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91ɫƵ Mickle Laboratory

Visceral Neurophysiology and Engineering

The Visceral Neurophysiology and Engineering Lab, led by Dr. Aaron Mickle focuses on neuronal control of bladder dysfunction and pain. Specifically, we investigate the fundamental mechanisms underlying bladder sensory function, including how sensory information is transmitted from non-neuronal cells within the bladder to sensory neurons, and how the central nervous system encodes this information. Our lab is committed to developing innovative treatments for various bladder disorders, such as overactive bladder, bladder pain syndrome, and bladder dysfunction following spinal cord injury.
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Research Approach

We approach research from multiple angles, including:

Research tool development:

Creating advanced tools to study bladder function and dysfunction.

Implantable biomedicine treatments:

Exploring novel approaches for managing bladder-related conditions.

Validating new pharmacological targets:

Identifying potential drug targets to improve patient outcomes.

Mission/Vision

We extend our interest beyond bladder-related issues to include pelvic organ pain and interoception. Our goal is to enhance our understanding of these complex physiological processes and contribute to better patient care.

Current Projects

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Sensory Role of Urothelial Cells

Urothelial cells play an active role in bladder physiology by responding to physical/chemical stimuli and signaling to sensory neurons and other cell types in the bladder. Numerous bladder diseases affecting millions of people, including overactive bladder, pain related to recurrent bladder infection, chemotherapeutic cystitis, and bladder pain syndrome, have been suspected to disrupt urothelial sensory signaling, leading to pathological changes to sensory signaling, including pain. While it has been accepted that urothelial cells play a role in bladder sensory function, it is unclear how these cells contribute to the sensation of filling and how it is altered under painful conditions. To unravel the role of urothelial cells in bladder nociception and sensory dysfunction, we have developed a novel mouse model that allows for direct stimulation of urothelial cells using optogenetics, light activated proteins. This project broadly focuses on functionally and molecularly identify the population of sensory neurons responding to direct urothelial stimulation of sensory nerve activity in normal and inflammatory conditions. We are using in vivo electrophysiology, fMRI and wireless implantable LEDs paired with behavior to study this question.
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Technology Development

Our lab works closely with material, chemical, and electrical engineers to develop new tools to study the nervous system with the end goal of using these tools to study the changes that occur in these systems during and after the development of chronic pain, as well as the hopeful end goal of implementing these strategies in patients.
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Angiotensin Signaling in the Bladder

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is associated with increased voiding frequency, nocturia, bladder fibrosis, and chronic pelvic pain. It affects between 2.5 to 6.7% of women in the United States. Current treatment options are ineffective for all patients and are associated with detrimental side effects. One understudied signaling peptide/hormone in IC/BPS is angiotensin II (Ang II). In addition to its role in vasoconstriction, water retention, and stress response, Ang II contributes to several diseases by promoting oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokine release, and fibrosis, resulting in increased nociception and sensory sensitivity. However, compared to other organ systems (cardiac, kidneys, and lungs), relatively little is known about the function of Ang II signaling in the bladder under pathophysiologic conditions. There are several intriguing links between IC/BPS pathology and angiotensin signaling. 1) IC/BPS patients have increased infiltration of mast cells, which represent a source of increased renin and Ang II. 2) IC/BPS patients and animal disease models have increased bladder oxidative stress, and angiotensin signaling increases ROS production. 3) IC/BPS patients have increased expression of inflammatory mediators, which can be released by Ang II downstream signaling. 4) Fibrosis is observed in patients and animal models of IC/BPS, and Ang II signaling has been linked to fibrosis in heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. Given the foundation of IC/BPS research demonstrating increases in local mast cells/macrophages, oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, fibrosis, and the wealth of literature describing similar Ang II molecular signaling events in other tissues, we believe it is essential to further explore the role of Ang II in bladder diseases.
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Bladder Function and Spinal Cord Injury

More than 17,000 Americans suffer from spinal cord injuries yearly, and many of these patients suffer from lower urinary tract dysfunction. One of these bladder disorders is detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, where the detrusor muscle constricts to push urine out of the bladder, and the urethral sphincters relax to allow urine to pass out the urethra, cannot coordinate their actions to produce a void. Electrical neuromodulation technologies can improve symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction. Still, due to the complexity of the circuit and neural systems involved, these therapies are unable to initiate a coordinated voiding contraction on-demand. We are developing an optogenetic neuromodulatory approach to target and independently control the two main neuronal systems (parasympathetic and somatic motor) that are integral to the voiding reflex. Further, we are working on a class of drugs called ampakines that we have shown can acutely improve bladder function in a model of spinal cord injury.

Meet the Team

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Aaron Mickle, PhD

Associate Professor

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Firoj Alom, DVM, MS, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

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Hannah Anderson

BME Graduate Student

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Gabbie Robilotto

UF Graduate Student

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Bhavana Talluri, MS

Research Associate I

Joining the Mickle Lab

How to become part of our group:

Graduate Students

We currently have funding for one graduate student! We are involved in two Graduate School Programs. Please click on the link below for more details on how to apply for these programs. If you are already in the program and interested in rotating, please reach out directly to Aaron Mickle via email.

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biomedical Scienceshosted at the 91ɫƵ

through Marquette University and 91ɫƵ

Postdoctoral Positions

We currently have funding for two postdoctoral fellows in multiple areas, depending on the candidate’s interests and skill levels. Please reach out via email to Dr. Aaron Mickle if interested.

Undergraduate Research

We actively support undergraduate research. If you are an undergraduate in Milwaukee and want to work in the lab during the semester, please reach out via email. Summer Research Programs are the best way to get involved in research as they provide an extended full-time research experience that pays you!

Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) hosted at the 91ɫƵ

Updates from the Mickle Lab

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June 2024
June 1, 2024
Dr. Mickle was recently interviewed for an article on brain bladder interactions and how urine urgency is perceived.

April 2024
April 29, 2024
The lab moved to the 91ɫƵ

April 25, 2024

Congratulations to Gabbie Robilotto for winning 2nd best poster presentation for graduate students and Firoj Alom, who won third place in the postdoc category at the annual UF CVM Phi Zeta Research Day. Way to go!
March 2024
March 7, 2024
Congrats to Drs. Firoj Alom and Sabhya Rana on their co-first author publication in eLife! We show evidence that AMPA receptors play a key role in bladder function. Additionally, we show convincingly that AMPA allosteric activators can ameliorate many of the subacute defects in bladder and external urethral sphincter function following SCI, including prolonged voiding intervals and high bladder pressure thresholds for voiding. These valuable results in rodents may help in the development of these agents as therapeutics for humans with SCI-induced bladder dysfunction.

August 2023
August 25, 2023
Dr. Mickle, an assistant professor in the department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded the 2023 University of Florida Excellence Award for Assistant Professors, a campus-wide achievement and top honor for junior faculty.

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Contact the Mickle Lab

amickle@mcw.edu
(Email is the best way to reach the lab.)