Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
 | Jean C. Strahlendorf Professor of Physiology Ph.D., 1979, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science |
Neuronal Electrophysiology / Signal Transduction Mechanisms / Intracellular Calcium / Glutamate Toxicity
Excitotoxicity can lead to neuronal death caused by exposure to high levels of glutamate or inefficient handling of glutamate. Apoptosis constitutes cell suicide that can be induced by excitotoxic insults. Our labs are engaged in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitotoxicity in order to therapeutically address neuronal cell death associated with acute and chronic neuropathologies. Acutely, excitotoxic-induced cell death can be observed following strokes, hypoglycemia, seizures, hypoxia and ischemia and chronic neuropathologies can include Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and Alzheimer’s disease. We have characterized a form of programmed cell death that resembles apoptosis in both the cerebellum, an area intimately related to movement and motor learning and the hippocampus, an area involved in cognitive learning and memory.
To study mechanisms of neuronal cell death, we employ numerous experimental techniques in brain slices and cultured cells that include microarrays, fluorescent- assisted cell sorting, computer-assisted morphological assessments, confocal laser scanning microscope to allow high-resolution optical sections of cells, biochemical assessments of cell death, immunohistochemistry and Western blots. Our long term goal is to understand the intracellular transduction pathways underlying cell death to foster strategies for the effective prophylaxis and therapy of acutely induced and chronic neurodegenerative disorders.
Representative Publications
- Strahlendorf, J., Box, C., Attridge, J., Schneider, M., Veliyaparambil, M., Finckbone, V.L., Medina, M., Miles, R., Oomman, M., Henne, M., Singh, H., Dertien, J. and Strahlendorf, H., AMPA –induced dark cell degeneration involves mitochondri al dysfunction and the activation of caspases. Brain Research, 994, 146-159, 2003.
- S K Oomman, VL Finckbone, J. Attridge, J. Dertien, M Henne, M Medina, H. Strahlendorf, and J.Strahlendorf. Active caspase-3 expression during postnatal development of rat cerebellum is not systemically or consistently associated with apoptosis, J. Comp Neurology, 476, 154-173, 2004.
Lab Photo: VelvetLee Finckbone; Jean Strahlendorf; Margarita Medina; Bobby Mansouri; Mike Henne; Jenn Attridge; Sowmini Oomman; Rick Bliss.
