Cells of the target tissue, in turn, display receptors to which the neurotransmitter specifically binds. A neuron must release the appropriate neurotransmitter for proper control of the target. I have found that periosteum, the connective tissue surrounding bone, instigates a similar chemical switch in the sympathetic neurons extending to it. Currently, I am exploring in more detail the interaction between neurons and periosteum, as well as other potential target tissues, using the sympathetic nervous system of developing rats as a model system. The main techniques that I employ are fluorescence microscopy and immunocytochemistry, a selective cell staining technique in which fluorescent compounds are attached to antibodies that bind to the molecule of interest.
Recent studies involve the lipid-loving, fluorescent dye, DiI, which diffuses along cell membranes.
We are using DiI in combination with immunocytochemistry in embryonic rats to explore the projections of sympathetic neurons to periosteum and the connections of the olfactory bulbs, which relay odor information, to the rest of the brain. Centre students are an integral part of my research. These students conducted their projects during the summer and academic year and presented their results at scientific meetings. This research has been supported by two grants from the Kentucky Academy of Sciences, grants to Centre from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Teagle Foundation, and Centre College. Teaching The following are brief descriptions of the courses that I teach.