Publications by authors named "Warda Merchant"
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the interaction between GLP-1-producing cells in the intestines and the peripheral nervous system, focusing on their potential role in obesity and diabetes treatments.
- Researchers used advanced microscopy techniques to find that only a small number of GLP-1 cells made contact with vagal nerve axons, suggesting limited direct synaptic connections.
- The findings indicate that GLP-1 cells likely communicate with vagal neurons mainly through paracrine signaling rather than synaptic mechanisms, as evidenced by the lack of specific synaptic markers in these cells.
Article Synopsis
- E93 is a crucial transcription factor in the metamorphosis process of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, influencing its transition from larval to adult behavior and physiology.
- A targeted RNAi screen identified E93, and further studies revealed that its knockdown affects key functions like appetite, metabolism, exercise endurance, and circadian rhythms, with specific impacts seen in GABA and MIP neurons.
- The findings suggest that E93, in conjunction with signals from the Ecdysone Receptor, plays a vital role in coordinating metabolic processes and behavioral changes during the transition to adulthood.
GPR149 is an orphan receptor about which little is known. Accordingly, in the present study, we mapped the tissue expression of in mice using three complementary approaches: quantitative PCR, hybridization, and a newly generated Gpr149-Cre reporter mouse model. The strongest expressions of were observed in neurons of the islands of Calleja, the ventromedial hypothalamus, and the rostral interpeduncular nucleus.
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