TTUHSC School of Medicine
Pharmacology

Pharmacology and Neuroscience



Dr. Peter J. Syapin

Professor of Pharmacology
Ph.D., 1977, University of California at Irvine

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience
3601 4th Street STOP 6592
Lubbock, Texas 79430
Phone: (806)743-2425
Fax: (806)743-2744
peter.syapin@ttuhsc.edu


Research Interests

Neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Role of microglia and astrocytes in drug abuse.


Current projects  |  Selected publications  |  Laboratory  |  Curriculum Vitae 

Current Projects

Many opportunities are available through my association with the South Plains Alcohol and Addiction Research Center including work on mechanisms of alcohol-induced brain damage, glial cell control of high alcohol drinking, development of novel anti-drinking drugs, and the role of the Tspo (peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor) protein in neuroinflammation and brain damage.

Selected Publications

  • Agrawal, R.G., Hewetson, A., George, C.M., Syapin, P.J., and Bergeson, S.E., Minocycline reduces ethanol drinking. Brain Behav. Immun., 25: S165-S169, 2011
  • Syapin, P.J.,Brain Damage and Alcohol Dependence: How one may influence the other. Alcohol. Treat. Q., 29: 132-145, 2011
  • Syapin, P.J., Regulation of heme oxygenase-1 for treatment of neuroinflammation and brain disorders. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 155: 623–640, 2008
  • Sanchez, A.C., Davis, R.L., and Syapin, P.J. The Oct DNA motif participates in the alcohol inhibition of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene promoter in rat C6 glioma cells. Brain Res. 1179: 16-27, 2007
  • Karri, SriTulasi, Dertien, J.S., Stocco, D.M., and Syapin, P.J., StAR protein expression and pregnenolone synthesis in rat astrocytes, J. Neuroendocrinol. 19: 860-869, 2007
  • Davis, R.L. and Syapin, P.J., Interactions of alcohol and nitric-oxide synthase in the brain, Brain Res. Rev. 49: 494-504, 2005
  • Syapin, P.J., Hickey, W.F. and Kane, C.J.M., Alcohol brain damage and neuroinflammation: Is there a connection? Alcoholism: Clin. Exp. Res. 29, 1080-1089, 2005
  • Davis, R.L. and Syapin, P.J., Ethanol increases nuclear factor-κB activity in human astroglial cells. Neurosci. Lett. 371: 128-132, 2004
  • Davis, R.L. and Syapin, P.J., Chronic ethanol inhibits CXC chemokine ligand 10 production in human A172 astroglia and astroglial-mediated leukocyte chemotaxis. Neurosci. Lett. 362: 220-225, 2004
  • Davis, R.L. And Syapin, P.J., Acute ethanol exposure modulates expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase in human astroglia: Evidence for a transcriptional mechanism. Alcohol, 32: 195-202, 2004
  • Sanchez, A.C., Davis, R.L., and Syapin, P.J., Identification of cis-regulatory regions necessary for robust NOS2 promoter activity in glial cells: Indirect role of NF-kB. J. Neurochem. 86: 1379-1390, 2003
  • King, S.R., Manna, P.R., Ishii, T., Syapin, P.J., Ginsberg, S.D., Wilson, K., Walsh, L.P., Parker, K.L. Stocco, D.M., Smith, R.G., and Lamb, D.J. An essential component in steroid synthesis, the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory protein, is expressed in discrete regions of the brain.  J. Neurosci. 22: 10613-10620, 2002
  • Alkana, R.L., Finn, D.A., Gallesisky, G.G., Syapin, P.J. and Malcolm, R.D.  Ethanol withdrawal in mice precipitated and exacerbated by hyperbaric exposure.  Science 229: 772-774, 1985
  • Paul, S.M., Syapin, P.J., Paugh, B.A., Moncada, V. and Skolnick, P.  Correlation between receptor occupation and anticonvulsant effects of diazepam.  Nature 281: 688-689, 1979

Link to: SPAARC