David D Ginty
David D Ginty, PhD
Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler Professor of Neurobiology
Department Chair

A fundamental question in neuroscience is how we perceive and respond to our environment. Our laboratory uses mouse molecular genetics, circuit mapping, and electrophysiological analyses to gain understanding of the development, organization, and function of neural circuits that underlie the sense of touch. Mouse molecular genetic approaches are used to identify, visualize, and functionally manipulate each of the physiologically defined classes of low-threshold mechanosensory neurons (LTMRs), the primary cutaneous sensory neurons that mediate the sense of touch. We have also gained genetic access to neurons that receive and process LTMR inputs in the spinal cord and propagate this information to the brain. Our current goals are to discover: 1) unique functions and properties of LTMR subtypes; 2) the organization and logic of synaptic connections between LTMR subtypes, spinal cord dorsal horn interneurons and projection neurons, and dorsal column nuclei neurons; 3) ascending pathways that underlie the perception of touch, 4) cellular and circuit level alterations that underlie touch sensitivity deficits in autism spectrum disorders and neuropathic pain, and; 5) mechanisms by which primary somatosensory neurons and touch circuit organization are established during development.

Publications View
Activity-dependent development of the body's touch receptors.
Authors: Authors: Santiago C, Sharma N, Africawala N, Siegrist J, Handler A, Tasnim A, Anjum R, Turecek J, Lehnert BP, Renauld S, Nolan-Tamariz M, Iskols M, Magee AR, Paradis S, Ginty DD.
bioRxiv
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Coding of self and environment by Pacinian neurons in freely moving animals.
Authors: Authors: Turecek J, Ginty DD.
bioRxiv
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Three-dimensional reconstructions of mechanosensory end organs suggest a unifying mechanism underlying dynamic, light touch.
Authors: Authors: Handler A, Zhang Q, Pang S, Nguyen TM, Iskols M, Nolan-Tamariz M, Cattel S, Plumb R, Sanchez B, Ashjian K, Shotland A, Brown B, Kabeer M, Turecek J, DeLisle MM, Rankin G, Xiang W, Pavarino EC, Africawala N, Santiago C, Lee WA, Xu CS, Ginty DD.
Neuron
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The projection-specific signals that establish functionally segregated dopaminergic synapses.
Authors: Authors: Terauchi A, Yee P, Johnson-Venkatesh EM, Seiglie MP, Kim L, Pitino JC, Kritzer E, Zhang Q, Zhou J, Li Y, Ginty DD, Lee WA, Umemori H.
Cell
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Skin-type-dependent development of murine mechanosensory neurons.
Authors: Authors: Koutsioumpa C, Santiago C, Jacobs K, Lehnert BP, Barrera V, Hutchinson JN, Schmelyun D, Lehoczky JA, Paul DL, Ginty DD.
Dev Cell
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DRG afferents that mediate physiologic and pathologic mechanosensation from the distal colon.
Authors: Authors: Wolfson RL, Abdelaziz A, Rankin G, Kushner S, Qi L, Mazor O, Choi S, Sharma N, Ginty DD.
Cell
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Calretinin-expressing islet cells are a source of pre- and post-synaptic inhibition of non-peptidergic nociceptor input to the mouse spinal cord.
Authors: Authors: Davis OC, Dickie AC, Mustapa MB, Boyle KA, Browne TJ, Gradwell MA, Smith KM, Polgár E, Bell AM, Kókai É, Watanabe M, Wildner H, Zeilhofer HU, Ginty DD, Callister RJ, Graham BA, Todd AJ, Hughes DI.
Sci Rep
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Krause corpuscles of the genitalia are vibrotactile sensors required for normal sexual behavior.
Authors: Authors: Qi L, Iskols M, Handler A, Ginty DD.
bioRxiv
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?-Protocadherins control synapse formation and peripheral branching of touch sensory neurons.
Authors: Authors: Meltzer S, Boulanger KC, Chirila AM, Osei-Asante E, DeLisle M, Zhang Q, Kalish BT, Tasnim A, Huey EL, Fuller LC, Flaherty EK, Maniatis T, Garrett AM, Weiner JA, Ginty DD.
Neuron
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A Hypothalamic Circuit Underlying the Dynamic Control of Social Homeostasis.
Authors: Authors: Liu D, Rahman M, Johnson A, Tsutsui-Kimura I, Pena N, Talay M, Logeman BL, Finkbeiner S, Choi S, Capo-Battaglia A, Abdus-Saboor I, Ginty DD, Uchida N, Watabe-Uchida M, Dulac C.
bioRxiv
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