Animal Physiology

Faculty research interests in the area of animal physiology include neurophysiology of the brain (Russo-Neustadt Lab) and cardiovascular metabolism (Yamazaki Lab).

Neurophysiology of the Brain

		Contact: Amelia Russo-Neustadt, M.D., Ph.D. Office: ASCL 217, ext: 3-2074 Laboratory: ASCL 212, ext: 3-6045 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/arusson
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Research Summary
Our current research focus involves the study of physical activity and antidepressant treatment interactions in the brain. Our studies seek to reveal the mechanisms of growth factor regulation and behavioral/functional recovery resulting from these interactions.

Representative Publications

Chen, M.J., and Russo-Neustadt, A. 2007. Running exercise- and antidepressant-induced increases in growth and survival-associated signaling molecules are IGF-dependent. Growth Factors 25: 118-131.

Chen, M.J., Nguyen, T.V., Pike, C.J., and Russo-Neustadt, A. 2007. Norephinephrine induces BDNF and activates the PI-3K and MAPK cascades in embryonic hippocampal neurons. Cellular Signaling 19: 114-128.

Chen, M.J., Ivy, A.S., and Russo-Neustadt, A. 2006. Nitric oxide synthesis is required for exercise-induced increases in hippocampal BDNF and phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase expression. Brain Research Bulletin 68: 257-268.

Russo-Neustadt, A., and Chen, M.J. 2005. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and antidepressant activity. Current Pharmaceutical Design 11 1495-1510.

Chen, M.J., and Russo-Neustadt, A. 2005. Exercise activates the phosphatidylinositol-'3-kinase pathway. Molecular Brain Research 135: 181-193.

Cardiovascular Metabolism

		Contact: Katrina Go Yamazaki, Ph.D. Office: ASCB 323E, ext: 3-2086 Laboratory: ASCB 361, ext: 3-2090 E-mail: [email protected]
		Electron microscopy, 6000x magnification, of a heart sample taken from an animal undergoing 45 min of ischemia followed by one hr of reperfusion. Damaged mitochondria are swollen, and have disorganized cristae and broken mitochondrial membranes.

Research Summary
Our research interests are in the area of cardiovascular metabolism. In particular we focus on the protection of mitochondrial structure and function in the setting of heart disease. Current projects involve the use of in vivo and in vitro models to study how various pharmacological agents protect mitochondrial structure and function in the setting of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and Friedreich's Ataxia.

Representative Publications

Yamazaki K.G., Taub, P.R., Barraza-Hidalgo, M., Rivas, M.M., Zambon, A.C., Ceballos, G., and Villarreal, F.J. 2010. Effects of (-)-epicatechin on myocardial infarct size and left ventricular remodeling after permanent coronary occlusion. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 55: 2869-2876.

Romero-Perez, D., Fricovsky, E., Yamazaki, K.G., Griffin, M., Barraza-Hidalgo, M., Dillmann, W., and Villarreal, F. 2008. Cardiac uptake of minocycline and mechanisms for in vivo cardioprotection. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 52: 1086-1094.

Yamazaki, K.G., Romero-Perez, D., Barraza-Hidalgo, M., Cruz, M., Rivas, M., Cortez-Gomez, B., Ceballos, G., and Villarreal, F. 2008. Short-and long-term effects of (-)-epicatechin on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. American Journal of Physiology 295: H761-767.

Garcia, R., Go, K., and Villarreal, F. 2007. Effects of timed administration of doxycycline or methylprednisone on post-myocardial infarction, inflammation and left ventricular remodeling in the rat heart. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 300: 159-169.

Garcia, R., Patanzatos, D., Gessner, C., Go, K., Woods, V., and Villarreal, F. 2005. Doxycycline flanks the structural metal center of matrylisin revealed by deuterium ion exchange mass spectrometry: A putative mode of inhibition by a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor. Molecular Pharmacology 67: 1128-1136.

Note: ASCL = Wallis Annenberg Integrated Science Complex-Wing A (La Kretz Hall). When calling from off-campus, the area code and prefix for all telephone extensions is (323) 34X-XXXX.