Posts classified under: Integrative Biology & Physiology

Barnett Schlinger, Ph.D.

Biography

Steroid synthesis and action in the vertebrate CNS. My laboratory is interested in the hormonal control of brain and behavior. Steroid hormones influence the CNS in diverse ways, from regulating neuronal transcription, to influencing cell signaling pathways, to direct modulation of neurotransmitter receptor ion channels. The traditional view is that neurally active steroids come from the gonads and adrenals, but we and others have evidence that in some cases, steroids can be synthesized directly in the brain. We are testing this hypothesis in songbirds that have a variety of well-characterized endpoints of steroid action on brain including organizing neural circuits developmentally, activating circuits and stimulating persistent neural plasticity in adults. We utilize molecular, biochemical and neuroanatomical approaches to explore the expression, activity and function of steroid synthetic enzymes. In addition, we do field research on birds, including one called the Golden-collared manakin that lives in the rainforests of Panama. Males of this species have a remarkable, acrobatic and noisy courtship display. We study how hormones act on the brain, spinal cord and peripheral muscles to give males the ability to perform these elaborate displays.

Publications

A selected list of publications:

Pradhan Devaleena S, Newman Amy E M, Wacker Douglas W, Wingfield John C, Schlinger Barney A, Soma Kiran K   Aggressive interactions rapidly increase androgen synthesis in the brain during the non-breeding season Hormones and behavior, 2010; 57(4-5): 381-9.
Feng Ni Y, Katz Amnon, Day Lainy B, Barske Julia, Schlinger Barney A   Limb muscles are androgen targets in an acrobatic tropical bird Endocrinology, 2010; 151(3): 1042-9.
Remage-Healey Luke, Coleman Melissa J, Oyama Randi K, Schlinger Barney A   Brain estrogens rapidly strengthen auditory encoding and guide song preference in a songbird Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2010; 107(8): 3852-7.
London Sarah E, Remage-Healey Luke, Schlinger Barney A   Neurosteroid production in the songbird brain: a re-evaluation of core principles Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 2009; 30(3): 302-14.
Salwiczek Lucie H, Emery Nathan J, Schlinger Barney, Clayton Nicola S   The development of caching and object permanence in Western scrub-jays (Aphelocoma californica): which emerges first? Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983), 2009; 123(3): 295-303.
Remage-Healey Luke, Maidment Nigel T, Schlinger Barney A   Forebrain steroid levels fluctuate rapidly during social interactions Nature neuroscience, 2008; 11(11): 1327-34.
Schlinger Barney A, Day Lainy B, Fusani Leonida   Behavior, natural history and neuroendocrinology of a tropical bird General and comparative endocrinology, 2008; 157(3): 254-8.
Katz Amnon, Mirzatoni Anahid, Zhen Yin, Schlinger Barney A   Sex differences in cell proliferation and glucocorticoid responsiveness in the zebra finch brain The European journal of neuroscience, 2008; 28(1): 99-106.
London Sarah E, Monks D Ashley, Wade Juli, Schlinger Barney A   Widespread capacity for steroid synthesis in the avian brain and song system Endocrinology, 2006; 147(12): 5975-87.

James Tidball, Ph.D.

Biography

Interactions between skeletal muscle and the immune system. A major project in our lab concerns the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy (dystrophinopathy). Our research has shown that the immune system plays an important role in influencing the severity of muscular dystrophy, and that immune-based interventions can significantly reduce dystrophic muscle pathology and promote muscle regeneration. Our continuing efforts are directed toward identifying the key effector cells and molecules involved in influencing the course of the disease, and examining the interplay between those effectors. Our technical approaches include the generation and analysis of transgenic, dystrophic mice so that the effects of increased or decreased expression of selected effector molecules can be assessed. We also examine the systemic effects of experimental depletions of selected immune cell populations and the efficacy of selected, pharmaceutical interventions on the progress of the disease. In other studies, we are studying the mechanisms through which the immune system influences the wasting of skeletal muscle that occurs during aging, a process called sarcopenia. We are particularly interested in identifying the mechanisms through which specific populations of myeloid cells affect muscle wasting and regeneration, and identifying strategies to slow the wasting process.

Publications

A selected list of publications:

