Keywords:

neurodegeneration, alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, parkinson's disease, neuropharmacology, acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine, opiates, neurophysiology, ion channel, neurotransmitter release, synaptic transmission, transporter currents, neuroanatomy, brain slices, hippocampus, locus coeruleus, substantia nigra, catecholaminergic neurons, glial cells, interneurons, electrophysiology, intracellular recording, patch-clamp, infrared imaging

Education/Training:

• Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University
• Research Fellow, Neurophysiology, Stanford University
• Research Fellow, Neuropharmacology, Stanford University

Research Activity:

Our laboratory uses a combination of electrophysiological and imaging techniques to study the modulation of neuronal activity ("neuromodulation") in the mammalian central nervous system. Current research directions include:

1. Function and modulation qf interneurons. Inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are being characterized according to their location, synaptic physiology, morphology and sensitivity to various neuromodulators such as norepinephrine. This research may lead to a greater understanding of the role played by different types of interneurons in regulating neuronal activity and lead to novel therapeutic strategies for treating epilepsy.
2. Alterations in calecholaminergic transmission. The presynaptic mechanisms underlying dopamine release and the modulation of this release by various factors (e.g., neurotoxins) are being studied. The information derived from this research may provide clues into the prevention of Parkinson's disease.
3. Role of glial cells in neurodegeneration. Microglia are being characterized by their electrophysiological properties in normal and pathologic states. This research may give important insights into the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease· Electrophysiology techniques employed in the laboratory include extracellular field potential, intracellular and whole-cell recordings, as well as infrared video microscopy to record from directly visualized cells.

Representative Publications:

• Jurgens CW, Boese SJ, King JD, Pyle SJ, Porter JE, Doze VA. 2005. Adrenergic receptor modulation of hippocampal CA3 network activity. Epilepsy Res. 2005 Aug-Sep;66(1-3):117-28.
• Hillman KL, Knudson CA, Carr PA, Doze VA, Porter JE. 2005. Adrenergic receptor characterization of CA1 hippocampal neurons using real time single cell RT-PCR.Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2005 Oct 3;139(2):267-76.
• Hillman KL, Doze VA, Porter JE. 2005. Functional characterization of the beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes expressed by CA1 pyramidal cells in the rat hippocampus. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005 Aug;314(2):561-7.
• Jurgens CW, Rau KE, Knudson CA, King JD, Carr PA, Porter JE, Doze VA. 2005. Beta1 adrenergic receptor-mediated enhancement of hippocampal CA3 network activity.
  J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2005 Aug;314(2):552-60.
• Hintz KK, Norby FL, Duan J, Cinnamon MA, Doze VA, Ren J. 2002. Comparison of cardiac excitation-contraction coupling in isolated ventricular myocytes between rat and mouse. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2002 Sep;133(1):191-8.
• Bergles, D. E., Doze, V. A., Madison, D. V., and Smith, S. J. 1996. Excitatory actions of norepinephrine on multiple classes of hippocampal interneurons. Journal of Neuroscience 16:572-585.
• Doze, V. A., Cohen, G. A., and Madison, D. V. 1995. Calcium channel involvement in GABA_B receptor- mediated inhibition of GABA release in area CAI of the rat hippocampus. Journal of Neurophysiology 74:43-53.
• Cohen, G. A., Doze, V. A., and Madison, D. V. 1992. Opioid inhibition of GABA release from presynaptic terminals of rat hippocampal interneurons. Neuron 9:325-335.
• Doze, V. A., Cohen, G. A., and Madison, D. V. 1991. Synaptic localization of adrenergic disinhibition in the rat hippocampus. Neuron 6:889-900.