James E. Smith, PhD Professor and Chairman,
Physiology & Pharmacology Associate Dean for Research,
Office of Research Email: jamsmith@wfubmc.edu Education: California State University at Northridge, BA, 1967 University of Minnesota, PhD, 1973 Indiana University School of Medicine, Postdoc, 1972-74 Research Interests: Neuropsychopharmacology; neurobiological mechanisms of substance abuse; biological basis of reinforcement; functional neuropharmacology. Current Research: Abuse by humans of drugs that are positive reinforcers involves the chemical activation of endogenous neuronal systems that mediate feelings of well-being and euphoria. Ongoing research in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology into the Neurobiology of Drug Abuse involves the combination of state-of-the-art animal behavioral models and neurobiological methodologies to identify brain systems involved in the actions of opiates and cocaine. The overall goal of this research is to define the neuronal circuits and networks that underlie the complex behaviors that comprise substance abuse. Animal models utilized include intravenous and intracranial drug self administration, drug discrimination, and other methodologies that permit definition of brain behavior relationships (i.e., intracranial electrical self-stimulation, punishment, and negative reinforcement). The neurobiological methodologies used to investigate the neuronal systems involved in these complex behaviors include such techniques as intracranial microdialysis, intracranial lesions produced by neurotoxins or selective alkylating agents, intracranial antagonist injections, neurotransmitter turnover rate measures, both homogenate and in situ receptor density determinations, RT-PCR, and custom DNA microarrays to assess gene expression. These in vitro techniques are combined with strategic dissection of the brain so that the activity of known neurotransmitter specific neuronal pathways can be determined in these behavioral models. Collaboration with other faculty in the department adds significantly to the breadth and depth of these investigations. Receptor coupling, protein phosphorylation (Dr. Childers), microwire bundle single unit recordings (Dr. Deadwyler), cerebral glucose utilization (Dr. Porrino), and appropriate behavioral models (Dr. Roberts) are just a few of the collaborative techniques that are utilized to delineate the brain processes underlying the actions of drugs of abuse. This research approach permits elucidation of the circuits mediating the reinforcing actions of opiates or stimulants which can be differentiated from those mediating other properties of these substances (stimulus effects, rate effects, effects on food intake, etc.). Recent Publications: Martin TJ, McIntosh S, Smith JE. Alkylation of opioid receptors by 5’-naltrindole-isothiocyanate injected into the nucleus accumbens of rats: Receptor selectivity and anatomical diffusion. Synapse. 2006 Jul 17;60(5):384-391. Woodbury PB, Heath LS, Smith JE. Land use change effects on forest carbon cycling throughout the southern United States. J Environ Qual. 2006 Jul 6;35(4):1348-63. Print 2006 Jul–Aug. Stoeva SI, Lee JS, Smith JE, Rosen ST, Mirkin CA. Multiplexed detection of protein cancer markers with biobarcoded nanoparticle probes. J Am Chem Soc. 2006 Jul 5;128(26):8378-9. Smith JE, Shaw M, Edwards RA, Obura D, Pantos O, Sala E, Sandin SA, Smriga S, Hatay M, Rohwer FL. Indirect effects of algae on coral: algae-mediated, microbe-induced coral mortality. Ecol Lett. 2006 Jul;9(7):835-45. Sullivan R, Smith JE, Rowan NJ. Medicinal mushrooms and cancer therapy: translating a traditional practice into Western medicine. Perspect Bio MED. 2006 Spring;49(2):159-70. Review. Publications:
For a listing of additional publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine | 
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