Wang Ying, Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Welc Steven S, Fisher Allison L, Zuo Qun, Tidball James G   Aging of the immune system causes reductions in muscle stem cell populations, promotes their shift to a fibrogenic phenotype, and modulates sarcopenia FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 2019; 8(4): fj201800973R.
Welc Steven S, Flores Ivan, Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Ramos Julian, Wang Ying, Bertoni Carmen, Tidball James G   Targeting a therapeutic LIF transgene to muscle via the immune system ameliorates muscular dystrophy Nature communications, 2019; 10(1): 2788.
Tidball James G, Welc Steven S, Wehling-Henricks Michelle   Immunobiology of Inherited Muscular Dystrophies Comprehensive Physiology, 2018; 8(4): 1313-1356.
Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Welc Steven S, Samengo Guiseppina, Rinaldi Chiara, Lindsey Catherine, Wang Ying, Lee Jeongyoon, Kuro-O Makoto, Tidball James G   Macrophages escape Klotho gene silencing in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and promote muscle growth and increase satellite cell numbers through a Klotho-mediated pathway Human Molecular Genetics, 2018; 27(1): 14-29.
Wang Ying, Welc Steven S, Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Tidball James G   Myeloid cell-derived tumor necrosis factor-alpha promotes sarcopenia and regulates muscle cell fusion with aging muscle fibers Aging cell, 2018; 8(4): e12828.
Tidball James G   Regulation of muscle growth and regeneration by the immune system Nature Reviews. Immunology, 2017; 17(3): 165-178.
Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Li Zhenzhi, Lindsey Catherine, Wang Ying, Welc Steven S, Ramos Julian N, Khanlou Négar, Kuro-O Makoto, Tidball James G   Klotho gene silencing promotes pathology in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy Human Molecular Genetics, 2016; 25(12): 2465-2482.
Chadwick Jessica A, Swager Sarah A, Lowe Jeovanna, Welc Steven S, Tidball James G, Gomez-Sanchez Celso E, Gomez-Sanchez Elise P, Rafael-Fortney Jill A   Myeloid cells are capable of synthesizing aldosterone to exacerbate damage in muscular dystrophy Human Molecular Genetics, 2016; 25(23): 5167-5177.
Wang Ying, Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Samengo Giuseppina, Tidball James G   Increases of M2a macrophages and fibrosis in aging muscle are influenced by bone marrow aging and negatively regulated by muscle-derived nitric oxide Aging Cell, 2015; 14(4): 678-88.
Tidball James G, Welc Steven S   Macrophage-Derived IGF-1 Is a Potent Coordinator of Myogenesis and Inflammation in Regenerating Muscle Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy, 2015; 23(7): 1134-1135.
Tidball James G, Wehling-Henricks Michelle   Shifts in macrophage cytokine production drive muscle fibrosis Nature Medicine, 2015; 21(7): 665-6.
Tidball James G, Wehling-Henricks Michelle   Nitric oxide synthase deficiency and the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy The Journal of Physiology, 2014; 592(Pt 21): 4627-4638.
Tidball James G, Bertoni Carmen   Purloined mechanisms of bacterial immunity can cure muscular dystrophy Cell Metabolism, 2014; 20(6): 927-9.
Villalta S Armando, Rosenthal Wendy, Martinez Leonel, Kaur Amanjot, Sparwasser Tim, Tidball James G, Margeta Marta, Spencer Melissa J, Bluestone Jeffrey A   Regulatory T cells suppress muscle inflammation and injury in muscular dystrophy Science Translational Medicine, 2014; 6(258): 258ra142.
Tidball James G, Dorshkind Kenneth, Wehling-Henricks Michelle   Shared signaling systems in myeloid cell-mediated muscle regeneration Development (Cambridge, England), 2014; 141(6): 1184-96.
Samengo Giuseppina, Avik Anna, Fedor Brian, Whittaker Daniel, Myung Kyu H, Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Tidball James G   Age-related loss of nitric oxide synthase in skeletal muscle causes reductions in calpain S-nitrosylation that increase myofibril degradation and sarcopenia Aging Cell, 2012; 11(6): 1036-45.
Deng Bo, Wehling-Henricks Michelle, Villalta S Armando, Wang Ying, Tidball James G   IL-10 triggers changes in macrophage phenotype that promote muscle growth and regeneration Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 2012; 189(7): 3669-80.
Villalta, S.A., Deng, B., Rinaldi, C., Wehling-Henricks, M. and J. G. Tidball   IFNγ promotes muscle damage in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by suppressing M2 macrophage activation and inhibiting muscle cell proliferation, J. Immunol, 2011; 187: 5419-5428 .
Villalta, S.A., Rinaldi, C., Deng, B., Liu, G., Fedor, B. and J. G. Tidball   Interleukin-10 reduces the pathology of mdx muscular dystrophy by deactivating M1 macrophages and modulating macrophage phenotype, Human Molecular Genetics , 2011; 20: 790-805.
Tidball James G   Mechanisms of muscle injury, repair, and regeneration Comprehensive Physiology, 2011; 1(4): 2029-62.
