Research Symposium

BIO

Detail-oriented and passionate research Honors student majoring in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience in the Pre-Med track. Proficient in data analysis, biological research, and laboratory techniques, with a strong ability to communicate with others. Interested in contributing to neuroscience advancements, especially regarding neuro-radiology.Detail-oriented and passionate research Honors student majoring in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience in the Pre-Med track. Proficient in data analysis, biological research, and laboratory techniques, with a strong ability to communicate with others. Interested in contributing to neuroscience advancements, especially regarding neuro-radiology.

Molecular Resilience to Acute Sleep Deprivation in Female Mice

Abstract

Sleep deprivation is a widespread public health concern linked to cognitive impairment and altered brain function. The hippocampus and cortex play key roles in learning, memory, and higher cognitive processing, yet these regions respond differently to physiological stressors such as sleep loss. Understanding region-specific gene expression changes following sleep deprivation helps clarify how molecular pathways contribute to functional outcomes. In this study, mice were group-housed and later separated into individual cages before undergoing five hours of acute sleep deprivation. Following sleep deprivation, mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation, and hippocampal and cortical tissues were collected, flash frozen on dry ice, and processed for RNA extraction and cleanup. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is being used to assess changes in gene expression between hippocampal and cortical samples following sleep deprivation. Preliminary observations indicate decreased BDNF expression in the hippocampus after sleep deprivation. Ongoing qPCR analysis of cortical tissue will determine whether gene expression changes differ across brain regions, including whether cortical responses oppose or parallel hippocampal changes. These findings will help clarify how acute sleep loss differentially impacts molecular signaling in distinct brain regions.

Keywords: Sleep Deprivation, Hippocampal Tissue, Cognitive, Gene expressions