Professor
Dept. of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
Tufts University School of Medicine
136 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: 617-636-6863
Email: Louis.Shuster@Tufts.edu

Research Interests:

Dr. Shuster's research is ongoing in a number of related areas. He has had a major research interest in the mechanisms of hepatotoxicity from cocaine and opiates. The metabolism of cocaine to an active free radical produce severe hepatic necrosis in mice. Factors that affect this response include inducers and inhibitors of various forms of cytochrome P450, genetic background, sex hormones and catecholamines. Parallel experiments have been carried out with human liver microsomes and isozymes of cytochrome P450. Fatty necrosis can be induced in mice by activation of central narcotic receptors. Contributing factors include genetic predisposition, glutathione levels and enzyme induction. In collaboration with Dr. N. H. Dodman, director of the Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Shuster is working on treatment of stereotypic and self-injurious behavior in domestic animals using specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anxiolytic agents and narcotic antagonists. The emphasis is on mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and genetic susceptibility. In collaboration with Drs. D. Wise and J. Cresser of the Department of Engineering at Northeastern University, Dr. Shuster and his associates are developing polymer implants that release naltrexone for treatment of narcotic abuse and alcoholic craving, hydromorphone for chronic pain, or mepivacaine for neurogenic pain. These studies include measurement of blood levels, and investigation of analgesic mechanisms together with Drs. Carr, Kream and Marchand of the Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and Anesthesiology.

Recent Publications:

Dodman NH, Normile JA, Cottam N, Guzman M, Shuster L. Prevalence of complusive behaviors in formerly feral horses. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med 2005; 3:20-24.

Dodman NH, Shuster, L. Contemporary animal models of obsessive-compulsive disorder: psychopathology and treatment from a neurological and ethological endpoint. In: Abramowitz JS, ed. Current Controversies in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Hingham, MA, 2005.

Sard H, Kumaran G, Morency C, Roth BL, Toth BA, He P, Shuster L. SAR of psilocybin analogs: Discovery of a selective 5-HT2C agonist. Bioorganic & Medical Chemistry Letters, 2005; 15:4555-4559.

Dodman NH, Shuster L, Nesbitt G, Weissman A, Lo WY, Chang WW, Cottam N. The use of dextromethorphan to treat repetitive self-directed scratching, biting, or chewing in dogs with allergic dermatitis.
J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2004; 27(2):99-104.

Dodman NH, Shuster L, Patronek GJ, Kinney L. Pharmacologic treatment of equine self-mutilation syndrome. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med, 2004; 2:90-98.