Physiology

BRET N. SMITH, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Studies Associate Professor Ph.D. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 1992 Office: MS-607 Medical Center 0298 Tel: (859) 323-4840 E-mail: bret.smith@uky.edu Curriculum Vita (pdf)

Neuronal Interactions in the Mammalian Brain Research in this laboratory is aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying functional synaptic connectivity, modulation, and plasticity of neuronal systems. Using whole-cell electrophysiological techniques in acute slice preparations combined with immunochemical, histochemical, neuropharmacological, and molecular biological methods, we are conducting studies to determine how chemical modulation of synaptic function in brainstem autonomic control centers regulates visceral sensory-motor integration as well as how neural circuit organization and remodeling contribute to development of epilepsy. The specific areas of study are:

1. Synaptic organization of neurons regulating autonomic function

1. Synaptic connectivity in the dorsal vagal complex
2. Chemical neuromodulation of vagal circuits

1. Synaptic organization of the hippocampus and amygdala
2. Neuromodulation of reorganized circuits

Recent Publications:

Derbenev, A.V., Monroe, M.J., Glatzer, N.R., and Smith, B.N. (2006) Vanilloid-mediated heterosynaptic facilitation of inhibitory input to neurons of the rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. J. Neurosci. 26:9666-9672.

Williams, K.W., Zsombok, A., and Smith, B.N. (2007) Rapid inhibition of neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus by leptin. Endocrinology 148:1868-1881.

Hunt, R.F., Scheff, S.W., and Smith, B.N. (2009) Posttraumatic epilepsy after controlled cortical impact injury in mice. Exp. Neurol. 215(2):243-52.

Zsombok, A. and Smith, B.N. (2009) Plasticity of central autonomic neural circuits in diabetes. Biochim Biophys Acta: Molecular Basis of Disease. 1792:423-431

Bhaskaran, M.D. and Smith, B.N. (2010) Cannabinoid modulation of excitability in the dentate gyrus of pilocarpine-treated epileptic mice. PLoS ONE. 5:e10683 (1-10).

Gao, H. and Smith, B.N. (2010) Tonic GABA-mediated inhibition in the rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. J. Neurophysiol. 103:904-14.

Gao, H. and Smith, B.N. (2010) Zolpidem effects on GABA currents in the rat dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Neuropharmacology. 58:1220-1227.

Hunt, R.F., Scheff, S.W., and Smith, B.N. (2010) Regionally localized recurrent excitation in the dentate gyrus of a cortical contusion model of posttraumatic epilepsy. J. Neurophysiol. 103:1490-1500.

Other Publications