Kliem, M. A. Maidment, N. T. Ackerson, L. C. Chen, S. Smith, Y. Wichmann, T. Activation of nigral and pallidal dopamine D1-like receptors modulates basal ganglia outflow in monkeys.
J Neurophysiol.
2007;
98( 3):
1489-500.
Walker, E. Wang, J. Hamdi, N. Monbouquette, H. G. Maidment, N. T. Selective detection of extracellular glutamate in brain tissue using microelectrode arrays coated with over-oxidized polypyrrole.
Analyst.
2007;
132( 11):
1107-11.
Phillips, J. M. Lam, H. A. Ackerson, L. C. Maidment, N. T. Blockade of mGluR glutamate receptors in the subthalamic nucleus ameliorates motor asymmetry in an animal model of Parkinson's disease.
Eur J Neurosci.
2006;
23( 1):
151-60.
Shoblock, J. R. Maidment, N. T. Constitutively active micro opioid receptors mediate the enhanced conditioned aversive effect of naloxone in morphine-dependent mice.
Neuropsychopharmacology.
2006;
31( 1):
171-7.
Walwyn, W. M. Matsuka, Y. Arai, D. Bloom, D. C. Lam, H. Tran, C. Spigelman, I. Maidment, N. T. HSV-1-mediated NGF delivery delays nociceptive deficits in a genetic model of diabetic neuropathy.
Exp Neurol.
2006;
198( 1):
260-70.
Chang, H. Y. Grygoruk, A. Brooks, E. S. Ackerson, L. C. Maidment, N. T. Bainton, R. J. Krantz, D. E. Overexpression of the Drosophila vesicular monoamine transporter increases motor activity and courtship but decreases the behavioral response to cocaine.
Mol Psychiatry.
2006;
11( 1):
99-113.
Skoubis, P. D. Lam, H. A. Shoblock, J. Narayanan, S. Maidment, N. T. Endogenous enkephalins, not endorphins, modulate basal hedonic state in mice.
Eur J Neurosci.
2005;
21( 5):
1379-84.
Galvan, A. Villalba, R. M. West, S. M. Maidment, N. T. Ackerson, L. C. Smith, Y. Wichmann, T. GABAergic modulation of the activity of globus pallidus neurons in primates: in vivo analysis of the functions of GABA receptors and GABA transporters.
J Neurophysiol.
2005;
94( 2):
990-1000.
Walwyn, W. Maidment, N. T. Sanders, M. Evans, C. J. Kieffer, B. L. Hales, T. G. Induction of delta opioid receptor function by up-regulation of membrane receptors in mouse primary afferent neurons.
Mol Pharmacol.
2005;
68( 6):
1688-98.
Shoblock, J. R. Wichmann, J. Maidment, N. T. The effect of a systemically active ORL-1 agonist, Ro 64-6198, on the acquisition, expression, extinction, and reinstatement of morphine conditioned place preference.
Neuropharmacology.
2005;
49( 4):
439-46.
Narayanan, S. Lam, H. Christian, L. Levine, M. S. Grandy, D. Rubinstein, M. Maidment, N. T. Endogenous opioids mediate basal hedonic tone independent of dopamine D-1 or D-2 receptor activation.
Neuroscience.
2004;
124( 1):
241-6.
Walwyn, W. M. Keith, D. E., Jr. Wei, W. Tan, A. M. Xie, C. W. Evans, C. J. Kieffer, B. L. Maidment, N. T. Functional coupling, desensitization and internalization of virally expressed mu opioid receptors in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons from mu opioid receptor knockout mice.
Neuroscience.
2004;
123( 1):
111-21.
Murphy, N. P. Tan, A. M. Lam, H. A. Maidment, N. T. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ modulation of rat midbrain dopamine neurons in primary culture.
Neuroscience.
2004;
127( 4):
929-40.
Skoubis, P. D. Maidment, N. T. Blockade of ventral pallidal opioid receptors induces a conditioned place aversion and attenuates acquisition of cocaine place preference in the rat.
Neuroscience.
2003;
119( 1):
241-9.
Rocha, L. Maidment, N. T. Opioid peptide release in the rat hippocampus after kainic acid-induced status epilepticus.
Hippocampus.
2003;
13( 4):
472-80.
Lopez-Rodriguez, F. Wilson, C. L. Maidment, N. T. Poland, R. E. Engel, J. Total sleep deprivation increases extracellular serotonin in the rat hippocampus.
Neuroscience.
2003;
121( 2):
523-30.
