Jeremy Day
@daylab.bsky.social
Neuroscientist at UAB interested in molecular and genetic mechanisms in brain function. Director, UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center.
A final note, buried in a supplemental figure but still very cool. The main place we saw interactions between pain and opioid exposure was in astrocytes as well. Here, pain states often created gene expression changes that were rescued by morphine administration!
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A final note, buried in a supplemental figure but still very cool. The main place we saw interactions between pain and opioid exposure was in astrocytes as well. Here, pain states often created gene expression changes that were rescued by morphine administration!
Next, we generated an astrocyte-targeted CRISPR tool to allow us to knock down NR3C1 in this population, and found that this also completely blocked the ability of cortisol to induce FKBP5.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Next, we generated an astrocyte-targeted CRISPR tool to allow us to knock down NR3C1 in this population, and found that this also completely blocked the ability of cortisol to induce FKBP5.
Application of cortisol onto these cells robustly increased FKBP5 levels, and this effect could be blocked by pretreatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone. We observed no changes when cells were treated with the µOR agonist DAMGO.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Application of cortisol onto these cells robustly increased FKBP5 levels, and this effect could be blocked by pretreatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone. We observed no changes when cells were treated with the µOR agonist DAMGO.
To test this directly, we generated a human-derived astrocyte model from cells with a ventral midbrain origin. As you can see here, they are beautiful and express known astrocyte marker genes like GFAP and S100B.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
To test this directly, we generated a human-derived astrocyte model from cells with a ventral midbrain origin. As you can see here, they are beautiful and express known astrocyte marker genes like GFAP and S100B.
Among the genes that was strongly induced in glial populations was Fkbp5, a co-chaperone closely linked to glucocorticoid signaling and stress response. Transcripts from this gene were increased in astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, but not neurons.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Among the genes that was strongly induced in glial populations was Fkbp5, a co-chaperone closely linked to glucocorticoid signaling and stress response. Transcripts from this gene were increased in astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, but not neurons.
However, to our surprise, the largest effects of opioids and pain/opioid interactions were observed in glial cells, such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, despite a lack of µOR expression in these cells.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
However, to our surprise, the largest effects of opioids and pain/opioid interactions were observed in glial cells, such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, despite a lack of µOR expression in these cells.
Consistent with this model, we found enriched expression of Oprm1, the gene that encodes the µOR, in a select population of GABA neurons. Additionally, we report selective increases in immediate early genes in dopamine neurons after morphine administration.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Consistent with this model, we found enriched expression of Oprm1, the gene that encodes the µOR, in a select population of GABA neurons. Additionally, we report selective increases in immediate early genes in dopamine neurons after morphine administration.
A classic circuit model for the rewarding effects of opioids posits that they decrease inhibition onto dopamine neurons by silencing GABAergic neurons that express the mu opioid receptor (µOR), the primary receptor target of commonly used opioids.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A classic circuit model for the rewarding effects of opioids posits that they decrease inhibition onto dopamine neurons by silencing GABAergic neurons that express the mu opioid receptor (µOR), the primary receptor target of commonly used opioids.
We focused on the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a key brain reward region that includes dopamine neurons which project to forebrain structures. The rat VTA is complex - we find multiple types of dopamine, glutamate, and GABA neurons, as well as various glial cell classes.
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
We focused on the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a key brain reward region that includes dopamine neurons which project to forebrain structures. The rat VTA is complex - we find multiple types of dopamine, glutamate, and GABA neurons, as well as various glial cell classes.
Excited to share this new work from the lab, in collaboration with @jtuscher.bsky.social & Rob Sorge! Here, we used single cell transcriptional profiling to define molecular adaptations induced by chronic pain and opioid experience, which often occur in conjunction.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Excited to share this new work from the lab, in collaboration with @jtuscher.bsky.social & Rob Sorge! Here, we used single cell transcriptional profiling to define molecular adaptations induced by chronic pain and opioid experience, which often occur in conjunction.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Excited to be co-chairing this @acnporg.bsky.social panel with chair @kr-maynard.bsky.social on opioid-responsive subpopulations in brain reward circuits. Special thanks to @rphillips3.bsky.social for helping to assemble the panel!
September 15, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Excited to be co-chairing this @acnporg.bsky.social panel with chair @kr-maynard.bsky.social on opioid-responsive subpopulations in brain reward circuits. Special thanks to @rphillips3.bsky.social for helping to assemble the panel!
Excited to be involved in the Alabama Summit on Addiction & Pain this week, featuring NIDA Director Nora Volkow. Tomorrow morning I’ll highlight how @uabneuro.bsky.social supports addiction research on campus, and Wednesday morning I’ll discuss some new work from the lab! @uabcappi.bsky.social
September 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Excited to be involved in the Alabama Summit on Addiction & Pain this week, featuring NIDA Director Nora Volkow. Tomorrow morning I’ll highlight how @uabneuro.bsky.social supports addiction research on campus, and Wednesday morning I’ll discuss some new work from the lab! @uabcappi.bsky.social
#FluorescenceFriday image from Olivia Drake in the lab.
