Richard Simerly
Professor
Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine
Neurobiology, Biological Sciences
Director, Saban Neuroscience Program
Research Topics
- Axon targeting in limbic and hypothalamic neural pathways
- Leptin receptor signaling in developing hypothalamic circuitry
- Development of sexually dimorphic forebrain regions
Research Overview
The development of the brain depends on complex interactions between genetic factors and environmental influences, such as neuronal activity, growth factors and circulating hormones. Hormones secreted by peripheral organs can determine the number and chemical phenotype of specific sets of neurons during development, as well as direct formation of connections with other parts of the brain. Currently, we are studying the organization and development of forebrain pathways that regulate feeding and energy homeostasis. Recent findings indicate that these neural pathways develop under the influence of the adipocyte derived hormone leptin during discrete temporal domains, suggesting that there are region-specific, hormonally directed mechanisms governing the assembly of homeostatic circuits. Using axonal labeling methods and both in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches, we are determining if manipulations of genes known to participate in leptin signaling in mature animals also influence the development of the pathways that mediate hypothalamic responses to changes in energy balance. The results of this work indicate that leptin is indeed a major developmental factor that may mediate the developmental effects of a variety of environmental factors including nutrition.Contact Information
- E-mail:
- RSimerly@usc.edu
- Mailing Address:
- The Saban Research Institute of Childrens Hospital LA
4650 Sunset Blvd., Mailstop #135
Los Angeles, CA 90027 - Office Location:
- The Saban Research Institute
- Office Phone:
- (323) 361-8608
- Lab Location:
- Third floor, Saban Res Inst.
- Lab Phone:
- (323) 361-8533
- Fax:
- (323) 361-1549
Education
- University of California, Berkeley, AB, 1976
- University of California, Los Angeles, PhD, 1984
- The Salk Institute for Biological Research , 1984 - 1986
Research Images
Selected Publications
View a complete Google Scholar search
Simerly RB. (2008) Hypothalamic substrates of metabolic imprinting. Physiol Behav. 94(1):79-89. -PubMed
Bouret SG, Gorski JN, Patterson CM, Chen S, Levin BE, Simerly RB. (2008) Hypothalamic neural projections are permanently disrupted in diet-induced obese rats. Cell Metab. 7(2):179-185. -PubMed
Bouret SG, Simerly RB. (2007) Development of leptin-sensitive circuits. J Neuroendocrinol. 19(8):575-582 -PubMed
Polston E.K. and R.B. Simerly. (2006) Ontogeny of projections from the anteroventral periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in the female rat. J. Comp. Neurology 495:122-132. -PubMed
Bouret SG, Simerly RB. (2006) Developmental programming of hypothalamic feeding circuits. Clin Genet. 70(4):295-301. -PubMed
Cooke B.M. and R.B. Simerly. (2005) Ontogeny of bidirectional connections between the medial nucleus of the amygdala and the principal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the rat. J. Comp Neurol. 489:42-58. -PubMed
Simerly, R.B. (2005) Getting Wired on Hormones: Endocrine Regulation of Hypothalamic Development. Curr. Op. Neurobiol, 15:81-85. -PubMed
Forger NG, Rosen GJ, Waters EM, Jacob D, Simerly RB, de Vries GJ. (2004) Deletion of Bax eliminates sex differences in the mouse forebrain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 101(37):13666-13671. -PubMed
Bouret SG, Draper SJ, Simerly RB. (2004) Trophic action of leptin on hypothalamic neurons that regulate feeding. Science. 304(5667):108-110. -PubMed