Wu, M. F. John, J. Maidment, N. Lam, H. A. Siegel, J. M. Hypocretin release in normal and narcoleptic dogs after food and sleep deprivation, eating, and movement.
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol.
2002;
283( 5):
R1079-86.
Neubert, J. K. Matsuka, Y. Maidment, N. T. Spigelman, I. Microdialysis in trigeminal ganglia.
Brain Res Brain Res Protoc.
2002;
10( 2):
102-8.
Lutfy, K. Khaliq, I. Carroll, F. I. Maidment, N. T. Orphanin FQ/nociceptin blocks cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in rats.
Psychopharmacology (Berl).
2002;
164( 2):
168-76.
Lutfy, K. Maidment, N. T. Sensitization does not develop to cocaine-induced potentiation of the antinociceptive effect of morphine.
Brain Res Bull.
2002;
58( 1):
7-12.
Murphy, N. P. Lam, H. A. Maidment, N. T. A comparison of morphine-induced locomotor activity and mesolimbic dopamine release in C57BL6, 129Sv and DBA2 mice.
J Neurochem.
2001;
79( 3):
626-35.
Fried, I. Wilson, C. L. Morrow, J. W. Cameron, K. A. Behnke, E. D. Ackerson, L. C. Maidment, N. T. Increased dopamine release in the human amygdala during performance of cognitive tasks.
Nat Neurosci.
2001;
4( 2):
201-6.
Skoubis, P. D. Matthes, H. W. Walwyn, W. M. Kieffer, B. L. Maidment, N. T. Naloxone fails to produce conditioned place aversion in mu-opioid receptor knock-out mice.
Neuroscience.
2001;
106( 4):
757-63.
Lutfy, K. Do, T. Maidment, N. T. Orphanin FQ/nociceptin attenuates motor stimulation and changes in nucleus accumbens extracellular dopamine induced by cocaine in rats.
Psychopharmacology (Berl).
2001;
154( 1):
1-7.
Lutfy, K. Hossain, S. M. Khaliq, I. Maidment, N. T. Orphanin FQ/nociceptin attenuates the development of morphine tolerance in rats.
Br J Pharmacol.
2001;
134( 3):
529-34.
Lutfy, K. Maidment, N. T. Blockade of mu-opioid receptors reveals the hyperalgesic effect of orphanin FQ/nociceptin in the rat hot plate test.
Br J Pharmacol.
2000;
131( 8):
1684-8.
Fried, I. Wilson, C. L. Maidment, N. T. Engel, J., Jr. Behnke, E. Fields, T. A. MacDonald, K. A. Morrow, J. W. Ackerson, L. Cerebral microdialysis combined with single-neuron and electroencephalographic recording in neurosurgical patients. Technical note.
J Neurosurg.
1999;
91( 4):
697-705.
Walwyn, W. M. Ta-Haung, J. Ackerson, L. Maidment, N. T. Edgerton, V. R. Extracellular glutamate in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord in the freely moving rat during hindlimb stepping.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav.
1999;
63( 4):
581-8.
Rocha, L. Ondarza-Rovira, R. Maidment, N. T. Gabapentin modifies extracellular opioid peptide content in amygdala: a microdialysis study.
Epilepsy Res.
1999;
35( 1):
13-20.
Rocha, L. Cano, A. Cruz, C. Omana-Zapata, I. Villalobos, R. Maidment, N. T. Opioid peptide systems following a subconvulsant dose of pentylenetetrazol in rats.
Epilepsy Res.
1999;
37( 2):
141-50.
Narayanan, S. Maidment, N. T. Orphanin FQ and behavioral sensitization to cocaine.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav.
1999;
63( 2):
271-7.
Murphy, N. P. Maidment, N. T. Orphanin FQ/nociceptin modulation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission determined by microdialysis.
J Neurochem.
1999;
73( 1):
179-86.
King, B. H. Cromwell, H. C. Lee, H. T. Behrstock, S. P. Schmanke, T. Maidment, N. T. Dopaminergic and glutamatergic interactions in the expression of self-injurious behavior.
Dev Neurosci.
1998;
20( 2-3):
180-7.
Olive, M. F. Maidment, N. T. Opioid regulation of pallidal enkephalin release: bimodal effects of locally administered mu and delta opioid agonists in freely moving rats.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther.
1998;
285( 3):
1310-6.
Olive, M. F. Maidment, N. T. Repeated heroin administration increases extracellular opioid peptide-like immunoreactivity in the globus pallidus/ventral pallidum of freely moving rats.
