Collection-image

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Current Tools and Methods for Studying Visceral Neuron Function
Submit Abstract

Guest Editor

Javier Aguilera-Lizarraga

Javier Aguilera-Lizarraga

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Sensory Neurophysiology and Pain

Dr. Javier Aguilera-Lizarraga did his undergraduate and master's studies in Biotechnology at the University of Lleida (Spain) and his doctoral studies at KU Leuven (Belgium). In 2019, he completed his PhD in Biomedical Sciences supported by a PhD fellowship granted by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) under Prof. Guy Boeckxstaens. Also, in 2019, Dr. Aguilera-Lizarraga obtained an FWO junior postdoctoral fellowship to continue his training at Prof. Boeckxstaens's lab. During his PhD and first postdoc, he investigated the impact of immune mediators on visceral afferent nerves as a mechanism underlying the development of visceral pain. In 2022, he joined the laboratory of Prof. Ewan St. John Smith at the University of Cambridge. Currently, he is working on the Advanced Discovery of Visceral Analgesics via Neuroimmune Targets and the Genetics of Extreme human phenotypes (ADVANTAGE) consortium as part of the MRC Advanced Pain Discovery Platform.

Collection Overview

The function of our internal organs is determined primarily by the neurons innervating these structures. Information about events occurring in our visceral organs needs to be efficiently captured and conveyed to the central nervous system. For example, the recognition of noxious and non-noxious stimuli and the communication of visceral neurons with the immune system, endocrine system, or microbiota are essential for maintaining whole-body homeostasis. The extrinsic nervous system (vagal and spinal neurons) actively interacts between our viscera and brain. The gut also has its own intrinsic neural network, known as the enteric neuron system, which controls intestinal motility, digestion, and barrier defense independently of the central nervous system. Tools that selectively target visceral neurons are of utmost importance for understanding the pathophysiology of our internal organs. This collection aims to provide researchers and professionals in gastroenterology with comprehensive techniques to study neuronal function innervating visceral organs (both in animals and humans). The collection seeks to unite classical and novel essential tools to explore visceral neurons in physiological and pathological conditions and ultimately bring our understanding to a clinical level. We especially encourage the submission of methods covering, but not limited to, visceral neuronal tracing (retrograde and anterograde), neuron isolation, imaging/visualization, synapse quantification, interaction with other cell types or microbes in the viscera, and toolbox analysis.

Articles

<em>In Vivo</em> Calcium Imaging of Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons' Response to Somatic and Visceral Stimuli
6:06

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons' Response to Somatic and Visceral Stimuli

0 Views

•

Cited by 2

•

2024

•

Abstracts

Seeing Acupuncture Regulating Visceral Pain with Calcium Imaging

Xinyan Gao*1

1Institute of Acupuncture, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences