Dr Nathalie Dehorter
Research interests
My research interests are oriented toward understanding the molecular and physiological tuning of interneurons during development and in pathology such as autism, schizophrenia or Parkinson’s disease, using high-level tools in electrophysiology, imaging, molecular biology and genetics.
Biography
Education:
- 2004:Orsay University, Paris XI, France - BSc
- 2006:Orsay University, Paris XI/ ENS Cachan, France - MSc Neurosciences
- 2006-2010: Luminy University (INMED), Marseille, France - PhD neurosciences
Postdoctoral training:
- 2011-2015: CSIC Alicante, Spain & MRC, King’s College of London, UK
Honours & Awards:
- 2014: FENS Travel Grant Milan, Italy
- 2011-2013:European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) long-term fellowship
- 2010:PhD grant from France Parkinson Association
- 2006-2009: PhD grant from « région PACA », France
Researcher's projects
Our projects aim to unravel the molecular commands underlying the adaptation of interneurons during development. We want to address three fundamental questions:
(1) How do interneurons form specific subnetworks?
(2) How do interneurons adapt their activity to environment?
(3) Can we detect early signs of interneuron dysfunction and restore normal activity?
Available student projects
- Research projects for Honours Students:
These projects include histological characterization (immunohistochemistry and western blot), in vitro patch-clamp recordings and behavioural studies during development in control and mutant mice.
(1) Role of a transcription factor involved in cell identity and function.
(2) Developmental expression and role of a receptor involved in schizophrenia.
(3) Early signs of impaired neuronal activity in a mouse model of striatum-related pathology.
- Research projects for PhD students:
These projects will study fundamental scientific concepts and will require the use of state-of-the-art multidisciplinary techniques.
(1) To understand the function of a receptor in interneuron identity and plasticity.
Electrophysiology (in vitro patch-clamp recordings), viral infections, opto-genetics, 2-photon calcium imaging and behaviour.
(2) To study the consequences of an impaired neuronal activity during development in a mouse model of autism.
Viral infections, opto- and pharmaco-genetic approaches and Electrophysiology (in vitro and in vivo recordings).
Publications
- Dehorter, N, Marichal, N, Marin, O et al 2017, 'Tuning neural circuits by turning the interneuron knob', Current Opinion in Neurobiology, vol. 42, pp. 144 - 151.
- Dehorter, N, Ciceri, G, Bartolini, G et al 2015, 'Tuning of fast-spiking interneuron properties by an activity-dependent transcriptional switch', Science, vol. 349, no. 6253, pp. 1216-1220.
- Dehorter, N & Hammond, C 2014, 'Giant GABAA receptor mediated currents in the striatum, a common signature of Parkinson's disease in pharmacological and genetic rodent models', Basal Ganglia, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 197-201.
- Dehorter, N & Ciceri, G 2014, 'Organization of interneurons lineages in the cerebral cortex [Organisation des lign�es d'interneurones du cortex c�r�bral]', Medecine Sciences, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 144 - 146.
- del Pino, I, Garcıa-Frigola, C, Dehorter, N et al 2013, 'Erbb4 Deletion from Fast-Spiking Interneurons Causes Schizophrenia-like Phenotypes', Neuron, vol. 79, no. 6, pp. 1152-1168.
- Ciceri, G, Dehorter, N, Sols, I et al 2013, 'Lineage-specific laminar organization of cortical GABAergic interneurons', Nature Neuroscience, vol. 16, no. 9, pp. 1199-U64.
- Ferrari, D, Mdzomba, B, Dehorter, N et al 2012, 'Midbrain dopaminergic neurons generate calcium and sodium currents and release dopamine in the striatum of pups', Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, vol. 6, no. March, pp. 1-9.
- Dehorter, N, Lozovaya, N, Mdzomba, B et al 2012, 'Subthalamic lesion or levodopa treatment rescues giant GABAergic currents of PINK1-deficient striatum', Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 32, no. 50, pp. 18047-18053.
- Dehorter, N, Vinay, L, Hammond, C et al 2012, 'Timing of developmental sequences in different brain structures: Physiological and pathological implications', European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 35, no. 12, pp. 1846-1856pp.
- Gelman, D, Griveau, A, Dehorter, N et al 2011, 'A wide diversity of cortical GABAergic interneurons derives from the embryonic preoptic area', Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 31, no. 46, pp. 16570-16580pp.
- Dehorter, N, Michel, F, Marissal, T et al 2011, 'Onset of pup locomotion coincides with loss of NR2C/D-mediated cortico-striatal EPSCs and dampening of striatal network immature activity', Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, vol. 5, no. November, pp. 1-14.
- Dehorter, N, Guigoni, C, Lopez, C et al 2009, 'Dopamine-deprived striatal GABAergic interneurons burst and generate repetitive gigantic IPSCs in medium spiny neurons', Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 29, no. 24, pp. 7776-7787.
- Bouvier, J, Autran, S, Dehorter, N et al 2008, 'Brain-derived neurotrophic factor enhances fetal respiratory rhythm frequency in the mouse preBötzinger complex in vitro', European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 510-520.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Fear Conditioning Cages (see 37697) (Primary Investigator)
- Molecular Control of the Interneuron Development and Function in Health and Disease (Primary Investigator)
- DigiGait Imaging System (see 34173) (Primary Investigator)