Psychopharmacology (Berl).
1998;
139( 3):
251-4.
Rocha, L. L. Evans, C. J. Maidment, N. T. Amygdala kindling modifies extracellular opioid peptide content in rat hippocampus measured by microdialysis.
J Neurochem.
1997;
68( 2):
616-24.
Bergasa, N. V. Mohajer, B. Maisonneuve, I. M. Ho, A. Maidment, N. T. Olive, F. Gunduz, M. Kreek, M. J. Basal total opioid peptide release in the striatum of rats with cholestasis from bile duct resection: a study by the use of in vivo microdialysis.
Life Sci.
1997;
61( 12):
1169-75.
Wilson, C. L. Maidment, N. T. Shomer, M. H. Behnke, E. J. Ackerson, L. Fried, I. Engel, J., Jr. Comparison of seizure related amino acid release in human epileptic hippocampus versus a chronic, kainate rat model of hippocampal epilepsy.
Epilepsy Res.
1996;
26( 1):
245-54.
Maidment, N. T. Tan, A. M. Bloom, D. C. Anton, B. Feldman, L. T. Stevens, J. G. Expression of the lacZ reporter gene in the rat basal forebrain, hippocampus, and nigrostriatal pathway using a nonreplicating herpes simplex vector.
Exp Neurol.
1996;
139( 1):
107-14.
Murphy, N. P. Ly, H. T. Maidment, N. T. Intracerebroventricular orphanin FQ/nociceptin suppresses dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of anaesthetized rats.
Neuroscience.
1996;
75( 1):
1-4.
Cromwell, H. C. Witte, E. A. Crawford, C. A. Ly, H. T. Maidment, N. T. King, B. H. Pemoline produces ipsilateral turning behavior in unilateral 6-OHDA-lesioned rats.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry.
1996;
20( 3):
503-14.
Rocha, L. Briones, M. Ackermann, R. F. Anton, B. Maidment, N. T. Evans, C. J. Engel, J., Jr. Pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling: early involvement of excitatory and inhibitory systems.
Epilepsy Res.
1996;
26( 1):
105-113.
Bloom, D. C. Lokensgard, J. R. Maidment, N. T. Feldman, L. T. Stevens, J. G. Long-term expression of genes in vivo using non-replicating HSV vectors.
Gene Ther.
1994;
1 Suppl 1:
S36-8.
Rocha, L. Maidment, N. T. Evans, C. J. Ackermann, R. F. Engel, J., Jr. Microdialysis reveals changes in extracellular opioid peptide levels in the amygdala induced by amygdaloid kindling stimulation.
Exp Neurol.
1994;
126( 2):
277-83.
Anton, R. Kordower, J. H. Maidment, N. T. Manaster, J. S. Kane, D. J. Rabizadeh, S. Schueller, S. B. Yang, J. Rabizadeh, S. Edwards, R. H. et al., Neural-targeted gene therapy for rodent and primate hemiparkinsonism.
Exp Neurol.
1994;
127( 2):
207-18.
Sulzer, D. Maidment, N. T. Rayport, S. Amphetamine and other weak bases act to promote reverse transport of dopamine in ventral midbrain neurons.
J Neurochem.
1993;
60( 2):
527-35.
Lo, E. H. Steinberg, G. K. Panahian, N. Maidment, N. T. Newcomb, R. Profiles of extracellular amino acid changes in focal cerebral ischaemia: effects of mild hypothermia.
Neurol Res.
1993;
15( 4):
281-7.
Maidment, N. T. Siddall, B. J. Rudolph, V. R. Erdelyi, E. Evans, C. J. Dual determination of extracellular cholecystokinin and neurotensin fragments in rat forebrain: microdialysis combined with a sequential multiple antigen radioimmunoassay.
Neuroscience.
1991;
45( 1):
81-93.
Maidment, N. T. Siddall, B. Rudolph, V. D. Evans, C. J. Postmortem changes in rat brain extracellular opioid peptides revealed by microdialysis.
J Neurochem.
1991;
56( 6):
1980-4.
Maidment, N. T. Brumbaugh, D. R. Rudolph, V. D. Erdelyi, E. Evans, C. J. Microdialysis of extracellular endogenous opioid peptides from rat brain in vivo.
Neuroscience.
1989;
33( 3):
549-57.
Gonzalez-Mora, J. L. Maidment, N. T. Guadalupe, T. Mas, M. Post-mortem dopamine dynamics assessed by voltammetry and microdialysis.
