A major topic of
my research is the role and
regulation of adenosine in the
nervous system. Adenosine is
the core molecule of adenosine triphosphate
(ATP), the main energy source
for our cells. In
addition, adenosine is a
signaling molecule that acts
like a neurotransmitter to
modulate ongoing activity in the
nervous system.
Adenosine is
found throughout the
extracellular fluid and
influences the level of neuronal
excitability. Too much
activity can result in a
seizure, and too little activity
can mean decreased cognitive
function. Caffeine, the
most widely used psychoactive
drug worldwide, blocks adenosine
receptors and is the mechanism
underlying caffeine's well known
effects on arousal.
We use the
hippocampal slice as a model
system of synaptic transmission
and synaptic plasticity to
better understand the role and
regulation of adenosine. We
also examine both the physiology
and the behavior of mice that
lack functional adenosine
receptors. This research is
relevant to basic questions such
as "How does the brain learn?",
as well as clinical conditions
such as epilepsy, head
injury and stroke.
