The role of Locus coeruleus astrocytes in CO2 sensing: investigating sex-differentiated calcium signaling and gene expression

• Grant number: 24/23515-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão
• Grantee: Alana Tercino Frias
• Supervisor: Eric Herlenius
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/05057-0 - Contribution of Locus Coeruleus (LC) glial cells in the cardiorespiratory response to hypercapnia and in the manifestation of CO2-induced panic attacks, BP.PD

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the role of astrocytes in the locus coeruleus (LC) in response to CO2 exposure, with a focus on sex-specific differences. Using genetically modified mice expressing the GCaMP6f calcium sensor in astrocytes, we will monitor astrocytic calcium dynamics during normocapnia and hypercapnia through Ca2+ time-lapse imaging. Additionally, we will employ the Smart-seq3xpress single-cell RNA sequencing protocol to explore transcriptomic differences between male and female astrocytes in the LC. This approach will enable the identification of sex-specific gene expression patterns, alternative splicing events, and isoform usage. The project aims to advance our understanding of astrocytic functions in respiratory regulation and behavioral responses, with particular attention to how these processes differ between sexes. By leveraging cutting-edge imaging and transcriptomic techniques, this research will provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CO2 sensing and sex-specific neurological responses.