Wehling-Henricks, M. and J.G. Tidball   Neuronal nitric oxide synthase-rescue of dystrophin/utrophin double knockout mice does not require nNOS localization to the cell membrane, PLoS One , 2011; 6: e25071.
Sakellariou, G.K., Pye, D., Vasilaki, A., Zibrik, L., Palomero, J., Kabayo, T., McArdle, F., Van Remmen, H., Richardson, A., Tidball, J.G., McArdle, A. and M. J. Jackson   Role of superoxide-nitric oxide interactions in the accelerated age-related loss of muscle mass in mice lacking Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase, Aging Cell , 2011; 10: 749-760.
Wehling-Henricks, M., M. C. Jordan, T. Gotoh, W. W. Grody, K. P. Roos and J. G. Tidball   Arginine metabolism by macrophages promotes cardiac and muscle fibrosis in mdx muscular dystrophy, PLoS One, 2010; 5(5): e10763. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010763.
Tidball, J.G. and S.A. Villalta   Interactions between muscle and the immune system regulate muscle growth and regeneration, Amer. J. Physiol, 2010; 298: R1173-1187.
Perez Antonio L, Bachrach Estanislao, Illigens Ben M W, Jun Susan J, Bagden Eric, Steffen Leta, Flint Alan, McGowan Francis X, Del Nido Pedro, Montecino-Rodriguez Enca, Tidball James G, Kunkel Louis M   CXCR4 enhances engraftment of muscle progenitor cells Muscle & nerve, 2009; 40(4): 562-72.
Tidball, J.G. and M. Wehling-Henricks   Inflammatory mechanisms in genetic neuromuscular disorders, Inflammatory and autoimmune disorders of the nervous system in children, 2009; 455-479.
Wehling-Henricks, M., M. Oltmann, C. Rinaldi, K. H. Myung, and J. G. Tidball   Loss of positive allosteric interactions between neuronal nitric oxide synthase and phosphofructokinase contributes to defects in glycolysis and increased fatigability in muscular dystrophy, Human Molecular Genetics, 2009; 18: 3439-3451.
Deng, B., D. Glanzman and J.G. Tidball   Nitric oxide generated by muscle corrects defects in hippocampal neurogenesis and neural differentiation caused by muscular dystrophy, Journal of Physiology, 2009; 587: 1769-1778.
Tidball, J.G. and S.A. Villalta   Nitric oxide may prompt calcium leakage in dystrophic muscle, Nature Medicine, 2009; 15: 243-244.
Villalta, S.A., H.X. Nguyen, B. Deng, T. Gotoh and J.G. Tidball   Shifts in macrophage phenotypes and macrophage competition for arginine metabolism affect the severity of muscle pathology in muscular dystrophy, Human Molecular Genetics, 2009; 18: 482-496.
Tidball, J.G.   Inflammation in skeletal muscle regeneration, Skeletal muscle repair and regeneration, 2008; 243-268.
Wehling-Henricks, M., Sokolow, S., Lee, J.J., Myung, K.H., Villalta, A., and J.G. Tidball   Major basic protein-1 promotes fibrosis of dystrophic muscle and attenuates the cellular immune response in muscular dystrophy, Human Molecular Genetics, 2008; 17:2280-2292: .
Hao, M., K. Akrami, K. Wei, C. De Diego, N. Che, J.H. Ku, J.G. Tidball, M.C. Graves, P.B. Shieh and F. Chen   Muscleblind-like 2 (Mbnl2) -deficient mice as a model for myotonic dystrophy, Developmental Dynamics, 2008; 237: 403-410.
Acharyya, S., S.A. Villalta, N. Bakkar, T. Bupha-Intr, P.M.L. Janssen, M. Carathers, M. Karin, Z. Li, A. Beg, S. Ghosh, Z. Sahenk, M. Weinstein, K.L. Gardner, J.A. Rafael-Fortney, J.G. Tidball, A.S. Baldwin and D.C. Guttridge   IKK/NF-kB signaling interplay in macrophages and myofibers promotes muscle wasting in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2007; 117: 889-901.
Acharyya Swarnali, Villalta S Armando, Bakkar Nadine, Bupha-Intr Tepmanas, Janssen Paul M L, Carathers Micheal, Li Zhi-Wei, Beg Amer A, Ghosh Sankar, Sahenk Zarife, Weinstein Michael, Gardner Katherine L, Rafael-Fortney Jill A, Karin Michael, Tidball James G, Baldwin Albert S, Guttridge Denis C   Interplay of IKK/NF-kappaB signaling in macrophages and myofibers promotes muscle degeneration in Duchenne muscular dystrophy The Journal of clinical investigation, 2007; 117(4): 889-901.
Tidball, J.G. and M. Wehling-Henricks   Macrophages promote muscle membrane repair and muscle fiber growth and regeneration during modified muscle loading in mice in vivo, Journal of Physiology, 2007; 578.1: 327-336.
Tidball James G, Wehling-Henricks Michelle   Macrophages promote muscle membrane repair and muscle fibre growth and regeneration during modified muscle loading in mice in vivo The Journal of physiology, 2007; 578(Pt 1): 327-36.
Pfister, K., J. Radons, J.G. Tidball, M. Pfeifer, L. Freitag, H-J. Feldmann, V. Milani, R. Issels and G. Multhoff   Patient survival by Hsp70 membrane-phenotype: association with different routes of metastasis, Cancer, 2007; 110: 926-35.
Tidball James G, Wehling-Henricks Michelle   The role of free radicals in the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 2007; 102(4): 1677-86.
