Melanie M. Chen

A quantitative trait variant in Gabra2 underlies increased methamphetamine stimulant sensitivity

The paper identifies a Gabra2 variant that increases methamphetamine sensitivity using QTL analysis in mice and validates it with CRISPR correction.

Sex differences in behavioral and brainstem transcriptomic neuroadaptations following neonatal opioid exposure in outbred mice

This study investigates sex differences in behavioral and brainstem transcriptomic changes in mice exposed to neonatal opioids, finding sex-specific neuroadaptations linked to NOWS-like behaviors.

The striatal heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H mRNA targetome associated with methamphetamine administration and behavior

The paper identifies a dynamic hnRNP H RNA targetome in the striatum that responds to methamphetamine, affecting gene expression and behavior.

Fentanyl-induced antinociception, reward, reinforcement, and withdrawal in Hnrnph1 mutant mice

This study investigates the role of Hnrnph1 in fentanyl-induced behaviors, finding reduced sensitivity and reward in mutants with sex-specific effects.

The demyelinating agent cuprizone induces a male-specific reduction in binge eating in the binge-prone C57BL/6NJ strain

This study shows that cuprizone reduces binge eating specifically in male C57BL/6NJ mice, suggesting sex-specific mechanisms influenced by genetic background.

Cyfip1 haploinsufficiency increases compulsive-like behavior and modulates palatable food intake: Implications for Prader-Willi Syndrome

This study shows that Cyfip1 haploinsufficiency increases compulsive-like behavior and modulates palatable food intake in a parent-of-origin and genetic background-dependent manner in mice.

C57BL/6 substrain differences in inflammatory and neuropathic nociception and genetic mapping of a major quantitative trait locus underlying acute thermal nociception

The paper identifies a major QTL on chromosome 7 associated with acute thermal nociception in C57BL/6 mouse substrains.