My research focuses on the study of neuropeptides, growth factors and neurotransmitters in neural development, degeneration, regeneration and plasticity as applicable to neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Additional studies pertain to the neurobiology of drug addiction.
The striatonigral and raphestriatal systems are used as a model neural systems for these studies. Technically, the studies involve molecular, cellular and behavioral neuropharmacology. The studies pertain to neurotransmitter regulation of neuropeptide gene expression and biosynthesis. P biosynthesis by L-DOPA in striatonigral neurons of neonatal dopaminergic denervated rats. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 254, 433- 439, 1990.