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Office: (512) 471-5192 |
Research Interests
The overall goal is to understand the neurochemical basis for ethanol
drinking behavior. Since the brain controls behavior, and neurons are
the basic functional unit of the brain, it follows that neuronal activity
underlies ethanol drinking behavior. Neuronal activity is controlled in
part by the chemical microenvironment, so a major objective of the lab
is to characterize the chemical changes in the brain that may underlie
alcohol drinking. The research entails a combination of behavioral and
chemical techniques.
Current interests include the effects of ethanol on basic dopaminergic
neuronal activity in vivo, and the involvement of dopamine and glutamate
in ethanol self-administration behavior. More recent interests include
the physical characterization and theoretical description of diffusion
behavior of solutes during in vivo microdialysis. Two new projects have
been undertaken in the lab in the last few years. We have begun development
of capillary electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence detection,
a new analytical system for detection of neurotransmitters in dialysates.
This new analytical technique will enable much faster sampling and analysis
of neurotransmitters to allow better correlations between neurochemical
activity and behavior. Secondly, we have adapted the microdialysis technique
for use in mice. Using this adaptation has allowed us to expand our studies
using genetic models such as null mutant mice. We are currently studying
the role of the mu opiate receptor and the dopamine D2 receptor in the
regulation of dopamine release by ethanol.
Photomicrograph of a microdialysis probe. Probes are constructed in the lab. The tubing in the middle is fused silica tubing with an inner diameter of 40 microns. This delivers the perfusate to the probe tip. The membrane is cellulose. The perfusate flows out of the inner tubing and is contained within the membrane. The exit port (not shown) is another piece of fused silica tubing.
| May 3, 2007 Faculty Directory Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology College of Pharmacy at UT Austin Comments to: pharmacy@www.utexas.edu |
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