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



Christopher Colwell
Neural Control of Behavior, Circadian Rhythms

Email Address:  ccolwell@mednet.ucla.edu
Home Page: http://www.mrrc.npi.ucla.edu/CColwell/Colwell_Lab_WebPage/page1.htm

Work Address:
760 Westwood Plaza
760 Westwood Plaza


Phone Numbers:
310-206-5060 FAX
Phone Numbers:
310-206-3973 Office
310-825-5089 Laboratory


Selected Publications:

Wang LM, Schroeder A, Loh D, Smith D, Lin K, Han JH, Michel S, Hummer DL, Ehlen JC, Albers HE, Colwell CS Role for the NR2B Subunit of the NMDA Receptor in Mediating Light Input to the Circadian System.. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2008; 27(7): 1771-9.
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Loh DH, Abad C, Colwell CS, Waschek JA Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide is Critical for Circadian Regulation of Glucocorticoids.. Neuroendocrinology 2008; 88(4): 246-255.
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Brown T, Colwell CS, Waschek J, Piggins H Disrupted neuronal activity rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-deficient mice.. J. Neurophysiol. 2007; 97 : 2553-2558.
C.S. Colwell Soporific signaling: how flies sleep through the night.. Nature Neuroscience 2007; 10(9): 1079-1080.
Vosko AM, Schroeder A, Loh DH, Colwell CS Vasoactive intestinal peptide and the mammalian circadian system.. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2007; 152(2-3): 165-175.
Colwell CS BK channels and circadian output.. Nature Neuroscience 2006; 9(8): 985-6.
Kim YI, Choi H-J, Colwell CS BDNF Regulation of NMDA Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Currents in Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Neurons.. J. Neurosci. Res. 2006; 84(7): 1512-20.
Michel S, Clark JP, Ding JM, Colwell CS BDNF and Neurotrophin Receptors Modulate Glutamate-Induced Phase Shifts of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus.. Eur. J. Neuroscience. 2006; 24(4): 1109-16.
Feng JM, Hu YK, Xie LH, Colwell CS, Shao XM, Sun XP, Chen B, Tang H, Campagnoni AT Golli protein negatively regulates store depletion-induced calcium influx in T cells.. Immunity 2006; 24(6): 717-727.
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Michel S, Itri J, Han JH, Gniotczynski K, Colwell CS Regulation of glutamatergic signalling by PACAP in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus.. BMC_Neuroscience 2006; 7: 15.
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Itri, JN Michel, S Vansteensel, MJ Meijer, JH Colwell, CS Fast delayed rectifier potassium current is required for circadian neural activity.. Nature neuroscience. . 2005; 8(5): 650-6.
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Aton SJ, Colwell CS, Harmar AJ, Waschek J, and Herzog ED Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide mediates circadian rhythmicity and synchrony in distinct subsets of mammalian clock neurons.. Nature Neurosci. 2005; 8(4): 476-483.
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Wang, LM Suthana, NA Chaudhury, D Weaver, DR Colwell, CS Melatonin inhibits hippocampal long-term potentiation.. The European journal of neuroscience.. 2005; 22(9): 2231-7.
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Jacobs, EC Pribyl, TM Kampf, K Campagnoni, C Colwell, CS Reyes, SD Martin, M Handley, V Hiltner, TD Readhead, C Jacobs, RE Messing, A Fisher, RS Campagnoni, AT Region-specific myelin pathology in mice lacking the golli products of the myelin basic protein gene.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. . 2005; 25(30): 7004-13.
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Chaudhury, D Wang, LM Colwell, CS Circadian regulation of hippocampal long-term potentiation.. Journal of biological rhythms. . 2005; 20(3): 225-36.
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Colwell, CS Bridging the gap: coupling single-cell oscillators in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.. Nature neuroscience. . 2005; 8(1): 10-2.
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Colwell, CS Michel, S Itri, J Rodriguez, W Tam, J Lelièvre, V Hu, Z Waschek, JA Selective deficits in the circadian light response in mice lacking PACAP.. American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology. . 2004; 287(5): R1194-201.
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Itri, J Michel, S Waschek, JA Colwell, CS Circadian rhythm in inhibitory synaptic transmission in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus.. Journal of neurophysiology. . 2004; 92(1): 311-9.
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Colwell, CS Michel, S Sleep and circadian rhythms: do sleep centers talk back to the clock?. Nature neuroscience. . 2003; 6(10): 1005-6.
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Colwell CS, Michel S, Itri J, Rodriguez W, Tam J, Lelievre V, Hu Z, Liu X and Waschek JA Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Synaptic Communication in Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide-Deficient Mice.. Am. J. Physiol. 2003; 285(5): R939-R949.
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Itri J, Colwell CS Presynaptic regulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus. J. Neurophysiol. 2003; 90(3): 1589-1597.
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Chaudhury D, Colwell CS Circadian Modulation of Learning and Memory in Fear-Conditioned Mice.. Behavioral Brain Research 2002; 133: 95-108.
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Michel, S Itri, J Colwell, CS Excitatory mechanisms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus: the role of AMPA/KA glutamate receptors.. Journal of neurophysiology. . 2002; 88(2): 817-28.
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Miche, S Colwell, CS Cellular communication and coupling within the suprachiasmatic nucleus.. Chronobiology international. . 2001; 18(4): 579-600.
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Colwell, CS NMDA-evoked calcium transients and currents in the suprachiasmatic nucleus: gating by the circadian system.. The European journal of neuroscience. . 2001; 13(7): 1420-8.
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Colwell, CS Rhythmic coupling among cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.. Journal of neurobiology. . 2000; 43(4): 379-88.
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Colwell, CS Circadian modulation of calcium levels in cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.. The European journal of neuroscience. . 2000; 12(2): 571-6.
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Flett, J Colwell, CS Serotonin modulation of calcium transients in cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.. Journal of biological rhythms. . 1999; 14(5): 354-63.
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Colwell, CS Levine, MS Metabotropic glutamate receptor modulation of excitotoxicity in the neostriatum: role of calcium channels.. Brain research. . 1999; 833(2): 234-41.
