Utkarsha A Singh, PhD

The opioid system in the brain is responsible for processing affective states such as pain, pleasure, and reward. It consists of three main receptors, mu- (μ-ORs), delta- (δ-ORs), and kappa- (κ-ORs), and their ligands – the endogenous opioid peptides. Despite their involvement in the reward pathway, and a signaling mechanism operating in synergy with the dopaminergic system, fewer reports focus on the role of these receptors in higher cognitive processes. Whereas research on opioids is predomina

Although the interplay between endogenous opioids and dopamine (DA) in the basal ganglia (BG) is known to underlie diverse motor functions, few studies exist on their role in modulating speech and vocalization. Vocal impairment is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), wherein DA depletion affects striosomes rich in μ-opioid receptors (μ-ORs). Symptoms of opioid addiction also include deficiencies in verbal functions and speech. To understand the interplay between the opioid system and BG

We had earlier demonstrated a neurofilament-rich plexus of axons in the presumptive human auditory cortex during fetal development which became adult-like during infancy. To elucidate the origin of these axons, we studied the expression of the vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT) 1 and 2 in the human auditory cortex at different stages of development. While VGLUT-1 expression predominates in intrinsic and cortico-cortical synapses, VGLUT-2 expression predominates in thalamocortical synapses.

Although the catecholaminergic circuitry in the zebra finch brain has been well studied, there is little information regarding the postsynaptic targets of dopamine. To answer this question, we looked at overall patterns of immunoreactivity for DARPP-32 (a dopamine and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein, present mostly in dopaminoceptive neurons) in adult male zebra finches. Our results demonstrated that as in mammals and other avian species, DARPP-32 expression was highest in both medial and lateral

1 M Tris solution (pH 8.0), 0.5 M EDTA (pH 8.0), 10X TE (Tris EDTA) Buffer (pH 8.0), 5% Chelex suspension (pH 8.0, to be prepared in 1X TE buffer), 7.5 M Ammonium acetate, 3 M Sodium acetate, 10 N NaOH (for pH adjustment, to be made in autoclaved deionized water), 50X Tris Acetate EDTA buffer (TAE buffer, pH 8.6), 5× Tris Borate EDTA buffer (TBE buffer pH 8.3), 30% Acrylamide Bis Acrylamide solution (Table 1).

All experiments conducted on birds (zebra finches, n = 5; Indian house crows, n = 5)