UCLA Neuroscience Program Ph.D. Admissions Neuroscience Faculty UCLA and Beyond  



Fernando Gomez-Pinilla
Mechanisms of Neural Repair

Email Address:  fgomezpi@ucla.edu

Work Address:
LS
LS
Phone Numbers:
(310) 825-1788 Laboratory
310-206-9693 Office

Selected Publications:

Molteni, R., Barnard, J.R., Ying, Z., Roberts, C.K., and Gomez-Pinilla, F. A high-fat, refined-sugar diet reduces BDNF, neuronal plasticity, and cognitive function.. Neuroscience 2002; 112(4) : 803-814.
Molteni, Ying, Z., and Gomez-Pinilla, F. Differential expression of plasticity-related genes in the rat hippocampus after voluntary wheel running.. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2002; 16 (6): 1107-1124.
Gomez-Pinilla, F., Ying, Z., Roy, R.R., Molteni, R., and Edgerton, R. Voluntary exercise induces a BDNF-mediated mechanism that promotes neuroplasticity.. J. Neurosphysiol 2002; 88 (5): 2196-2206.
Gomez-Pinilla, F., Ying, J. P. Opazo L., Roy, R., and Edgerton, R., Exercise up-regulates BDNF mRNA and protein in the spinal cord and skeletal muscle.. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2001; 13: 1078-1084.
Kesslak, JP So, V Choi, J Cotman, CW Gomez-Pinilla, F Learning upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger ribonucleic acid: a mechanism to facilitate encoding and circuit maintenance?. Behavioral neuroscience. . 1998; 112(4): 1012-9.
Neeper, S.A., Gomez-Pinilla, F., Choi, J. and Cotman, C.W Exercise and brain neurotrophins.. Nature 1995; 373: 109.
Research Interest:

Role of Trophic Factors on Activity-dependent Plasticity We are interested on the mechanisms by which environmental factors affect neuronal health. We have found that trophic factors endogenous to the brain and spinal cord can be induced by the practice of select behaviors. We have recently reported that physical activity, learning, and nutritional factors control neurotrophins in the brain. These findings opened the exciting possibility that regulation of trophic factors by behavior can be a pivotal mechanism by which specific experiences can impact the structure and function of the CNS. It may account for the improvement of CNS function after trauma provided by rehabilitative therapies. On the contrary, it may explain the decay in function in aging or degenerative diseases following a lack of stimulation. These two avenues provide direction for my research program: 1) How trophic factors induced by activity can help functional recovery following brain and spinal cord trauma. We are using several exercise models to boost the production of trophic factors in the brain and spinal cord. Our goal is to provide critical information to guide the design of behavioral therapies for the reduction of the severity of insult or disease, and to increase CNS function. 2) We are evaluating the effects of lifestyle on trophic factor production, with resulting effects on circuit remodeling, synaptic function, and cognition. We believe that changes in trophic factor as a result of select experiences can affect neuronal health with profound consequences for cognitive function.