Sebastien G. Bouret Assistant Professor Pediatrics, School of Medicine Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Keck School of Medicine

Education:
BS 1996 Biochemistry - University of Reims, France
MS 1998 Biology - University of Lille, France
PhD 2001 - University of Lille, France

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship:
2001-2004 Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR

Started at USC: 2006

Research Topics: Cellular Neurobiology

Research Description

Neural networks necessary for many instinctive behaviors and physiological functions are formed primarily during the perinatal period under the influence of what appear to be activity independent developmental mechanisms. When an individual is confronted with environmental conditions that differ markedly from those present during perinatal development, however, disorders can ensue. This seems to be particularly true for prevalence of obesity. Epidemiological evidence indicates that alterations in perinatal nutrition (e.g. caloric restriction and overfeeding) can predispose an individual toward obesity and associated diseases such as type 2 diabetes, especially in an environment with wide availability of calorie dense foods. Despite these observations, little is known about the underlying mechanisms mediating this metabolic imprinting. Our general research interest is to understand how neural networks controlling energy balance develop as well as to investigate the long-term consequences of their abnormal development on metabolism.

Selected Publications

Bouret SG. - Crossing the Border: Developmental Regulation of Leptin Transport to the Brain. - Endocrinology [ 2008 ] Mar;149(3):875-876 . PubMed

Bouret SG, Gorski JN, Patterson CM, Chen S, Levin BE, Simerly RB. - Hypothalamic neural projections are permanently disrupted in diet-induced obese rats. - Cell Metab [ 2008 ] Feb;7(2):179-85 . PubMed

Prevot V, Dehouck B, Poulain P, Beauvillain JC, Buee-Scherrer V, Bouret S. - Neuronal-glial-endothelial interactions and cell plasticity in the postnatal hypothalamus: implications for the neuroendocrine control of reproduction. - Psychoneuroendocrinology [ 2007 ] Aug;32 Suppl 1:S46-51 . PubMed

Bouret SG, Simerly RB. - Development of leptin-sensitive circuits. - J Neuroendocrinol [ 2007 ] Aug;19(8):575-82 . PubMed

Bouret SG, Simerly RB. - Developmental programming of hypothalamic feeding circuits. - Clin Genet [ 2006 ] Oct;70(4):295-301 . PubMed

Gohlke BC, Huber A, Bartmann P, Fimmers R, Hecher K, Bouret SG, Roth CL. - Cord blood leptin and IGF-I in relation to birth weight differences and head circumference in monozygotic twins. - J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab [ 2006 ] Jan;19(1):3-9 . PubMed

Bouret SG, Draper SJ, Simerly RB. - Trophic action of leptin on hypothalamic neurons that regulate feeding. - Science [ 2004 ] Apr 2;304(5667):108-10 . PubMed

Bouret SG, Simerly RB. - Minireview: Leptin and development of hypothalamic feeding circuits. - Endocrinology [ 2004 ] Jun;145(6):2621-6 . PubMed

Bouret SG, Draper SJ, Simerly RB. - Formation of projection pathways from the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus to hypothalamic regions implicated in the neural control of feeding behavior in mice. - J Neurosci [ 2004 ] Mar 17;24(11):2797-805 . PubMed

Bouret S, De Seranno S, Beauvillain JC, Prevot V. - Transforming growth factor beta1 may directly influence gonadotropin-releasing hormone gene expression in the rat hypothalamus. - Endocrinology [ 2004 ] Apr;145(4):1794-801 . PubMed