We design and conduct original research to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms of alcohol and nicotine addiction, which are important mental health issues. The goal of our research is to determine the molecular targets for the development of efficacious agents for treating the conditions of drugs abuse.
Our ongoing investigations involve studies of the functional changes in brain neurotransmitter systems that occur during exposure to these drugs of abuse. We use viable rodent brain slices to study how GABAergic and glutamatergic synaptic neurotransmitter activities are modified by ethanol and/or nicotine during acute and chronic drug treatment. These electrophysiological studies require monitoring intracellular or whole-cell recordings in individual neurons during ethanol or nicotine application.
We utilize techniques including evoked responses, paired-pulse stimulation, direct local drug application, and spontaneous neuronal activity to determine presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms that underlie the effects of these drugs. Presently, GABAA inhibitory, and AMPA and NMDA excitatory post-synaptic potentials (IPSPs, EPSPs) or voltage-clamped currents are measured to determine the effects of these drugs.
Preceptor Information |
|
| Name: | William Proctor and Peter Wu |
| Department: | Psychiatry |
| Location: | UCD Campus Box C-261 |
| Contact: | 303-315-4223 (Proctor) / 303-315-7584 (Wu) |
| bill.proctor@uchsc.edu / peter.wu@uchsc.edu | |
| Faculty/Lab Website: | |
Position Information |
|
| Openings: | 2 |
| Funding: | No |