.
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Pulmonary vagal sensory neurons' role in pathological nCOB

Infants born extremely preterm (<28 weeks gestation) have immature neural control of breathing and immature lungs, and thus immature lung-brain sensory axes. These sensory axes comprise molecularly distinct pulmonary vagal sensory neurons (PSNs). PSNs innervate distinct lung and brain regions, reflecting their unique roles in respiratory control. Moreover, single-cell RNA Sequencing indicates that PSNs are sensitive to common respiratory stimuli. Because of various pathological features in BPD and other common lung diseases, we are interested in understanding PSNs’ role in pathological nCOB, which often complicates BPD, COPD, and other lung diseases.
Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cells

Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells

Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells cluster at branch points along the conducting airways as neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs). NEBs have endocrine and neuronal functions. They secrete neuropeptides that modulate airway inflammation, are responsive to hypoxia (low O2) and hypercapnia (high CO2) and are innervated by various efferent and afferent (sensory) fibers. However, the functional role of NEBs in breathing remains unknown. We hypothesize these unique airway sensors play a critical role in breathing control abnormalities in BPD and COPD given that they are hyperplastic and hypertrophied.
Vagal sensory neurons in chronic lung disease

Vagal sensory neurons in chronic lung disease

BPD is a consequence of exposure to mechanical ventilation and/or high oxygen therapy provided to infants born very premature (<28 weeks gestation). Contributing to the need for these therapies is an inability to properly control breathing. Similarly, breathing control is impaired in COPD contributing to COPD exacerbations. While this is known, there exist no therapies to modulate - in a targeted manner - breathing control. Unique subpopulations of vagal sensory neurons have been shown to have distinct effects on breathing. For example, Npy2r+ vagal neurons supposedly innervate alveoli and increase breathing in anesthetized mice. Given that alveoli are reduced in BPD, is this excitatory input also reduced? We seek to define the functional role of the various vagal afferent neuronal subtypes that innervate different lung regions in the context of BPD and COPD.

Laboratory Photos

RNA Scope validating that Calb1 vagal neurons are a subpopulation of P2ry1 neuronsequipment_mouradian lab
plethysmography_mouradian labpatch clamp ephys_mouradian lab

Meet Our Team

Highly collaborative and dedicated to improving breathing in infants and adults.

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Gary Mouradian, PhD

Assistant Professor

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Denise Cook-Snyder, PhD

Associate Professor

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Nicole Buiter

Graduate Student

Contact the Mouradian Lab

We're looking for more team members. Contact us to learn more!鈥

Mouradian Laboratory
果冻影院 Department of Physiology
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 955-7479
gmouradian@mcw.edu
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