Neuropharmacology is the study of drugs which affect the central nervous system. These include psychotropic drugs that affect mood and behavior, anesthetics, sedatives, analgesics, anticonvulsants, narcotics, hypnotics and a variety of other substances. While the precise mechanism of action is unknown for most of these drugs, a large number of neuropharmacological agents appear to be involved primarily with synaptic events. The Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (DPET) contains a core group of investigators who study neuroactive compounds at the molecular, cellular and behavioral level.

Dr. Margery C. Beinfeld is studying the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) in brain. The neuropeptide CCK is co-localized with a number of neurotransmitters, including dopamine and GABA. Utilizing molecular biological techniques, Dr. Beinfeld examines the biosynthesis, post-translational processing and release of this neuropeptide.

Dr. Jeanne M. Fahey is currently exploring the behavioral and molecular pharmacology of the benzodiazepine receptor ligand site on the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complex. In addition to her interest in the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, Dr. Fahey is also investigating the role of excitatory amino acid receptor function in modulating the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in aging organisms.

Dr. David J. Greenblatt is involved in many facets of neuropharmacology. His research focuses on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the GABAA benzodiazepine receptor. Dr. Greenblatt integrates a variety of techniques which allows his laboratory to examine the behavioral and neurochemical effects of benzodiazepine treatment at the cellular level as well as in the intact organism.

Research by Dr. Richard M. Kream explores the neurochemistry of neuropeptide processing in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Using a variety of approaches, Dr. Kream also explores the interaction of neuropeptides with opiates in the management of pain.

Dr. Klaus A. Miczek is evaluating the neuropharmacology of aggression at the behavioral, physiological and neurochemical level on the Medford campus. Dr. Miczek is primarily interested in the use of psychostimulants, opiates and alcohol in a social context and the effect of these drugs on aggression.

Research by Dr. Louis Shuster focuses on the biochemical mechanisms of morphine, cocaine and amphetamine addiction. Using a variety of approaches and collaborators, Dr. Shuster also explores the pharmacogenetics of drug abuse.

Dr. Jeffrey B. Tatro is elucidating the physiological roles of receptors for melanocortins in the central nervous system. Melanocortins act centrally as functional antagonists of proimflammatory cytokines, inhibiting the pyrogenic and neurocrine actions of these substances in the brain. The main thrust of Dr. Tatro's research is to determine the central mechanisms and neural pathways involved in these effects.

Insects use acetylcholine (ACh) as the primary sensory neurotransmitter, hence acetylcholine receptors (AChRs)are extremely important in understanding sensory processing and perhaps in pharmacological approaches to insect control. Dr. Barry A. Trimmer is interested in the pharmacology of both ionotropic and metabotropic AChRs in the CNS of Manduca sexta. Another interesting feature of this model system is that as a tobacco-feeding larva, Manduca is extremely resistant to nicotine toxicity. Understanding the functional specializations of nicotinic AChRs might have important consequences in treating nicotine addiction in humans.