Wehling-Henricks, M Jordan, MC Roos, KP Deng, B Tidball, JG   Cardiomyopathy in dystrophin-deficient hearts is prevented by expression of a neuronal nitric oxide synthase transgene in the myocardium Human Molecular Genetics, 2005; 14(14): 1921-33.
Tidball, JG Wehling-Henricks, M   Damage and inflammation in muscular dystrophy: potential implications and relationships with autoimmune myositis Current Opinion in Rheumatology, 2005; 17(6): 707-13.
Tidball, JG   Inflammatory processes in muscle injury and repair American Journal of Physiology, 2005; 288(2): R345-53.
Tidball James G   Inflammatory processes in muscle injury and repair American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, 2005; 288(2): R345-53.
Tidball James G   Mechanical signal transduction in skeletal muscle growth and adaptation Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 2005; 98(5): 1900-8.
Shiao, T Fond, A Deng, B Wehling-Henricks, M Adams, ME Froehner, SC Tidball, JG   Defects in neuromuscular junction structure in dystrophic muscle are corrected by expression of a NOS transgene in dystrophin-deficient muscles, but not in muscles lacking alpha- and beta1-syntrophins Human Molecular Genetics, 2004; 13(17): 1873-84.
Tidball, JG Wehling-Henricks, M   Evolving therapeutic strategies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: targeting downstream events Pediatric Research, 2004; 56(6): 831-41.
Kramerova, I Kudryashova, E Tidball, JG Spencer, MJ   Null mutation of calpain 3 (p94) in mice causes abnormal sarcomere formation in vivo and in vitro Human Molecular Genetics, 2004; 13(13): 1373-88.
Wehling-Henricks, M Lee, JJ Tidball, JG   Prednisolone decreases cellular adhesion molecules required for inflammatory cell infiltration in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle Neuromuscular Disorders, 2004; 14(8-9): 483-90.
Nguyen, HX Tidball, JG   Interactions between neutrophils and macrophages promote macrophage killing of rat muscle cells in vitro Journal of Physiology, 2003; 547(Pt 1): 125-32.
Nguyen, HX Tidball, JG   Null mutation of gp91phox reduces muscle membrane lysis during muscle inflammation in mice Journal of Physiology, 2003; 553(Pt 3): 833-41.
Tidball James G, Spencer Melissa J   Skipping to new gene therapies for muscular dystrophy Nature medicine, 2003; 9(8): 997-8.
Tidball, JG   Interactions between muscle and the immune system during modified musculoskeletal loading Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 2002; 403S(403 Suppl): S100-9.
Wehling, M., Spencer, M. and J.G. Tidball   A nitric oxide synthase transgene ameliorates muscular dystrophy in mdx mice Journal of Cell Biology, 2001; 155(1): 123-31.
Spencer, MJ Tidball, JG   Do immune cells promote the pathology of dystrophin-deficient myopathies? Neuromuscular Disorders, 2001; 11(6-7): 556-64.
Spencer, MJ Montecino-Rodriguez, E Dorshkind, K Tidball, JG   Helper (CD4(+)) and cytotoxic (CD8(+)) T cells promote the pathology of dystrophin-deficient muscle Clinical Immunology , 2001; 98(2): 235-43.
Frenette, J Cai, B Tidball, JG   Complement activation promotes muscle inflammation during modified muscle use American Journal of Pathology, 2000; 156(6): 2103-10.
Zhu, X Hadhazy, M Wehling, M Tidball, JG McNally, EM   Dominant negative myostatin produces hypertrophy without hyperplasia in muscle FEBS Letters, 2000; 474(1): 71-5.
Cai, B Spencer, MJ Nakamura, G Tseng-Ong, L Tidball, JG   Eosinophilia of dystrophin-deficient muscle is promoted by perforin-mediated cytotoxicity by T cell effectors American Journal of Pathology, 2000; 156(5): 1789-96.
Wehling, M Cai, B Tidball, JG   Modulation of myostatin expression during modified muscle use FASEB Journal, 2000; 14(1): 103-10.
Koh, TJ Tidball, JG   Nitric oxide inhibits calpain-mediated proteolysis of talin in skeletal muscle cells American Journal of Physiology, 2000; 279(3): C806-12.
Koh, TJ Tidball, JG   Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors reduce sarcomere addition in rat skeletal muscle Journal of Physiology, 1999; 519 Pt 1: 189-96.
Tidball, JG Spencer, MJ Wehling, M Lavergne, E   Nitric-oxide synthase is a mechanical signal transducer that modulates talin and vinculin expression Journal of Biological Chemistry , 1999; 274(46): 33155-60.
Tidball, JG Lavergne, E Lau, KS Spencer, MJ Stull, JT Wehling, M   Mechanical loading regulates NOS expression and activity in developing and adult skeletal muscle American Journal of Physiology, 1998; 275(1 Pt 1): C260-6.
Spencer, MJ Walsh, CM Dorshkind, KA Rodriguez, EM Tidball, JG   Myonuclear apoptosis in dystrophic mdx muscle occurs by perforin-mediated cytotoxicity Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1997; 99(11): 2745-51.
Chang, W., S. Iannaccone, K. Lau, B. Masters, T. McCabe K. McMillan, R. Padre, M.J. Spencer, J.G. Tidball and J.T. Stull   Neuronal nitric oxide synthase and dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1996; 93: 9142-47.

