Honors Theses

Temporal Expression of Phospholamban In the Thalamic Reticular Nucleus of the Mouse Brain

Advisor

Pothitos M. Pitychoutis, Ph.D.

Department

Biology

Publication Date

4-22-2026

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

Calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling comprises a fundamental regulator of neuronal development and function, with disruptions in intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis implicated in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease. The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase 2 (SERCA2) plays a central role in maintaining intracellular Ca²⁺ balance by sequestering Ca²⁺ ions into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). SERCA2 activity in the ER is negatively regulated by the small phosphoprotein phospholamban (PLN). While PLN has been extensively characterized in cardiac tissue, our lab has recently identified its expression within the inhibitory neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) of the adult mouse brain. The present study investigated the temporal expression of PLN in the TRN during different postnatal stages of mouse brain development. Using free-floating fluorescent immunohistochemistry (IHC), we specifically assessed the thalamic reticular expression of PLN in juvenile, adolescent and adult mice on postnatal days 15, 30, 60, and 90 (i.e., PD15, PD30, PD60, and PD90). Our findings provide additional insights into the role that the PLN/SERCA2 pathway may play in the maturation of the thalamic reticular neuronal circuits.

Permission Statement

This item is protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and may only be used for noncommercial, educational, and scholarly purposes.

Keywords

Undergraduate research

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