Research Abstract:
Glutamate and GABA are the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system, playing roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. On the one hand these agents function in normal synaptic transmission; yet alterations in these systems can have profound consequences leading to seizures and neuronal damage.
Our laboratory is interested in the physiology and pharmacology of amino acid neurotransmitters with emphasis on the regulation of fast excitatory and inhibitory synaptic function. In our studies, we use whole cell voltage clamp and isolated patch recording techniques to examine modulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA (kainate/AMPA) classes of glutamate receptors on postnatal rat hippocampal neurons and hippocampal slices. Other studies in the lab are examining factors contributing to short- and long-term forms of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and the effects of neuroactive steroids on GABA and glutamate channels.
Selected Publications:
Mennerick S. Lamberta H, Shu H-J, Hogins J, Wang C, Covey DF, Eisenman LN, Zorumski CF. Effects on membrane capacitance of steroids with antagonist properties at GABAA receptors. Biophysical Journal 2008 95: 176-185.
Izumi Y, Tokuda K, Zorumski CF. LTP inhibition by low-level NMDA receptor activation involves calcineurin, nitric oxide and p38 MAP kinase. Hippocampus 2008 18: 258-265.
Eisenman LN, Shu H-J, Akk G, Wang C, Manion BD, Kress GJ, Evers AS, Steinbach JH, Covey DF, Zorumski CF, Mennerick S. Anticonvulsant and anesthetic effects of a fluorescent neurosteroid analogue activated by visible light. Nature Neuroscience 2007 10: 523-530.
Tokuda K, Zorumski CF, Izumi Y. Modulation of hippocampal long-term potentiation by slow increases in ethanol. Neuroscience 2007 146: 340-349.
Izumi Y, Auberson YP, Zorumski CF. Zinc modulates bidirectional hippocampal plasticity by effects on NMDA receptors. Journal of Neuroscience 2006 26: 7181-7188.
Last Updated: 06/25/2008 |