Dr Sarah Bailey
Profile
Depression is estimated to affect 1 in 6 UK adults at any one time. Vulnerability to depression and anxiety is thought to arise from the influence of multiple genes acting together with environmental factors. However, the molecular basis of these diseases is not well understood. Depression and anxiety are complex behaviours involving multiple brain regions and as such can only be studied in a whole behaving organism. In my laboratory we use a combination of behavioural, electrophysiological and molecular techniques to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in anxiety and depression. The behavioural tasks used are non-invasive and use the innate behaviour of mice to assess novelty-induced changes in exploratory behaviour.
Kappa opioid receptors
Dynorphin is a neuropeptide, that acts at kappa opioid receptors (KOR), and has been implicated in drug reward, craving and withdrawal. The circuitry underlying emotional control and stress responses includes brainstem nuclei, amygdala, hippocampus and cortical regions. Both prodynorphin, the precursor for a number of dynorphin peptides, and KOR expression is high in these key structures in human and rodent brains. KOR agonists produce dysphoric responses in humans and aversive responses in rodents. KOR antagonists on the other hand have potential utility as antidepressants and anxiolytics. In collaboration with Dr Husband’s group, we are examining the role of KOR in stress-responsiveness and developing novel KOR ligands (funded by the Royal Society).
Retinoid Signalling
Retinoids are vitamin A-related compounds that play an established role in neuronal differentiation, outgrowth and patterning of the developing neural tube. Increasing evidence suggests that nutritional vitamin A status and retinoid signalling also play an important role in the function of the adult brain. We are investigating whether retinoid-signalling plays a role in depression- and anxiety-related behaviours (funded by the MRC).
For more information on neuroscience research at the University of Bath see our neuroscience network website.
Publications
Casal-Dominguez, J. J., Clark, M., Traynor, J. R., Husbands, S. M. and Bailey, S. J., 2013. In vivo and in vitro characterization of naltrindole-derived ligands at the κ-opioid receptor. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 27 (2), pp. 192-202.
Sadler, A. M. and Bailey, S. J., 2013. Forthcoming. Validation of a refined technique for taking repeated blood samples from juvenile and adult mice. Laboratory Animals
Drew, C. J. G., O'Reilly, K. C., Lane, M. A. and Bailey, S. J., 2011. Chronic administration of 13-cis-retinoic acid does not alter the number of serotoninergic neurons in the mouse raphe nuclei. Neuroscience, 172, pp. 66-73.
Bailey, S. J., Casal-Dominguez, J. J. and Husbands, S. M., 2011. Anxiolytic effects of novel kappa-opioid receptor antagonists in the elevated plus maze. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25 (8), A76.
Bailey, S. J., Casal-Dominguez, J. J., Bradbury, F. A., Traynor, J. R. and Husbands, S. M., 2010. In vivo characterisation of 5'-amino and amidino-alkyl, naltrindole derivatives at the kappa-opioid receptor. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 24 (Supplement 3), A42.
Bailey, S. J. and McCaffery, P. J., 2010. Vulnerability of the brain to neuropsychiatric disorders resulting from abnormal thyroid hormone or vitamin D homeostasis. In: Ritsner, M., ed. Brain Protection in Schizophrenia, Mood and Cognitive Disorders. Netherlands: Springer, pp. 105-133.
Trent, S., Drew, C. J. G., Mitchell, P. J. and Bailey, S. J., 2009. Chronic treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid changes aggressive behaviours in the resident-intruder paradigm in rats. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 19 (12), pp. 876-886.
O'Reilly, K. C., Shumake, J., Bailey, S. J., Gonzalez-Lima, F. and Lane, M. A., 2009. Chronic 13-cis-retinoic acid administration disrupts network interactions between the raphe nuclei and the hippocampal system in young adult mice. European Journal of Pharmacology, 605 (1-3), pp. 68-77.
Bailey, S. J. and McCaffery, P. J., 2009. Retinoic acid signalling in neuropsychiatric disease: possible markers and treatment agents. In: Ritsner, M. S., ed. The Handbook of Neuropsychiatric Biomarkers, Endophenotypes, and Genes. Volume III: Metabolic and Peripheral Biomarkers. Vol. 3. Netherlands: Springer, pp. 171-189.
O'Reilly, K., Bailey, S. J. and Lane, M. A., 2008. Retinoid-mediated regulation of mood: Possible cellular mechanisms. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 233 (3), pp. 251-258.
