Research Interests
Our laboratory studies how mammalian central neurons respond to environmental stresses. One project seeks to determine mechanisms underlying the complementary neuroprotective effects of neurotrophins (e.g. NGF, BDNF) and certain bone morphogenetic proteins (e.g. BMP7) during hypoglycemic stress. This project focusses on septal neurons, especially the cholinergic population. Another project studies mechanisms by which striatal and septal neurons respond to hyperthermia, including why hyperthermia exacerbates the damage produced by other stresses such as hypoglycemia and ischemia. Our current work focusses on cultured neurons, but we are beginning to incorporate in vivo approaches as well. Knowledge concerning the dominant mechanisms underlying stress-induced neuronal damage will aid in designing strategies to minimize the delayed neuronal death that follows these stresses.
Techniques used in my laboratory include cell culture of mammalian neurons, fluorescence and confocal videomicroscopy, use of fluorescent indicators for e.g. Ca2+ and mitochondrial function, assays for cell survival and transmitter synthesis, immunohistochemistry, PCR, Western blots, and transfection with cDNA for mutant or fluorescent proteins involved in intracellular signalling.
Selected Publications
- White MG, Luca LE, Nonner D, Saleh O, Hu B, Barrett EF, Barrett JN (2005) Cellular mechanisms of neuronal damage from hyperthermia. Progress in Brain Research: Neurobiology of Hyperthermia (In Press).
- Panickar KS, Nonner D, Barrett JN (2005) Overexpression of Bcl-xl protects septal neurons from prolonged hypoglycemia and from acute ischemia-like stress. Neuroscience (In Press).
- Nonner D, Panickar K, Barrett EF, Barrett JN. (2004) Bone morphogenetic proteins and neurotrophins provide complementary protection of septal cholinergic function during phosphatase inhibitor-induced stress. Journal of Neurochemistry, 91:77-87.
- White MG, Emery M, Nonner D, Barrett JN (2003) Caspase activation contributes to delayed death of heat-stresed striatal neurons. Journal of Neurochemistry, 87:958-968.
- Nonner D, Barrett EF, Kaplan P, Barrett JN (2001) Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP6 and BMP7) enhance the protective effect of neurotrophins on cultured septal cholinergic neurons during hypoglycemia. Journal of Neurochemistry 76:1-10.
Curriculum Vitae
- 1965
B.A. Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics summa cum laude,
St. Mary's College, Winona MN
- 1972
Ph.D. Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington,
Seattle WA
- 1972-1973
Research Associate, Anatomy, University of Colorado,
Denver CO
- 1973-1974
Postdoctoral Fellow, Neurobiology, Harvard Medical
School and University of Iowa
- 1974-1978
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics,
University of Miami School of Medicine
- 1978-1985
Associate Professor, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics,
University of Miami School of Medicine
- 1985-present
Professor, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University
of Miami School of Medicine
- 1986-1993
Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award
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