Stephanie White, Ph.D.

Biography

Social influences on learning and memory How do social interactions influence the brain? Our laboratory is interested in how social behaviors affect neuronal plasticity at sites responsible for learning in an Australian songbird, the zebra finch. We study song learning behavior that is essential for reproductive opportunity and is mediated by known neural circuitry. In zebra finches, both the learned behavior and its underlying neural structures are sexually dimorphic, and plasticity is greatest during critical developmental phases. Within a comparative framework, we use behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular techniques to investigate how social interactions shape gene expression patterns, how these changes modulate neural circuit properties and ultimately, how this constellation of changes sculpts behavior.

Publications

A selected list of publications:

Fraley E R, Burkett Z D, Day N F, Schwartz B A, Phelps P E, White S A   Mice with Dab1 or Vldlr insufficiency exhibit abnormal neonatal vocalization patterns Scientific reports, 2016; 6(3): 25807.
Berg Jamee M, Lee Changhoon, Chen Leslie, Galvan Laurie, Cepeda Carlos, Chen Jane Y, Peñagarikano Olga, Stein Jason L, Li Alvin, Oguro-Ando Asami, Miller Jeremy A, Vashisht Ajay A, Starks Mary E, Kite Elyse P, Tam Eric, Gdalyahu Amos, Al-Sharif Noor B, Burkett Zachary D, White Stephanie A, Fears Scott C, Levine Michael S, Wohlschlegel James A, Geschwind Daniel H   JAKMIP1, a Novel Regulator of Neuronal Translation, Modulates Synaptic Function and Autistic-like Behaviors in Mouse Neuron, 2015; 88(6): 1173-91.
Miller Julie E, Hafzalla George W, Burkett Zachary D, Fox Cynthia M, White Stephanie A   Reduced vocal variability in a zebra finch model of dopamine depletion: implications for Parkinson disease Physiological reports, 2015; 3(11): .
Whitney Osceola, Voyles Tawni, Hara Erina, Chen Qianqian, White Stephanie A, Wright Timothy F   Differential FoxP2 and FoxP1 expression in a vocal learning nucleus of the developing budgerigar Developmental neurobiology, 2015; 75(7): 778-90.
Burkett Zachary D, Day Nancy F, Peñagarikano Olga, Geschwind Daniel H, White Stephanie A   VoICE: A semi-automated pipeline for standardizing vocal analysis across models Scientific reports, 2015; 5(7): 10237.
Hara Erina, Perez Jemima M, Whitney Osceola, Chen Qianqian, White Stephanie A, Wright Timothy F   Neural FoxP2 and FoxP1 expression in the budgerigar, an avian species with adult vocal learning Behavioural brain research, 2015; 283(7): 22-9.
Heston Jonathan B, White Stephanie A   Behavior-linked FoxP2 regulation enables zebra finch vocal learning The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2015; 35(7): 2885-94.
Condro Michael C, White Stephanie A   Recent Advances in the Genetics of Vocal Learning Comparative cognition & behavior reviews, 2014; 9(2): 75-98.
Grant Laura M, Richter Franziska, Miller Julie E, White Stephanie A, Fox Cynthia M, Zhu Chunni, Chesselet Marie-Francoise, Ciucci Michelle R   Vocalization deficits in mice over-expressing alpha-synuclein, a model of pre-manifest Parkinson’s disease Behavioral neuroscience, 2014; 128(2): 110-21.
Condro Michael C, White Stephanie A   Distribution of language-related Cntnap2 protein in neural circuits critical for vocal learning The Journal of comparative neurology, 2014; 522(1): 169-85.
Chen Qianqian, Heston Jonathan B, Burkett Zachary D, White Stephanie A   Expression analysis of the speech-related genes FoxP1 and FoxP2 and their relation to singing behavior in two songbird species The Journal of experimental biology, 2013; 216(Pt 19): 3682-92.
White, SA   FoxP2 and vocalization, in ‘New Perspectives on the Origins of Language’, 2013; 144: 211-235.
Hilliard AT, Miller JE, Horvath S & White SA   Distinct neurogenomic states in basal ganglia subregions relate differently to singing behavior in songbirds, PLoS Computational Biology, 2012; 8: e1002773.
*Hilliard AT, *Miller JE, Fraley ER, Horvath S, White SA   Molecular microcircuitry underlies functional specification in a basal ganglia circuit dedicated to vocal learning, Neuron, 2012; 73: 537-552.
White Stephanie A   Genes and vocal learning Brain and language, 2010; 115(1): 21-8.
Panaitof SC, Abrahams BS, Dong H, Geschwind DH & White SA   Language-related Cntnap2 is differentially expressed in sexually dimorphic nuclei essential for vocal learning in songbirds, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2010; .
Miller Julie E, Hilliard Austin T, White Stephanie A   Song practice promotes acute vocal variability at a key stage of sensorimotor learning PloS one, 2010; 5(1): e8592.
Teramitsu Ikuko, Poopatanapong Amy, Torrisi Salvatore, White Stephanie A   Striatal FoxP2 is actively regulated during songbird sensorimotor learning PloS one, 2010; 5(1): e8548.
Hilliard AT & White SA   Evolutionary Precursors of Syntax, Biological Foundations and Origin of Syntax, edited by Derek Bickerton and Eörs Szathmáry; Strüngmann Forum Reports, 2009; 3: 161-182.
Számadö S, Bishop D, d’Errico, F, Fischer J, Hurford J, Okanoya K, Szathmáry E & White SA   What are the possible biological and genetic foundations for syntactic phenomena?, Biological Foundations and Origin of Syntax, edited by Derek Bickerton and Eörs Szathmáry; Strüngmann Forum Reports, 2009; 3: 207-236.
Spence RD, Zhen Y, White S, Schlinger BA, Day LB   Recovery of motor and cognitive function after cerebellar lesions in a songbird: role of estrogens The European Journal of Neuroscience, 2009; 29(6): 1225-34.
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Miller Julie E, Spiteri Elizabeth, Condro Michael C, Dosumu-Johnson Ryan T, Geschwind Daniel H, White Stephanie A   Birdsong decreases protein levels of FoxP2, a molecule required for human speech Journal of Neurophysiology, 2008; 100(4): 2015-25.
