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Spring 2016

Alles, Sascha R

This thesis examines the cellular basis of the acute (<1 hour) anti-allodynic actions of the clinically-approved neuropathic pain drug gabapentin (GBP) in rats at the level of the spinal dorsal horn and primary somatosensory cortex. Although the clinical effectiveness of the alpha-2-delta (α2δ)...

Fall 2022

Singh, Aakanksha

The reason and functional relevance of why we sleep continues to perplex researchers. One fundamental reason behind why sleep remains a mystery is because it is challenging to study given how easily it is disrupted. Anesthesia has been suggested to be a model for studying sleep given the...

Fall 2012

Panaitescu, Bogdan Alexandru

Apnea of prematurity is a common problem among the infants born before term pregnancy. Administration of respiratory stimulating drugs methylxanthines is the most frequent therapy, often in combination with the use of intubation. Opioids are used to reduce the pain associated with intubation,...

Fall 2012

Zwicker, Jennifer D

ATP actions on central inspiratory networks are determined by a three-part signaling system comprising: i) excitatory actions of ATP at P2 receptors (Rs) ii) ectonucleotidases that degrade ATP into adenosine (ADO), and iii) inhibitory actions of ADO at P1Rs. During hypoxia, an initial increase in...

Fall 2014

Pravdivyi, Igor

An individual’s body weight is tightly regulated by balancing food intake with energy expenditure. This is accomplished in part by secretion of the hormone leptin by adipocytes, an excess of which signals to reduce appetite and increase activity through action in the hypothalamic region of the...

Fall 2014

Dimopoulos, Ioannis

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is considered a heterogeneous group of disorders. Although many genes influence susceptibility to disease, none has shown to be the primary contributor. To identify genetic contributors, distinct AMD phenotypes need to be established. We relied on...

Spring 2012

Chen, Yishen

Neuropathic pain afflicts 1.5-3% of the general population. It can be initiated by traumatic nerve injuries or diseases such as diabetic or post-herpetic neuropathy. Neuropathic pain is often initiated by abnormal spontaneous activity in sensory neurons and this provokes increased excitability of...

Fall 2015

Hussein, Shaimaa A

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) protein 2 Like 1 (PKD2L1), also called transient receptor potential polycystin-3 (TRPP3), regulates Ca2+-dependent hedgehog signalling in primary cilia, intestinal development and sour tasting but with an unclear mechanism. PKD2L1 is a Ca2+-permeable cation channel...

Fall 2010

Yeung-Yam-Wah, Valerie

Ca2+ is an important mediator of stimulus-secretion coupling in beta cells of the pancreatic islets, which secrete insulin in response to elevation in plasma glucose concentration. I studied the actions of two lipids, arachidonic acid (AA) and cholesterol, on enzymatically-dissociated single...

Fall 2009

Hamilton, Trevor

The computational ability of principal neurons and interneurons in the brain and their ability to work together in concert are thought to underlie higher order cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and attention. Dendrites play a very important role in neuronal information processing...