Meghan G. Connolly

Exercise engages a mechanically activated astrocyte state linking muscle activity to hippocampal plasticity

This study identifies astrocyte contraction as a mechanism by which exercise signals from muscles influence hippocampal plasticity through increased proliferation and neuronal network modulation.

Exercise-induced plasma-derived extracellular vesicles increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis

This study shows that plasma-derived extracellular vesicles from exercising mice increase hippocampal neurogenesis and astrogliogenesis in sedentary mice, without affecting vascular density.

NanoString Technologies Neuropathology Panel Produces Unreliable Measurements of Mouse Hippocampal Gene Expression

The paper evaluates the reliability of NanoString Neuropathology panel measurements for mouse hippocampal gene expression and finds low reliability.

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing reveals enduring signatures of acute stress and chronic exercise in striatal microglia

This study uses single-nucleus RNA sequencing to show that acute stress and chronic exercise alter striatal microglia activation profiles and gene expression.

Influenza A virus during pregnancy disrupts maternal intestinal immunity and fetal cortical development in a dose- and time-dependent manner

This study investigates how influenza A virus infection during pregnancy affects maternal intestinal immunity and fetal brain development, finding dose-dependent effects without increased IL-17 signaling.