Red = Chst9+ neurons in the ventral striatum
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
The red cells are full of the mu opioid receptor, the major target of opioids like morphine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Red = Chst9+ neurons in the ventral striatum
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
The red cells are full of the mu opioid receptor, the major target of opioids like morphine, fentanyl, and heroin.
August 22, 2025 at 10:20 PM
#FluorescenceFriday image from Olivia Drake in the lab.
Red = Chst9+ neurons in the ventral striatum
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
The red cells are full of the mu opioid receptor, the major target of opioids like morphine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Red = Chst9+ neurons in the ventral striatum
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
The red cells are full of the mu opioid receptor, the major target of opioids like morphine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Fun #FluorescenceFriday image from Olivia Drake in the lab of a sagittal rat brain section.
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
Yellow = Substance P, a protein product of the Tac1 gene
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
Yellow = Substance P, a protein product of the Tac1 gene
August 15, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Fun #FluorescenceFriday image from Olivia Drake in the lab of a sagittal rat brain section.
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
Yellow = Substance P, a protein product of the Tac1 gene
Cyan = DAPI, a DNA marker
Yellow = Substance P, a protein product of the Tac1 gene
This part seems to be directly at odds with the Senate's version of the FY26 budget and with prior language in budgets passed by congress and signed into law. Here, "Director" is OMB head.
August 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
This part seems to be directly at odds with the Senate's version of the FY26 budget and with prior language in budgets passed by congress and signed into law. Here, "Director" is OMB head.
Pretty sure my grandfather, who was a NASA engineer that worked on Saturn and Apollo missions in Alabama in the 1960s and 1970s, would be alarmed to see what’s happening now. This is faded but here is a technical drawing he produced for fiber optic viewing of the liquid oxygen supply for Saturn V.
July 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Pretty sure my grandfather, who was a NASA engineer that worked on Saturn and Apollo missions in Alabama in the 1960s and 1970s, would be alarmed to see what’s happening now. This is faded but here is a technical drawing he produced for fiber optic viewing of the liquid oxygen supply for Saturn V.
Double-blind placebo controlled trial (led by UAB faculty Dr. Timothy Garvey) demonstrates >20% weight loss with co-administration of cagrilintide (which targets amylin receptors) with semaglutide (which targets GLP-1 receptors).
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
July 9, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Double-blind placebo controlled trial (led by UAB faculty Dr. Timothy Garvey) demonstrates >20% weight loss with co-administration of cagrilintide (which targets amylin receptors) with semaglutide (which targets GLP-1 receptors).
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
At UAB’s annual NINDS/R25 supported NEURAL conference today and excited to learn from all of our internal and external speakers, including Corey Harwell!
June 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM
At UAB’s annual NINDS/R25 supported NEURAL conference today and excited to learn from all of our internal and external speakers, including Corey Harwell!
One of the most fun parts of this review was thinking about potential models for how drug-induced transcription factors select specific downstream functional gene programs to ultimately alter neuronal function.
April 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
One of the most fun parts of this review was thinking about potential models for how drug-induced transcription factors select specific downstream functional gene programs to ultimately alter neuronal function.
#FluorescenceFriday Some favorite transcriptionally-defined spatial domains identified using the 10X Genomics Xenium platform in the mouse brain.
April 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
#FluorescenceFriday Some favorite transcriptionally-defined spatial domains identified using the 10X Genomics Xenium platform in the mouse brain.
Incredible visit to University of Virginia for a seminar - so many fantastic PIs and trainees here. Thanks to @enieh36.bsky.social for the invitation! Night shot of the UVA rotunda below.
April 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Incredible visit to University of Virginia for a seminar - so many fantastic PIs and trainees here. Thanks to @enieh36.bsky.social for the invitation! Night shot of the UVA rotunda below.
Looking at these images always reminds me that when Ann Graybiel first made this observation with c-fos immunoradioactivity in 1990, it was probably a much more difficult experiment to pull off.
April 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Looking at these images always reminds me that when Ann Graybiel first made this observation with c-fos immunoradioactivity in 1990, it was probably a much more difficult experiment to pull off.
A fun #FluorescenceFriday image from our recent publication looking at markers for cocaine-activated neurons (defined by induction of the immediate early gene Fos, probed here using RNAscope) in the rat brain.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
April 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
A fun #FluorescenceFriday image from our recent publication looking at markers for cocaine-activated neurons (defined by induction of the immediate early gene Fos, probed here using RNAscope) in the rat brain.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Not every day that you get to watch a phenomenal student present a stunning PhD defense - this is really one of the best parts of the job! Congrats to lab superstar Dr. Kasey Brida on her successful defense! We will miss you in the lab, but also look forward to all of your future accomplishments!
April 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Not every day that you get to watch a phenomenal student present a stunning PhD defense - this is really one of the best parts of the job! Congrats to lab superstar Dr. Kasey Brida on her successful defense! We will miss you in the lab, but also look forward to all of your future accomplishments!
Great turnout at the Birmingham
@standupforscience.bsky.social rally!
@standupforscience.bsky.social rally!
March 7, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Great turnout at the Birmingham
@standupforscience.bsky.social rally!
@standupforscience.bsky.social rally!