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Susan E. Robinson,
Ph.D. Professor 1220 East Clay Street McGuire Hall Annex Room 324D P.O. Box 980613 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0613 Phone: (804) 828-8396 E-mail: serobins@vcu.edu Publications: selected | PubMed |
Education: Vanderbilt University, 1976
Research interests: Effect of prenatal exposure to drugs on developing neurotransmitters
Many psychoactive drugs have the potential for altering development of the nervous system. A major focus of my laboratory is determining the effects and mechanisms of perinatal drug exposure on neurobehavioral development, neurotransmitters and growth factors using rodent and primary neuronal culture models. I have two main avenues of interest within the area of developmental pharmacology. The first is the mechanism by which perinatal exposure to opioids affects the development of glia and neurons. This is particularly important, as methadone maintenance and buprenorphine maintenance are common treatments for the pregnant opiate addict. A second focus of my laboratory involves susceptibility to nicotine abuse — why do some individuals compulsively use nicotine products whereas others do not? Why are adolescents so susceptible to nicotine addiction? Why are the children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy more likely to become smokers? Are there differences in the type or function of nicotinic receptors in these individuals? We are currently investigating the expression of nicotinic receptors and receptor function in populations of rats that exhibit differences in sensitivity to behavioral effects of nicotine.
Behavioral parameters such as locomotor activity, drug discrimination and memory are measured. Other techniques used in this laboratory to study the actions of drugs include quantification of mRNA by RNase protection assays and northern blots, western blot analysis of receptor protein and assessment of nicotine receptor function through rubidium efflux assays.
Kota D, Robinson SE, and Damaj IM. (2009) Enhanced nicotine reward in adulthood after exposure to nicotine during early adolescence in mice. Biochem Pharmacol. 78(7):873-9.
Sanchez ES, Bigbee JW, Fobbs W, Robinson SE, and Sato-Bigbee C. (2008) Opioid addiction and pregnancy: perinatal exposure to buprenorphine affects myelination in the developing brain. Glia. 56(9):1017-27.
Robinson SE, Vann RE, Britton AF, O’Connell M, James JR, and Rosecrans
JA. (2007) Cellular nicotinic receptor desensitization correlates with
nicotine-induced acute behavioral tolerance in rats. Psychopharmacology
(Berl). 192: 71-78.
Britton AF, Vann RE, and Robinson SE.
(2007) Perinatal nicotine exposure eliminates the peak in nicotinic
acetylcholine receptor response in adolescent rats. Journal of
Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 320: 871-876.
Robinson SE, James JR, Lapp LN, Vann RE, Gross DF,
Philibin SD, and Rosecrans JA. (2006) Evidence of cellular nicotinic
receptor desensitization in rats exhibiting nicotine-induced acute
behavioral tolerance, Psychopharmacology, 184: 306-313.
Robinson SE, and Wallace MJ.
(2001) Effect of perinatal buprenorphine exposure on development in the
rat, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 298: 797-804.
Wu VW, Schwartz JP, Mo Q, and Robinson SE. (2001) Perinatal
methadone reduces striatal nerve growth factor, European Journal of
Pharmacology 414: 211-214.