Brain Res Bull.
1989;
23( 4-5):
323-7.
Maidment, N. T. Marsden, C. A. Acute administration of clozapine, thioridazine and metoclopramide increases extracellular DOPAC and decreases extracellular 5-HIAA, measured in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of the rat using in vivo voltammetry.
Neuropharmacology.
1987;
26( 2-3):
187-93.
Marsden, C. A. Martin, K. F. Routledge, C. Brazell, M. P. Maidment, N. T. Application of intracerebral dialysis and in vivo voltammetry to pharmacological and physiological studies of amine neurotransmitters.
Ann N Y Acad Sci.
1986;
473:
106-25.
Sharp, T. Maidment, N. T. Brazell, M. P. Zetterstrom, T. Ungerstedt, U. Bennett, G. W. Marsden, C. A. Changes in monoamine metabolites measured by simultaneous in vivo differential pulse voltammetry and intracerebral dialysis.
Neuroscience.
1984;
12( 4):
1213-21.
Simon Jeff M, Daniels Jeff M, Romero-Calderòn Jeff M, Grygoruk Jeff M, Chang Jeff M, Najibi Jeff M, Shamouelian Jeff M, Salazar Jeff M, Solomon Jeff M, Ackerson Jeff M, Maidment Jeff M, Diantonio Jeff M, Krantz Jeff M Drosophila Vesicular Monoamine Transporter Mutants can adapt to
Reduced or Eliminated Vesicular Stores of Dopamine and Serotonin..
Genetics.
2008;
283(50):
.
Chou Arthur P, Maidment Nigel, Klintenberg Rebecka, Casida John E, Li Sharon, Fitzmaurice Arthur G, Fernagut Pierre-Olivier, Mortazavi Farzad, Chesselet Marie-Francoise, Bronstein Jeff M Ziram causes dopaminergic cell damage by inhibiting E1 ligase of the
proteasome..
The Journal of biological chemistry.
2008;
283(50):
34696-703.
Romero-Calderón Rafael, Uhlenbrock Guido, Borycz Jolanta, Simon Anne F, Grygoruk Anna, Yee Susan K, Shyer Amy, Ackerson Larry C, Maidment Nigel T, Meinertzhagen Ian A, Hovemann Bernhard T, Krantz David E A glial variant of the vesicular monoamine transporter is required to
store histamine in the Drosophila visual system..
PLoS genetics.
2008;
4(11):
e1000245.
Remage-Healey Luke, Maidment Nigel T, Schlinger Barney A Forebrain steroid levels fluctuate rapidly during social interactions..
Nature neuroscience.
2008;
11(11):
1327-34.
Shoblock, J. R. Maidment, N. T. Enkephalin release promotes homeostatic increases in constitutively active mu opioid receptors during morphine withdrawal.
Neuroscience.
2007;
149( 3):
642-9.
Walker Eric, Wang Jianjun, Hamdi Naser, Monbouquette Harold G, Maidment Nigel T Selective detection of extracellular glutamate in brain tissue using
microelectrode arrays coated with over-oxidized polypyrrole..
The Analyst.
2007;
132(11):
1107-11.
Sang, T. K. Chang, H. Y. Lawless, G. M. Ratnaparkhi, A. Mee, L. Ackerson, L. C. Maidment, N. T. Krantz, D. E. Jackson, G. R. A Drosophila model of mutant human parkin-induced toxicity demonstrates selective loss of dopaminergic neurons and dependence on cellular dopamine.
J Neurosci.
2007;
27( 5):
981-92.
Walwyn, W. M. Wei, W. Xie, C. W. Chiu, K. Kieffer, B. L. Evans, C. J. Maidment, N. T. Mu opioid receptor-effector coupling and trafficking in dorsal root ganglia neurons.
Neuroscience.
2006;
142( 2):
493-503.
Zeitzer, J. M. Morales-Villagran, A. Maidment, N. T. Behnke, E. J. Ackerson, L. C. Lopez-Rodriguez, F. Fried, I. Engel, J., Jr. Wilson, C. L. Extracellular adenosine in the human brain during sleep and sleep deprivation: an in vivo microdialysis study.
Sleep.
2006;
29( 4):
455-61.
John, J. Wu, M. F. Maidment, N. T. Lam, H. A. Boehmer, L. N. Patton, M. Siegel, J. M. Developmental changes in CSF hypocretin-1 (orexin-A) levels in normal and genetically narcoleptic Doberman pinschers.
