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John Partridge Assistant Professor of Pharmacology |
My varied research interests include determining the mechanisms and molecules governing synaptic transmission in the dorsal striatum using electrophysiological, genetic and biochemical methods. The striatum is a crucially important brain region involved in the smooth execution of motor control and other various functions. Disruptions in striatal physiology result in debilitating motor problems exemplified by Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. My research goals are to more fully understand the complex interactions of small molecule neurotransmitters in the striatum. These include investigating the relationships and crosstalk among glutamate, dopamine, acetylcholine and endocannabinoids governing normal and pathological states which dictate striatal output.
I am also interested in examining long-term changes in synaptic efficacy at excitatory synapses which impinge upon striatal neurons. To examine this dynamic aspect of striatal physiology, I use electrophysiological methods in combination with pharmacology, to detect basal and evoked synaptic events. Another strand of my research interests concerns the formation and maturation of central synapses. Present studies utilize transgenic mice to characterize differences in synaptic transmission parameters in genetically identifiable subtypes of neurons within the striatum.
Selected Publications:
Luo R, Janssen MJ, Partridge JG, Vicini S.
Direct and GABA-mediated indirect effects of nicotinic ACh receptor agonists on striatal neurones.
J Physiol. 59:203-217, 2013 Partridge JG, Janssen MJ, Chou DY, Abe K, Zukowska Z, Vicini S.
Excitatory and inhibitory synapses in neuropeptide Y-expressing
striatal interneurons. J Neurophysiol. 102:3038-45,
2009 Logan SM, Partridge JG, Matta JA, Buonanno A, Vicini S.
Long-lasting NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs in mouse striatal
medium spiny neurons. J Neurophysiol. 98:2693-704,
2007 Partridge JG, Puhl HL 3rd, Ikeda SR.
Phosducin and phosducin-like protein attenuate G-protein-coupled
receptor-mediated inhibition of voltage-gated calcium channels
in rat sympathetic neurons. Mol Pharmacol. 70:90-100,
2006 Lovinger DM, Partridge JG, Tang KC.
Plastic control of striatal glutamatergic transmission by
ensemble actions of several neurotransmitters and targets for
drugs of abuse. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1003:226-40, 2003 Gerdeman GL, Partridge JG, Lupica CR, Lovinger DM.
It could be habit forming: drugs of abuse and striatal synaptic
plasticity. Trends Neurosci. 26:184-92, 2003 Partridge JG, Apparsundaram S, Gerhardt GA, Ronesi J, Lovinger
DM. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors interact with dopamine in
induction of striatal long-term depression. J Neurosci.
22:2541-9, 2002 Partridge JG, Tang KC, Lovinger DM.
Regional and postnatal heterogeneity of activity-dependent
long-term changes in synaptic efficacy in the dorsal striatum.
J Neurophysiol. 84:1422-9, 2000 Petralia RS, Esteban JA, Wang YX, Partridge JG, Zhao HM,
Wenthold RJ, Malinow R.
Selective acquisition of AMPA receptors over postnatal
development suggests a molecular basis for silent synapses.
Nat Neurosci. 2:31-6, 1999 Weaver CD, Partridge JG, Yao TL, Moates JM, Magnuson MA,
Verdoorn TA.
Activation of glycine and glutamate receptors increases
intracellular calcium in cells derived from the endocrine
pancreas. Mol Pharmacol. 54:639-46, 1998
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John Partridge.