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Colwell CS. Circadian Rhythms.. Psychopharmacology: the fourth generation of progress. CD/ROM. 1998; .
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Levine MS, Cepeda C, Colwell CS, Yu Q, Chandler SH Infrared video microscopy: visualization and manipulation of neurons in neostriatal slices.. Receptor Localization: Laboratory Methods and Procedures 1998; .
Cepeda, C Colwell, CS Itri, JN Gruen, E Levine, MS Dopaminergic modulation of early signs of excitotoxicity in visualized rat neostriatal neurons.. The European journal of neuroscience. . 1998; 10(11): 3491-7.
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Cepeda, C Colwell, CS Itri, JN Chandler, SH Levine, MS Dopaminergic modulation of NMDA-induced whole cell currents in neostriatal neurons in slices: contribution of calcium conductances.. Journal of neurophysiology. . 1998; 79(1): 82-94.
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Colwell CS, Cepeda C, Crawford C, Levine MS Postnatal Development of NMDA Evoked Responses in the Neostriatum.. J. Dev. Neurobiology 1998; 20: 154-163..
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Colwell, CS Circadian rhythms. Time to get excited by GABA.. Nature. . 1997; 387(6633): 554-5.
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Colwell CS, Levine MS Histamine modulates NMDA-dependent swelling in the developing neostriatum.. Brain Research 1997; 766: 205-212.
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Colwell CS, Altemus KL, Cepeda C, Levine MS Regulation of NMDA-induced toxicity in the neostriatum: a new role for metabotropic glutamate receptors?. Proc. Natl. Acad. Science 1996; 93(3): 1200-1204.
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Colwell, CS Altemus, KL Levine, MS Metabotropic glutamate receptor activation selectively limits excitotoxic damage in the intact neostriatum.. Brain research. . 1996; 726(1-2): 223-6.
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Colwell, CS Levine, MS Glutamate receptor-induced toxicity in neostriatal cells.. Brain research. . 1996; 724(2): 205-12.
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Colwell, CS Levine, MS Excitatory synaptic transmission in neostriatal neurons: regulation by cyclic AMP-dependent mechanisms.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. . 1995; 15(3 Pt 1): 1704-13.
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Colwell CS Regulation of Photic Input to Circadian Systems: a role for serotonin.. Nervous systems and Behaviour. 1995; 131.
Colwell CS, Menaker M. Regulation of circadian rhythms by excitatory amino acids.. Excitatory amino acids: Their Role in Neuroendocrine Function. 1995; 223-252.
Rea MA, Glass JD, Colwell CS Serotonin modulates the photic response of the circadian oscillator in the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus.. J. Neuroscience 1994; 14: 3635-3642.
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Colwell, CS Whitmore, D Michel, S Block, GD Calcium plays a central role in phase shifting the ocular circadian pacemaker of Aplysia.. Journal of comparative physiology. A, Sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology. . 1994; 175(4): 415-23.
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Colwell, CS Levine, MS Metabotropic glutamate receptors modulate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function in neostriatal neurons.. Neuroscience. . 1994; 61(3): 497-507.
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Colwell, CS Kaufman, CM Menaker, M Phase-shifting mechanisms in the mammalian circadian system: new light on the carbachol paradox.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. . 1993; 13(4): 1454-9.
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Colwell, CS Kaufman, CM Menaker, M Ralph, MR Light-induced phase shifts and Fos expression in the hamster circadian system: the effects of anesthetics.. Journal of biological rhythms. . 1993; 8(3): 179-88.
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Colwell CS, Kaufman CM, Menaker M Photic induction of Fos in the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus is inhibited by baclofen but not by diazepam or bicucullin.. Neuroscience Lett. 1993; 163: 177-181.
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Foster, RG Argamaso, S Coleman, S Colwell, CS Lederman, A Provencio, I Photoreceptors regulating circadian behavior: a mouse model.. Journal of biological rhythms. . 1993; 8 Suppl: S17-23.
Colwell CS, Khalsa SBS, Block GD Cellular mechanisms of entrainment.. Chronobiol. International 1992; 9: 163-179.
Colwell CS, Khalsa SBS, Block GD FMRFamide antagonizes the actions of 5-HT and light on a circadian rhythm recorded from the eye of Aplysia.. J. Comp. Physiology 1992; 170: 211-215.
Colwell, CS Menaker, M NMDA as well as non-NMDA receptor antagonists can prevent the phase-shifting effects of light on the circadian system of the golden hamster.. Journal of biological rhythms. . 1992; 7(2): 125-36.
Colwell, CS Michel, S Block, GD Evidence that potassium channels mediate the effects of serotonin on the ocular circadian pacemaker of Aplysia.. Journal of comparative physiology. A, Sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology. . 1992; 171(5): 651-6.
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Colwell, CS Foster, RG Photic regulation of Fos-like immunoreactivity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the mouse.. The Journal of comparative neurology. . 1992; 324(2): 135-42.
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Colwell, CS Foster, RG Menaker, M NMDA receptor antagonists block the effects of light on circadian behavior in the mouse.. Brain research. . 1991; 554(1-2): 105-10.
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Colwell, CS Max, M Hudson, D Menaker, M Excitatory amino acid receptors may mediate the effects of light on the reproductive system of the golden hamster.. Biology of reproduction. . 1991; 44(4): 604-8.
Colwell CS, Page TL Circadian rhythms in spontaneous neural activity recorded in vivo and in vitro from cockroach's central nervous system.. J. Comp. Physiology 1990; 166: 643-649.
Colwell CS, Ralph M, Menaker M Do NMDA receptors mediate the effects of light on circadian behavior in the golden hamster.. Brain Research 1990; 523: 117-120.
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Colwell CS Interactive effects of serotonin and light on the circadian rhythm of neural activity recorded from the eye of Aplysia.. J. Comp. Physiology 1990; 167: 841-845.
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Colwell, CS Page, TL The electroretinogram of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae.. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. A, Comparative physiology. . 1989; 92(1): 117-23.
Wills, SA Page, TL Colwell, CS Circadian rhythms in the electroretinogram of the cockroach.. Journal of biological rhythms. . 1985; 1(1): 25-37.
Research Interest:

