Research Interests

The research interests of this laboratory center on the physiological properties of neurons of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), developmental expression of neuronal properties, and the mechanisms through which CNS disease and drugs of abuse alter neuronal physiology and viability. To address these issues we use electrophysiological techniques (whole cell current clamp, voltage clamp and single channel recordings), fura-2 based microscopic imaging of intracellular calcium, biochemical analyses, immunohistochemical techniques and in vitro model systems (primary cultures of CNS neurons and acutely isolated brain slices). Current research projects include: (a) identification of mechanisms underlying regulation of CNS neuronal development, function and viability by immune cell factors (cytokines, chemokines) important in CNS disease, (b) pathways involved in intracellular calcium dynamics in CNS neurons, (c) the physiological role of cannabinoid receptors in CNS neuronal function and (d) the mechanisms involved in neuroadaption to chronic alcohol exposure at synaptic pathways in the hippocampus.