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JOHN D. BOUGHTER, JR., Ph.D.
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Research InterestsIngestive decisions play a key role in a number of human conditions including obesity, diabetes, anorexia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. We are currently using neurogenetic approaches towards identifying genes that influence ingestive behaviors, including taste sensitivity, solution intake, and licking in mice. Fluid licking in mice is thought to be under the control of one or more central pattern generators (CPG); that is, an ensemble of neurons in the CNS that generate the rhythmic output which in turn drives certain groups of muscles to act in a stereotyped, coordinated fashion. Two inbred strains of mice, C57BL/2J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2), differ in their licking behavior – D2 mice lick at a faster rate. This is likely due to a difference in the properties of the CPG. Unfortunately, the exact nature of the CPG is unknown, except for a good guess as to what part of the CNS it may reside in. We will attempt to uncover this mechanism by identifying genes that may control it. We are also embarking on a series of physiological investigations of these brain regions using in vivo recording preparations.
The above figure shows the results of a preliminary genome scan for lick rate using BXD recombinant inbred mice (this data is available using the search databases feature at the website www.webqtl.org). We have identified intervals (peaks of the blue trace) on chromosomes 1, 5, and 10 that likely contain genes that influence this trait. Recent Publications
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