Most organisms, including humans, exhibit daily rhythms in their behavior and physiology. In most cases, these rhythms are generated by endogenous processes referred to as circadian oscillators. These oscillators provide temporal structure to an organism?s physiological processes. Nearly all functions of the body show significant daily variations including arousal, cognition, learning, memory, motor performance and perception. This temporal variation obviously plays an important role in the body?s homeostatic mechanisms and has a major impact on the function of the nervous system. Mammals have evolved a set of anatomically discrete cell populations that function as a physiological system to provide temporal organization on a circadian time scale. These structures are commonly referred to as the circadian system and can be localized to a pair of structures in the hypothalamus known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus or SCN. Importantly, when SCN cells are removed from the organism and maintained in a brain slice preparation, they continue to generate 24-hour rhythms in electrical activity, secretion, and gene expression. Previous studies suggest that the basic mechanism responsible for the generation of these rhythms is intrinsic to individual cells in the SCN. In order to function adaptively, these cells must be synchronized to the exact 24 hr cycle of the physical world. The daily cycle of light and dark is the dominant cue used by organisms, including humans, to synchronize their biological clocks to the environment. Therefore, in the simplest case, a circadian system can be modeled as having three components: 1) input pathways by which the environment and other components of the nervous system provide information to the SCN, 2) an oscillator or clock within the SCN responsible for the generation of the daily rhythm, and 3) output pathways by which the SCN provides temporal information to a wide range of physiological and behavioral control centers. The long-term goal of our research program is to understand each of these three components at different levels of organization from systems to molecular. My laboratory uses two strategies to approach this goal. In one, a systems-level analysis is carried out on the effects of genetic and pharmacological manipulations on behavioral rhythms driven by the circadian system. The other strategy examines the effects of these manipulations on the cellular/molecular activity of neural populations that make up this system. http://www.mrrc.npi.ucla.edu/CColwell/Colwell_Lab_WebPage/page1.htm