Gonzales, Rueben A., Ph.D.
Professor
PHR 5.224C
512-471-5192
rgonzales@mail.utexas.edu

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.