Teramitsu Ikuko, White Stephanie A   Motor learning: the FoxP2 puzzle piece Current Biology, 2008; 18(8): R335-7.
JE Miller & SA White   The sleeping bird gets the song, Journal of Neurophysiology, 2007; 98: 3-4.
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White Stephanie A, Fisher Simon E, Geschwind Daniel H, Scharff Constance, Holy Timothy E   Singing mice, songbirds, and more: models for FOXP2 function and dysfunction in human speech and language The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2006; 26(41): 10376-9.
Teramitsu Ikuko, White Stephanie A   FoxP2 regulation during undirected singing in adult songbirds The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2006; 26(28): 7390-4.
Wada K, Howard J, McDonnell P, Lints T, Rivas MV, Whitney O, Horita H, Patterson M, White SA,Scharff C, Haesler S, Zhao S, Sakaguchi H, Hagiwara M, Shiraki T, Hirozane-Kishikawa T, Skene P, Hayashizaki Y, Carninci P& Jarvis ED   A molecular neuroethological approach for identifying and characterizing a cascade of behaviorally regulated genes PNAS, 2006; 103: 15212-15217.
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Teramitsu I & White SA   FoxP2 regulation during undirected singing in adult songbirds Journal of Neuroscience, 2006; 26: 7390-7394.
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White SA, Fisher SE, Geschwind DH, Scharff C, Holy TE   Singing mice, songbirds and more: models for FOXP2 function and dysfunction in human speech and language Journal of Neuroscience, 2006; 26: 10376-10379.
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Poopatanapong A, Teramitsu I, Byun JS,Vician LJ, Herschman HR, White SA   Singing, but not seizure, induces Synaptotagmin IV in zebra finch song nuclei Journal of Neurobiology, 2006; 66: 1613-1629.
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The Avian Brain Nomenclature Consortium   Avian brains and a paradigm shift in understanding vertebrate brain evolution, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2005; 6: 151-159.
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Nilson Paige Crystal, Teramitsu Ikuko, White Stephanie Ann   Caudal thoracic air sac cannulation in zebra finches for isoflurane anesthesia Journal of neuroscience methods, 2005; 143(2): 107-15.
Jarvis Erich D, Güntürkün Onur, Bruce Laura, Csillag András, Karten Harvey, Kuenzel Wayne, Medina Loreta, Paxinos George, Perkel David J, Shimizu Toru, Striedter Georg, Wild J Martin, Ball Gregory F, Dugas-Ford Jennifer, Durand Sarah E, Hough Gerald E, Husband Scott, Kubikova Lubica, Lee Diane W, Mello Claudio V, Powers Alice, Siang Connie, Smulders Tom V, Wada Kazuhiro, White Stephanie A, Yamamoto Keiko, Yu Jing, Reiner Anton, Butler Ann B, Butler Ann B   Avian brains and a new understanding of vertebrate brain evolution Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 2005; 6(2): 151-9.
Reiner A, Perkel D, Bruce L, Butler A, Csillag A, Kuenzel W, Medina L, Paxinos G, Powers A, Shimisu T, Striedter G, Wild M, Ball G, Durand S, Gunturkun O, Lee D, Mello C, White SA, Hough T, Kubikova L, Smulders T, Wada K, Dugas-Ford J, Husband S, Yamamoto K, Yu J, Siang C, Jarvis ED   Revised nomenclature for avian telencephalon and some related brain nuclei Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2004; 473: 377-414.
Scharff, C White, SA   Genetic components of vocal learning Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004; 1016: 325-47.
Teramitsu, I Kudo, LC London, SE Geschwind, DH White, SA   Parallel FoxP1 and FoxP2 expression in songbird and human brain predicts functional interaction The Journal of Neuroscience, 2004; 24(13): 3152-63.
Reiner Anton, Perkel David J, Bruce Laura L, Butler Ann B, Csillag András, Kuenzel Wayne, Medina Loreta, Paxinos George, Shimizu Toru, Striedter Georg, Wild Martin, Ball Gregory F, Durand Sarah, Gütürkün Onur, Lee Diane W, Mello Claudio V, Powers Alice, White Stephanie A, Hough Gerald, Kubikova Lubica, Smulders Tom V, Wada Kazuhiro, Dugas-Ford Jennifer, Husband Scott, Yamamoto Keiko, Yu Jing, Siang Connie, Jarvis Erich D   The Avian Brain Nomenclature Forum: Terminology for a New Century in Comparative Neuroanatomy The Journal of comparative neurology, 2004; 473(1): E1-E6.
White Stephanie A, Nguyen Tuan, Fernald Russell D   Social regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone The Journal of experimental biology, 2002; 205(Pt 17): 2567-81.
White SA   Learning to communicate Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 2001; 11: 510-520.
Livingston*FL, White*SA, & Mooney R   Slow NMDA-PSCs at synapses critical for song development are not required for song learning in zebra finches Nature Neuroscience, 2000; 3: 482-488.
White, SA Livingston, FS Mooney, R   Androgens modulate NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs in the zebra finch song system Journal of Neurophysiology, 1999; 82(5): 2221-34.
White SA & Mooney R   Can an old bird change his tune? Current Biology, 1999; 9: R688-690.
Fernald RD & White SA   Social control of brains: from behavior to genes, The Cognitive Neurosciences, 1999; 2nd edition: 1193-1208.
Spiro, JE White, SA   Neuroethology: a meeting of brain and behavior Neuron, 1998; 21(5): 981-9.
White, SA Fernald, RD   Changing through doing: behavioral influences on the brain Recent progress in hormone research, 1997; 52: 455-73; discussion 473-4.
Fox* HE, White* SA, Kau MHF & Fernald RD   Stress and dominance in a social fish Journal of Neuroscience, 1997; 17: 6463-6469.
White, SA Kasten, TL Bond, CT Adelman, JP Fernald, RD   Three gonadotropin-releasing hormone genes in one organism suggest novel roles for an ancient peptide Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1995; 92(18): 8363-7.
White SA & Fernald RD   Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-containing neurons change size with reproductive state in female Haplochromis burtoni, Journal of Neuroscience, 1993; 13: 434-441.

