Gregory Kirschen
Education:
B.A. Princeton University (2012)
MD/PhD Stony Brook University (2020)
Advisor:
Shaoyu Ge, PhD
Graduate Program:
Pharmacological Sciences
Research Interest:
Adult brains are constantly reshaping themselves from synapses to circuits as we encounter novel experiences from moment to moment. Importantly, this reshaping also includes the addition of newborn hippocampal neurons. However, it remains largely unknown how our circuits encode experience-induced brain activity to govern the addition of new hippocampal neurons. By coupling in vivo Ca2+ imaging of dentate granule neurons with a novel, unrestrained virtual reality system for rodents, we discovered that a new experience rapidly and robustly increased the firing of active dentate granule neurons, and was accompanied by an accumulative enhancement in the addition of new hippocampal neurons. Silencing this activation optogenetically during novel experiences perturbed experience-induced neuronal addition. Given the high metabolic demands associated with maintaining a continuous pool of proliferating and maturing cells, we next asked whether the addition of new hippocampal neurons is regulated by the vascular supply. We developed a technique to non-invasively target astrocytes, cells that couple neuronal activity to vascular recruitment. Upon genetic ablation of astrocytes, we observed sharply decreased survival of newborn hippocampal neurons. Together, these data provide new insights into how experience and brain activity shape the ongoing generation of new neurons in the adult brain.
Publications:
Peer-Reviewed Original Research Publications
Kirschen GW, Pollard J, Herrera K. “One if by vaginal, two if by C (section): An argument for vaginal delivery for hemophilia A carriers with male fetuses.” Submitted.
Kirschen GW, Belal M, Fuhrer J. “Pasteurella multocida bacteremia as the initial presentation of acute myeloid leukemia.” Submitted.
*Kirschen GW†, Yang C-H†, Di Antonio A†, Varma P, Hsieh J, Ge S. “Circuit integration initiation of new hippocampal neurons in the adult brain. Submitted.
Kirschen GW, Altieri MS, Yelika S, Bates AT, Schnur J, Docimo S, Spaniolas K, Zhu C, Yang J, Talamini M, Pryor AD, Sbayi S. “Does the adoption of an Emergency General Surgery service model influence volume of cholecystectomies at a tertiary care center.” In Revision, Surg Endosc.
Kirschen GW, Singer DD, Thode HC, Singer AJ. “Relationship between body temperature and heart rate in adults and children: A local and national study.” Accepted, in press, Amer J Emer Med.
*Kirschen GW†, Wang J†, Shen J†, Jessberger S, Gu Y, Xiong Q, Ge S. “Lateral dispersion is required for circuit integration of newly generated dentate granule cells.” Accepted, in press. Nature Communications.
Kirschen GW, Seidman R, Chitkara M, Cherian J. “Progressive bilateral lower extremity weakness and muscle soreness in a 17-year-old dancer.” Accepted, in press. Peds in Rev.
Kirschen GW, Semenyuk N. “Primary amenorrhea, aplastic uterus, and a functional vagina: A rare case of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome.” 2019. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 3409548: 1-4. PMID: 31275680.
Jones JJ, Kirschen GW, Kancharla S, Hale L. “Association between late night tweeting and next-day game performance among professional basketball players.” 2019. Sleep Health. 5(1):68-71. PMID: 30670169.
Kirschen GW, Kim E, Adsumelli RSN. “Dexmedetomidine-induced massive diuresis in a patient undergoing spinal fusion surgery: a case report and synthesis of the literature.” 2019. A A Pract. 12(4):112-114. PMID: 30085933.
*Kirschen GW, Ge S, Park IM. “Probability of viral labeling of neural stem cells in vivo.” 2018. Neurosci Lett. 681:17-18. PMID: 29777716.
*Kirschen GW, Kery R, Liu H, Ahamad A, Chen L, Akmentin W, Kumar R, Levine J, Xiong Q, Ge S. “Genetic dissection of neuro-glio-vascular machinery in the adult brain.” 2018. Mol Brain. 11(2). PMID: 29335006.
*Rao S, Kirschen GW, Szczurkowska J, Di Antonio A, Wang J, Ge S, Shelly M. “Re-positioning of somatic Golgi apparatus is essential for the dendritic establishment of adult-born hippocampal neurons.” 2018. J Neurosci. 38(3): 631-647. PMID: 29217690. (Featured in Journal Club).
Kirschen GW, Lane DS, Messina CR, Fisher PR. “Do they Practice What We Preach: Findings from over a Decade of Breast Imaging CME.” 2018. Breast J. 24(1): 101-102. PMID: 28585709.