J Physiol.
2004;
560( Pt 2):
587-92.
West, A. B. Kapatos, G. O'Farrell, C. Gonzalez-de-Chavez, F. Chiu, K. Farrer, M. J. Maidment, N. T. N-myc regulates parkin expression.
J Biol Chem.
2004;
279( 28):
28896-902.
Lutfy, K. Eitan, S. Bryant, C. D. Yang, Y. C. Saliminejad, N. Walwyn, W. Kieffer, B. L. Takeshima, H. Carroll, F. I. Maidment, N. T. Evans, C. J. Buprenorphine-induced antinociception is mediated by mu-opioid receptors and compromised by concomitant activation of opioid receptor-like receptors.
J Neurosci.
2003;
23( 32):
10331-7.
Goldberg, M. S. Fleming, S. M. Palacino, J. J. Cepeda, C. Lam, H. A. Bhatnagar, A. Meloni, E. G. Wu, N. Ackerson, L. C. Klapstein, G. J. Gajendiran, M. Roth, B. L. Chesselet, M. F. Maidment, N. T. Levine, M. S. Shen, J. Parkin-deficient mice exhibit nigrostriatal deficits but not loss of dopaminergic neurons.
J Biol Chem.
2003;
278( 44):
43628-35.
Murphy, N. P. Lam, H. A. Chen, Z. Pintar, J. E. Maidment, N. T. Heroin-induced locomotion and mesolimbic dopamine release is unchanged in mice lacking the ORL.1 receptor gene.
Brain Res.
2002;
953( 1-2):
276-80.
Zeitzer, J. M. Maidment, N. T. Behnke, E. J. Ackerson, L. C. Fried, I. Engel, J., Jr. Wilson, C. L. Ultradian sleep-cycle variation of serotonin in the human lateral ventricle.
Neurology.
2002;
59( 8):
1272-4.
Maidment, N. T. Chen, Y. Tan, A. M. Murphy, N. P. Leslie, F. M. Rat ventral midbrain dopamine neurons express the orphanin FQ/nociceptin receptor ORL-1.
Neuroreport.
2002;
13( 9):
1137-40.
Kiyashchenko, L. I. Mileykovskiy, B. Y. Maidment, N. Lam, H. A. Wu, M. F. John, J. Peever, J. Siegel, J. M. Release of hypocretin (orexin) during waking and sleep states.
J Neurosci.
2002;
22( 13):
5282-6.
Narayanan, S. Lutfy, K. Maidment, N. Sensitization to cocaine after a single intra-cerebral injection of orphanin FQ/nociceptin.
Behav Brain Res.
2002;
131( 1-2):
97-103.
Matsuka, Y. Neubert, J. K. Maidment, N. T. Spigelman, I. Concurrent release of ATP and substance P within guinea pig trigeminal ganglia in vivo.
Brain Res.
2001;
915( 2):
248-55.
Neubert, J. K. Maidment, N. T. Matsuka, Y. Adelson, D. W. Kruger, L. Spigelman, I. Inflammation-induced changes in primary afferent-evoked release of substance P within trigeminal ganglia in vivo.
Brain Res.
2000;
871( 2):
181-91.
Park, S. P. Lopez-Rodriguez, F. Wilson, C. L. Maidment, N. Matsumoto, Y. Engel, J., Jr. In vivo microdialysis measures of extracellular serotonin in the rat hippocampus during sleep-wakefulness.
Brain Res.
1999;
833( 2):
291-6.
Murphy, N. P. Lee, Y. Maidment, N. T. Orphanin FQ/nociceptin blocks acquisition of morphine place preference.
Brain Res.
1999;
832( 1-2):
168-70.
Lutfy, K. Sharza, S. A. Maidment, N. T. Tolerance develops to the inhibitory effect of orphanin FQ on morphine-induced antinociception in the rat.
Neuroreport.
1999;
10( 1):
103-6.
Olive, M. F. Anton, B. Micevych, P. Evans, C. J. Maidment, N. T. Presynaptic versus postsynaptic localization of mu and delta opioid receptors in dorsal and ventral striatopallidal pathways.
J Neurosci.
1997;
17( 19):
7471-9.
Maidment, N. T. Villafranca, N. P. Persistence of the releasable pool of CCK in the rat nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen following lesions of the midbrain.
Brain Res.
1997;
747( 2):
290-6.
Olive, M. F. Bertolucci, M. Evans, C. J. Maidment, N. T. Microdialysis reveals a morphine-induced increase in pallidal opioid peptide release.