Niranjala Tillakaratne, Ph.D

Publications

A selected list of publications:

Duru Paul, Tillakaratne Niranjala, Kim Jung, Zhong Hui, Stauber Stacey, Pham Tran, Xiao Mei Si, Edgerton V. Reggie, Roy Roland.   Spinal neuronal activation during locomotor-like activity enabled by epidural stimulation and 5-hydroxytryptamine agonists in spinal rats, J Neurosci Res, 2015; 93(8): 1229-1239.
Tillakaratne Niranjala J K, Duru Paul, Fujino Hidemi, Zhong Hui, Xiao Mei Si, Edgerton V Reggie, Roy Roland R   Identification of interneurons activated at different inclines during treadmill locomotion in adult rats Journal of neuroscience research, 2014; 92(12): 1714-22.
Shah Prithvi K, Garcia-Alias Guillermo, Choe Jaehoon, Gad Parag, Gerasimenko Yury, Tillakaratne Niranjala, Zhong Hui, Roy Roland R, Edgerton V Reggie   Use of quadrupedal step training to re-engage spinal interneuronal networks and improve locomotor function after spinal cord injury Brain : a journal of neurology, 2013; 136(Pt 11): 3362-77.
Joseph M Selvan, Ying Zhe, Zhuang Yumei, Zhong Hui, Wu Aiguo, Bhatia Harsharan S, Cruz Rusvelda, Tillakaratne Niranjala J K, Roy Roland R, Edgerton V Reggie, Gomez-Pinilla Fernando   Effects of diet and/or exercise in enhancing spinal cord sensorimotor learning PloS one, 2012; 7(7): e41288.
Joseph M Selvan, Bilousova Tina, Zdunowski Sharon, Wu Zhongqi-Phyllis, Middleton Blake, Boudzinskaia Maia, Wong Bonnie, Ali Noore, Zhong Hui, Yong Jing, Washburn Lorraine, Escande-Beillard Nathalie, Dang Hoa, Edgerton V Reggie, Tillakaratne Niranjala J K, Kaufman Daniel L   Transgenic mice with enhanced neuronal major histocompatibility complex class I expression recover locomotor function better after spinal cord injury Journal of neuroscience research, 2011; 89(3): 365-72.
Tillakaratne NJ, Guu JJ, de Leon RD, Bigbee AJ, London NJ, Zhong H, Ziegler M,Joynes R, Roy RR, Edgerton VR.   Functional recovery of stepping in rats after a complete neonatal spinal cord transection is not due to regrowth across the lesion site , Neuroscience, 2010; 166: 23-33.
Khristy W, Ali NJ, Bravo AB, de Leon R, Roy RR, Zhong H, London NJ, Edgerton VR, Tillakaratne NJ   Changes in GABA(A) receptor subunit gamma 2 in extensor and flexor motoneurons and astrocytes after spinal cord transection and motor training, Brain Res, 2009; 1273: 9-17.
Otoshi CK, Walwyn WM, Tillakaratne NJ, Zhong H, Roy RR, Edgerton VR   Distribution and localization of 5-HT(1A) receptors in the rat lumbar spinal cord after transection and deafferentation, J Neurotrauma, 2009; 26: 575-84.
Jindrich DL, Joseph MS, Otoshi CK, Wei RY, Zhong H, Roy RR, Tillakaratne NJ,Edgerton VR   Spinal learning in the adult mouse using the Horridge paradigm, J Neurosci Methods, , 2009; 182(2): 250-4.
Edgerton VR, Courtine G, Gerasimenko YP, Lavrov I, Ichiyama RM, Fong AJ, Cai LL, Otoshi CK, Tillakaratne NJ, Burdick JW, Roy RR   Training locomotor networks, Brain Res Rev, 2008; 57: 241-54 (Review).
Bigbee AJ, Crown ED, Ferguson AR, Roy RR, Tillakaratne NJ, Grau JW, Edgerton VR   Two chronic motor training paradigms differentially influence acute, Behav Brain Res, 2007; 180: 95-101.
Ahn, SN Guu, JJ Tobin, AJ Edgerton, VR Tillakaratne, NJ   Use of c-fos to identify activity-dependent spinal neurons after stepping in intact adult rats Spinal Cord, 2006; 44: 547-59.
Zanjani H, Lemaigre-Dubreuil Y, Tillakaratne NJK, Blokhin A, McMahon RP, Tobin AJ and Vogel MW.   Cerebellar Purkinje cell loss in aging Hu-Bcl2 transgenic mice, J Comp Neurol, 2004; 475: 481-92.
Edgerton VR, Tillakaratne NJK, Bigbee AJ, de Leon RD, and Roy RR   Locomotor recovery potential after spinal cord injury, Neuro-behavioral determinants of interlimb coordination, edited by Swinnen S. & P Duysens J, 2004; .
Edgerton, VR Tillakaratne, NJ Bigbee, AJ de Leon, RD Roy, RR   Plasticity of the spinal neural circuitry after injury Annual review of neuroscience. , 2004; 27: 145-67.
Hoang, TX Nieto, JH Tillakaratne, NJ Havton, LA   Autonomic and motor neuron death is progressive and parallel in a lumbosacral ventral root avulsion model of cauda equina injury The Journal of comparative neurology. , 2003; 467(4): 477-86.
Mackie, M Hughes, DI Maxwell, DJ Tillakaratne, NJ Todd, AJ   Distribution and colocalisation of glutamate decarboxylase isoforms in the rat spinal cord Neuroscience. , 2003; 119(2): 461-72.
Tillakaratne, NJ de Leon, RD Hoang, TX Roy, RR Edgerton, VR Tobin, AJ   Use-dependent modulation of inhibitory capacity in the feline lumbar spinal cord The Journal of neuroscience, 2002; 22(8): 3130-43.
Edgerton, VR Leon, RD Harkema, SJ Hodgson, JA London, N Reinkensmeyer, DJ Roy, RR Talmadge, RJ Tillakaratne, NJ Timoszyk, W Tobin, A   Retraining the injured spinal cord The Journal of physiology. , 2001; 533(Pt 1): 15-22.
Tillakaratne, NJ Mouria, M Ziv, NB Roy, RR Edgerton, VR Tobin, AJ   Increased expression of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD(67)) in feline lumbar spinal cord after complete thoracic spinal cord transection Journal of neuroscience research. , 2000; 60(2): 219-30.
Banerjee, PK Tillakaratne, NJ Brailowsky, S Olsen, RW Tobin, AJ Snead, OC   Alterations in GABAA receptor alpha 1 and alpha 4 subunit mRNA levels in thalamic relay nuclei following absence-like seizures in rats Experimental neurology. , 1998; 154(1): 213-23.
