Zoe Tian

Program: Neurosciences

Current advisor: Martha W. Bagnall, PhD

Undergraduate university: Washington University, 2021

Enrollment year: 2022

Research summary
To characterize and determine the functional role of spinal cord dopamine during sensorimotor behaviors in larval zebrafish

Descending dopaminergic projections from the hypothalamic region to the spinal cord have been identified in both mammals (A11 nucleus) and zebrafish (DC2/4/5). However, their specific targets and functional roles remain largely unknown. Previous studies using pharmacological manipulations have shown that activation of D1-like receptors in the spinal cord enhances locomotor activity, whereas activation of D2 receptors suppresses locomotion. However, pharmacological application does not replicate the endogenous release of dopamine in the spinal cord during natural behavior. Although A11 neurons exhibit burst firing that is mostly correlated with locomotion, it remains unclear whether spinal dopamine release is more closely associated with sensory input, motor output, or an interaction between the two. Further experiments are needed to directly monitor dopamine release in the spinal cord and determine its functional role in freely behaving animals performing different sensorimotor behaviors.

Graduate publications