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We met Stuart Tobet, member of our ‘Neural Homeostasis’ Section, at the Society of Neuroscience (SfN) meeting in November. He talked to us about his research on the development of the paraventricular nucleus, a part of the hypothalamus that is important for a lot of different homeostatic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral functions, e.g. sex behaviour, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and mood disorders.

Tobet’s lab differs slightly from other labs in that they look at this area from the perspective of the developing blood-brain barrier. In general, the development of the blood-brain barrier is influenced by neurotransmitters, and their research specifically focuses on how the neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) affects blood vessel ingrowth into this area of the brain.

This is important because a defect in the developing blood-brain barrier may allow molecules to enter the brain that would normally be shut out, and these molecules may become contributing factors to the development of disease pathologies.

Tobet predicts that there will be a lot more research focus on neurovascular development in the future.
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