Epigenetic modulation of behavioral rhythms after bariatric surgery

Project Description:

Obese humans often suffer from irregular daily rhythms in food intake and sleep. Bariatric surgery is one of the few effective therapies for obesity in humans that often lead to improvements in sleep architecture and eating patterns. We speculate that changes in sleep and appetite regulation after bariatric surgery are mediated via epigenetic modulation of circadian clock function. We want to address this question using the sleeve gastrectomy mouse model of bariatric surgery in mice with altered circadian rhythm.


Experimental Methods:

• Working with genetically modified mice (knock-out mice), including breeding strategies and genotyping
• Sleeve Gastrectomy in obese mice
• Phenotyping of mice including measurement of locomotor activity (running-wheels), sleep (EEG) and feeding rhythms (automatic food monitors) and body weight
• Measurement of DNA methylation using Pyrosequencing
• DNA and RNA extraction
• PCR, qPCR

Publications

Landgraf, D., Neumann, A., and Oster, H.: Circadian clock-gastrointestinal peptide interaction in peripheral tissues and the brain. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab, vol. 31(6), pp. 561-571, 2017, doi.org/10.1016/j.beem.2017.10.007