Banerjee PK, Olsen RW, Tillakaratne NJK, Brailowsky S, Tobin AJ, and Snead OC, 3rd.   Absence seizures decrease steroid modulation of t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in thalamic relay nuclei, J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 1998; 287: 766-772.
Edgerton VR, Roy RR, de Leon RD, Tillakaratne NJK, and Hodgson JA.   Does motor learning occur in spinal cord?, The neuroscientist, 1997; 3: 287-294.
Edgerton, VR de Leon, RD Tillakaratne, N Recktenwald, MR Hodgson, JA Roy, RR   Use-dependent plasticity in spinal stepping and standing Advances in neurology. , 1997; 72: 233-47.
Mahmoudi M, Kang M H, Tillakaratne N, Tobin A J, Olsen R W   Chronic intermittent ethanol treatment in rats increases GABA(A) receptor alpha4-subunit expression: possible relevance to alcohol dependence Journal of neurochemistry, 1997; 68(6): 2485-92.
Tillakaratne N J, Medina-Kauwe L, Gibson K M   gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism in mammalian neural and nonneural tissues Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Physiology, 1995; 112(2): 247-63.
Segovia J, Lawless G M, Tillakaratne N J, Brenner M, Tobin A J   Cyclic AMP decreases the expression of a neuronal marker (GAD67) and increases the expression of an astroglial marker (GFAP) in C6 cells Journal of neurochemistry, 1994; 63(4): 1218-25.
Hendrickson A E, Tillakaratne N J, Mehra R D, Esclapez M, Erickson A, Vician L, Tobin A J   Differential localization of two glutamic acid decarboxylases (GAD65 and GAD67) in adult monkey visual cortex The Journal of comparative neurology, 1994; 343(4): 566-81.
Medina-Kauwe L K, Tillakaratne N J, Wu J Y, Tobin A J   A rat brain cDNA encodes enzymatically active GABA transaminase and provides a molecular probe for GABA-catabolizing cells Journal of neurochemistry, 1994; 62(4): 1267-75.
Esclapez M, Tillakaratne N J, Kaufman D L, Tobin A J, Houser C R   Comparative localization of two forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase and their mRNAs in rat brain supports the concept of functional differences between the forms The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 1994; 14(3 Pt 2): 1834-55.
Esclapez M, Tillakaratne N J, Tobin A J, Houser C R   Comparative localization of mRNAs encoding two forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase with nonradioactive in situ hybridization methods The Journal of comparative neurology, 1993; 331(3): 339-62.
Greif K F, Tillakaratne N J, Erlander M G, Feldblum S, Tobin A J   Transient increase in expression of a glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA during the postnatal development of the rat striatum Developmental biology, 1992; 153(1): 158-64.
Kasckow J W, Tillakaratne N J, Kim H, Strecker G J, Tobin A J, Olsen R W   Expression of GABAA receptor polypeptides in clonal rat cell lines Brain research, 1992; 581(1): 143-7.
Bu D F, Erlander M G, Hitz B C, Tillakaratne N J, Kaufman D L, Wagner-McPherson C B, Evans G A, Tobin A J   Two human glutamate decarboxylases, 65-kDa GAD and 67-kDa GAD, are each encoded by a single gene Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1992; 89(6): 2115-9.
Tillakaratne N J, Erlander M G, Collard M W, Greif K F, Tobin A J   Glutamate decarboxylases in nonneural cells of rat testis and oviduct: differential expression of GAD65 and GAD67 Journal of neurochemistry, 1992; 58(2): 618-27.
Erlander M G, Tillakaratne N J, Feldblum S, Patel N, Tobin A J   Two genes encode distinct glutamate decarboxylases Neuron, 1991; 7(1): 91-100.
Khrestchatisky M, MacLennan A J, Tillakaratne N J, Chiang M Y, Tobin A J   Sequence and regional distribution of the mRNA encoding the alpha 2 polypeptide of rat gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptors Journal of neurochemistry, 1991; 56(5): 1717-22.
MacLennan A J, Brecha N, Khrestchatisky M, Sternini C, Tillakaratne N J, Chiang M Y, Anderson K, Lai M, Tobin A J   Independent cellular and ontogenetic expression of mRNAs encoding three alpha polypeptides of the rat GABAA receptor Neuroscience, 1991; 43(2-3): 369-80.
Greif K F, Erlander M G, Tillakaratne N J, Tobin A J   Postnatal expression of glutamate decarboxylases in developing rat cerebellum Neurochemical research, 1991; 16(3): 235-42.
Tobin A J, Khrestchatisky M, MacLennan A J, Chiang M Y, Tillakaratne N J, Xu W T, Jackson M B, Brecha N, Sternini C, Olsen R W   Structural, developmental and functional heterogeneity of rat GABAA receptors Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 1991; 287(3): 365-74.
John Maclennan A, Frantz G D, Weatherwax R C, Tillakaratne N J, Tobin A J   Expression of mRNAs that encode D2 dopamine receptor subtypes: Anatomical, developmental, and pharmacological studies Molecular and cellular neurosciences, 1990; 1(2): 151-60.
Segovia J, Tillakaratne N J, Whelan K, Tobin A J, Gale K   Parallel increases in striatal glutamic acid decarboxylase activity and mRNA levels in rats with lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway Brain research, 1990; 529(1-2): 345-8.
Kim Y S, Thomas J W, Tillakaratne N J, Montpied P, Suzdak P D, Banner C, Ginns E, Tobin A J, Paul S M   Glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA in rat brain: regional distribution and effects of intrastriatal kainic acid Brain research, 1987; 427(1): 77-82.