Neuroreport.
1995;
6( 8):
1093-6.
Sulzer, D. Pothos, E. Sung, H. M. Maidment, N. T. Hoebel, B. G. Rayport, S. Weak base model of amphetamine action.
Ann N Y Acad Sci.
1992;
654:
525-8.
Yeomans, J. S. Maidment, N. T. Bunney, B. S. Excitability properties of medial forebrain bundle axons of A9 and A10 dopamine cells.
Brain Res.
1988;
450( 1-2):
86-93.
Maidment, N. T. Marsden, C. A. Repeated atypical neuroleptic administration: effects on central dopamine metabolism monitored by in vivo voltammetry.
Eur J Pharmacol.
1987;
136( 2):
141-9.
Maidment, N. T. Marsden, C. A. In vivo voltammetric and behavioural evidence for somatodendritic autoreceptor control of mesolimbic dopamine neurones.
Brain Res.
1985;
338( 2):
317-25.
Crespi, F. Sharp, T. Maidment, N. T. Marsden, C. A. Differential pulse voltammetry: simultaneous in vivo measurement of ascorbic acid, catechols and 5-hydroxyindoles in the rat striatum.
Brain Res.
1984;
322( 1):
135-8.
Crespi, F. Sharp, T. Maidment, N. Marsden, C. Differential pulse voltammetry in vivo--evidence that uric acid contributes to the indole oxidation peak.
Neurosci Lett.
1983;
43( 2-3):
203-7.
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One area of research in Dr. Maidments laboratory is centered round the role of the dopamine and endogenous opioid systems in modulating reward and hedonic homeostasis. A combination of in vivo neurochemical and behavioral approaches is used together with cell culture methods to study the impact of acute and chronic exposure to opiate and psychostimulant drugs on neurotransmitter release along the mesolimbic-ventral pallidal reward axis. The lab is interested in changes that occur in dopamine and opioid peptide transmission as a result of repeated administration of these drugs and, in particular, how sensitization or 'reverse tolerance' in these transmitter systems may be important mechanisms underlying craving and relapse. Recent research has provided evidence for a role of the recently discovered peptide - orphanin FQ or 'nociceptin' - in modulating dopamine neurotransmission and in reversing the rewarding effects of opiates. The lab is currently investigating whether this peptide system, which opposes the analgesic actions of opioid peptides, may serve as an 'endogenous restraint' on the brain's reward mechanisms, by studying mice in which the receptor for this peptide - ORL-1 - has been 'knocked out'. Viral-mediated opioid receptor gene transfer in primary sensory neurons Another area of research is utilizing viral-mediated gene transfer to study the regulation of opioid receptor function in primary sensory neurons. Mutated forms of opioid receptors are being expressed in sensory neurons of opioid receptor-deficient mice both in culture, using adenovirus, and in vivo using herpes simplex virus. One goal is to determine the significance of molecular/cellular mechanisms such as receptor desensitization and internalization to the phenomenon of opiate tolerance. Another aim is to explore the feasibility of using viral transfer technologies for "gene therapy" approaches to treatment of chronic pain. In a related study the effectiveness of herpes-simplex viral-mediated expression of nerve growth factor is being tested in a genetic model of diabetic neuropathy. Targeting the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinsons disease The other major focus of the lab is in the area of Parkinsons disease research. The Maidment lab is a component of the UCLA Udall Center for Parkinsons Disease Research, directed by Marie-Francoise Chesselet. The research is geared toward understanding the mechanisms underlying changes in the activity of the glutamatergic neurons of the subthalamic nucleus in the disease. To this end, the lab is utilizing biosensor technology to monitor release of glutamate in the major output structures of this brain region the substantia nigra and entopeduncular nucleus in animal models of the disease. The hope is that such research will lead to the development of pharmacological therapies targeting the subthalamic nucleus which will mimic the successful surgical deep brain stimulation approach. Dopamine, serotonin and amino acid release in the human brain As part of a large collaborative research effort the Maidment lab is conducting microdialysis studies in the human brain. Subjects are epilepsy patients undergoing surgery to determine the focus of seizure activity. Neurotransmitter release is being studied in several brain regions during seizure activity, throughout the sleep-wake cycle and during the performance of cognitive tasks. This represents a unique opportunity to correlate neurotransmitter release with pathological and normal behavioral states. Recently published data provided the first direct evidence for the release of dopamine in the human amygdala during the performance of learning and memory tasks.
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