Robert Thompson Ph.D.
| 5029 BSRB 2200 |
| Ann Arbor, MI 48109 |
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The focus of research in this lab is to relate brain neurochemistry to behavior. We have three major research projects. The first major project is to determine how endocrine and sensory information associated with altered states of nutrition is relayed to the reproductive system. Conditions that limit food or metabolic fuels can profoundly effect the reproductive axis. We are testing the hypothesis that these compromised metabolic conditions are sensed by the brain as a stress and it is this stress that leads to an inhibition LH pulses.
A second research project (somewhat related to the first) explores the functions of recently discovered fat hormone receptors (adiponectin receptors) as they anatomically relate to specific brain nuclei and therein functions. This transgenic/knockout mouse project will help discern how fat hormones, like adiponectin, influnece specific brain systems.
Our third major project explores the neurochemical changes associated with depression. Antidepressants targeted at several different classes of receptors lead to largely similar behavioral changes. In an attempt to more fully understand the cellular mechanisms associated with antidepressant action, we are identifying genes whose activity is altered during specific antidepressant treatments. Our goal for these studies is to determine if a common set of genes is regulated by different antidepressants. It is our hope that by identifying such a common set of genes that new and improved therapeutic strategies for the treatment of depression could be initiated.
Evans, S.J., Choudary, P.V., Neal, C.R., Li, J.Z., Vawter, M.P., Tomita, H., Lopez, J.F., Thompson, R.C., Meng, F., Stead, J.D., Walsh, D.M., Meyers, R.M., Bunney, W.E., Watson, S.J., Jones, E.G., and Akil, H. Dysregulation of the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) system in Major Depression (2004) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101: 15506-15511
Evans, S.J., Choudary, P.V., Vawter, M.P., Li, J., Meador-Woodruff, J.H., Lopez, J.F., Burke, S.M., Thompson, R.C., Myers, R.M., Jones, E.G., Bunny, W.E., Watson, S.J., and Akil, H. DNA microarray analysis of functionally discrete human brain regions reveals divergent transcription profiles (2003) Neurobiol. Dis. 14:240-250
Morgan, C., Thompson, R.C., Watson, S.J., and Akil, H (2003). Syrian Hamster Proopiomelanocortin cDNA Cloning and Early Seasonal Changes in Testicular Expression. Gen Comp Endocrinology 133: 353-357
Li, J-Y., Lescure, P.A., Misek, D.E., Lai, Y-M., Chai, B.-X, Kuick, R., Thompson, R.C., Demo, R.M., Kurnit., D.M., Michailidis, G., Hanash, S.M., and Gantz, I. (2002) Food Deprivation-Induced Expression of Minoxidil Sulfotransferase in the Hypothalamus Uncovered by Microarray Analysis. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 9069-9076
Richardson, H.N., Parfitt, D.B., Thompson, R.C., and Sisk, C.L. (2002) Redefining Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Cell Groups in the Male Syrian Hamster: Testosterone Regulates GnRH mRNA in the Tenia Tecta. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 14 (5): 375-383
Parfitt, D.B., Thompson, R.C., Richardson, H.N., Romeo, R.D., and Sisk, C.: GnRH mRNA Increases with Puberty in the Male Syrian Hamster. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 11(8):621-7, 1999.
Miller, C.L., Thompson, R.C., and Burmeister, M.: Radiation Hybrid Mapping of the Two Highly Homologous Human-Variant pMCHL Genes by PCR-SSCP. Genome Research 8: 737-740, 1998.
Miller, CL., Burmeister, M., and Thompson, RC.: Antisense Expression of the Human pMCH Genes. Brain Research 803: 86-94, 1998.
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