1. Altered responsiveness of neurons and muscle cells to chronic exposure to drugs: pharmacological, physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms.
2. Genetic abnormalities and neuronal responsiveness to neurotransmitters resulting in pathological conditions, particularly seizure disposition.

Description of Research

Recent research has involved electrophysiologic, biochemical, molecular and histo chemical studies of (1) neurons of guinea pigs chronically treated with morphine and (2) genetically epilepsy-prone rats. Particular emphasis in (1) has been on membrane potential and the Na, K pump and in (2) has been on GABA - receptors and associated chloride channels.

Recent Publications

Flemming WW. Torald Sollman Award Lecture. Cellular Adaptation: the Journey from Smooth Muscle to Neurons. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 291:925-931, 1999.

Taylor DA, and WW Fleming. Mini review: Unifying perspectives of the mechanisms underlying the development of tolerance and dependence to opioids. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. In Press.

Molnar LR, KA Thayne, WW Fleming, and DA Taylor. The role of the sodium pump in the developmental regulation of membrane electrical properties of cerebellar purkinje neurons of the rat. Dev Brain Res 112:287-291, 1999.

Biser PS, KA Thayne, JQ Kong, W W Fleming and DA Taylor. Quantification of the a 3 Subunit of the Na+/K+-ATPase in developing rat cerebellum. Dev Brain Res 123:165-172, 2000.

Kong JQ, J Meng, WW Fleming, and DA Taylor. Cellular depolarization of neurons in locus ceruleus region of the guinea pig associated with the development of tolerance to opioids. Submitted to J Pharmacol Exp.Ther., 1999.

Molnar LR, WW Fleming and DA Taylor. Alterations in neuronal a -aminobutyric acid A -receptor responsiveness in genetic models of seizure susceptibility with different expression patterns. J Pharmacol Exp. Ther. 295:1258-1266, 2000.