Studies of Central Nervous System Functional Anatomy

Herkenham, M.

Abstract

This Section combines molecular and neuroanatomical methods to reveal dynamic CNS events that relate to issues of mental health and drug abuse. Mapping drug and neuro-transmitter receptors using autoradiography has provided important basic information about brain organization and function. The cannabinoid receptor has been localized to specific neuronal elements in brain, and we examined its relationship to the dopamine system and to """"""""reward"""""""" pathways. In situ hybridization histochemistry is used to examine the regulation of gene expression of neuropeptides, monoamine transporters and synthe-sizing enzymes, and adrenal steroid receptors. Studies are designed to elucidate brain mechanisms involved in stress and chronic antidepressant drug treatment, with a focus on the role of corticotropin releasing hormone in the pathophysiology of affective disorders. Other studies examine CNS adaptive changes caused by drugs of abuse, such as marijuana and cocaine.

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Institute: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Type: Intramural Research (Z01)
• Project #: 1Z01MH001090-15
• Application #: 3845197
• Support Year: 15
• Fiscal Year: 1992

Institution

• Name: U.S. National Institute of Mental Health
• Country: United States

Publications

Lehmann, Michael L; Mustafa, Tomris; Eiden, Adrian M et al. (2013) PACAP-deficient mice show attenuated corticosterone secretion and fail to develop depressive behavior during chronic social defeat stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 38:702-15

Patchev, Alexandre V; Fischer, Dieter; Wolf, Siegmund S et al. (2007) Insidious adrenocortical insufficiency underlies neuroendocrine dysregulation in TIF-2 deficient mice. FASEB J 21:231-8

Steiner, Alexandre A; Chakravarty, Sumana; Rudaya, Alla Y et al. (2006) Bacterial lipopolysaccharide fever is initiated via Toll-like receptor 4 on hematopoietic cells. Blood 107:4000-2

Chakravarty, Sumana; Herkenham, Miles (2005) Toll-like receptor 4 on nonhematopoietic cells sustains CNS inflammation during endotoxemia, independent of systemic cytokines. J Neurosci 25:1788-96

Steiner, Alexandre A; Chakravarty, Sumana; Robbins, Jared R et al. (2005) Thermoregulatory responses of rats to conventional preparations of lipopolysaccharide are caused by lipopolysaccharide per se-- not by lipoprotein contaminants. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 289:R348-R352

Herkenham, Miles (2005) Folliculo-stellate (FS) cells of the anterior pituitary mediate interactions between the endocrine and immune systems. Endocrinology 146:33-4

Bryceson, Y T; Foster, J A; Kuppusamy, S P et al. (2005) Expression of a killer cell receptor-like gene in plastic regions of the central nervous system. J Neuroimmunol 161:177-82

Kassed, Cheryl A; Herkenham, Miles (2004) NF-kappaB p50-deficient mice show reduced anxiety-like behaviors in tests of exploratory drive and anxiety. Behav Brain Res 154:577-84

Foster, Jane A; Puchowicz, Michael J; McIntyre, Dan C et al. (2004) Activin mRNA induced during amygdala kindling shows a spatiotemporal progression that tracks the spread of seizures. J Comp Neurol 476:91-102

Butterweck, Veronika; Winterhoff, Hilke; Herkenham, Miles (2003) Hyperforin-containing extracts of St John's wort fail to alter gene transcription in brain areas involved in HPA axis control in a long-term treatment regimen in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 28:2160-8