Kirschen GW, Kirschen H, Gabalski E, Waxner J, Wohl A. “Successful use of guanfacine in a patient with chronic refractory cough: a case report.” 2017. Resp Med Case Rep. 22: 268-270. PMID: 29201635.
*Kirschen GW†, Shen J†, Tian M, Schroeder B, Wang J, Man G, Wu S, Ge S. “Active dentate granule cells encode experience to promote the addition of adult-born hippocampal neurons.” 2017. J Neurosci, 37(18): 461-467. PMID: 28373391. (Featured article)
*Kirschen GW, Liu H, Lang T, Liang X, Ge S, Xiong Q. “The radial organization of neuronal primary cilia is acutely disrupted by seizure and ischemic brain injury.” 2017. Front Biol, 12(2): 124-138. PMID: 28473847.
*Kirschen GW†, Rhee S†, Gu Y, Ge S. “Depletion of primary cilia from mature dentate granule cells impairs hippocampus-dependent contextual memory.” 2016. Sci Rep, 6(34370): 1-10. PMID: 27678193.
Kirschen GW, Lane DS, Messina CR. “Assessing the Perceived Utility and Impact of a Continuing Medical Education Activity in Family Medicine.” 2016. Family Doctor, 4(3): 30-32. http://www.nysafp.org/getattachment/News/NEWS-ARCHIVE/Family-Doctor-Winter-2016-(Vol-4,-No-3)/1453223977_2016-Winter-Final.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US.
Bocarsly ME, Fasolino M, Kane GA, LaMarca EA, Kirschen GW, Karatsoreos IN, McEwen BS, Gould E. “Obesity diminishes synaptic markers, alters microglial morphology and impairs cognitive function.” 2015. PNAS, 112(51): 15731-15736. PMID: 26644559.
MSTP-supported publications indicated with *
Equal contribution to the work indicated with †
Review Articles, Editorials & Book Chapters
Wohl A, Kirschen GW. “Reading the child within: How bibliotherapy can help the victim of child sexual abuse.” Accepted, in press. J Child Sex Abus.
Kirschen GW, Ge S. “Young at heart: Insights into hippocampal neurogenesis in the aged brain.”Behav Brain Res. 369: 1-5. PMID: 31054278.
Kéry R, Chen APF, Kirschen GW. “Genetic manipulation of astrocytes to combat neurodegenerative disease.” Accepted, in press. Neural Regen Res.
Shelly M, Rao S, Kirschen GW. “Author response to Sundaram and Garg Journal Club.” 2018. J Neurosci. 38(21). http://www.jneurosci.org/content/38/21/4843/tab-e-letters.
Kirschen GW, Jones JJ, Hale L. “The impact of sleep duration on performance among competitive athletes: a systematic literature review.” Clin J Sport Med. ePub ahead of print, PMID: 29944513.
*Kirschen GW, Kéry R, Ge S. “The hippocampal neuro-glio-vascular network: metabolic vulnerability and potential neurogenic regeneration in disease.” 2018. Brain Plasticity. 3(2):129-144. PMID: 30151338.
Wohl A, Kirschen GW. “Betrayal of the body: Group approaches to hypo-sexuality for adult female sufferers of childhood sexual abuse.” J Child Sex Abus. 27(2): 154-160. PMID: 29509103.
Hale L, Kirschen GW, LeBourgeois MK, Gradisar M, Garrison, MM, Montgomery-Downs HE, Kirschen H, McHale, SM, Chang A, Buxton, OM. “Youth screen media habits and sleep: sleep-friendly screen behavior recommendations for clinicians, educators, and parents.” 2018. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 27(2): 229-245. PMID: 29502749.
*Kirschen GW, Xiong Q. “Primary cilia as a novel horizon between neuron and environment.” 2017. Neural Regen Res. 12(8):1225-1230. PMID: 28966631.
*Kirschen GW, Sailor KA, Ge S. “Structural plasticity induced by adult neurogenesis.” In: The Rewiring Brain: A Computational Approach to Structural Plasticity in the Adult Brain. 2017. San Diego: Academic Press & Elsevier, 27-43. ISBN: 9780128037843.
*Kirschen GW, Di Antonio A, Ge S. “Neurobiology & Physiology of Hippocampal Neurogenesis: Physiology & Plasticity.” In: Adult Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus: Health, Psychopathology, and Brain Disease. 2016. Academic Press & Elsevier, 19-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801977-1.00002-7.
MSTP-supported publications indicated with *
Equal contribution to the work indicated with †
