Dr. Laura Blakemore

Associate Faculty

Research Interest

My research interests include understanding the mechanisms that influence synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. These include mechanisms that underlie normal physiological events, such as those which mediate learning and memory, as well as mechanisms that contribute to neurophathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and depression.

Current Projects

My most recent research project focuses on understanding the neuromodulatory effects of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and zinc on synaptic circuit function in the olfactory bulb. The interest for this study stems from the fact that neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and dementia have all been linked to the OB, zinc, and NPY. The primary experimental approach involves using a combination of neuronal tissue culture and patch-clamp recording techniques to examine the effects of these neuroactive substances on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission.

Publications

Selected Publications

Blakemore LJ, Levenson CW, Trombley PQ. (2006) Neuropeptide Y modulates excitatory synaptic transmission in the olfactory bulb. Neuroscience 138(2):663-74.
Blakemore LJ, Resasco M, Mercado MA, Trombley PQ. (2006) Evidence for Ca(2+)-permeable AMPA receptors in the olfactory bulb. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 290(3):C925-35.
Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. (2004) Diverse modulation of olfactory bulb AMPA receptors by zinc. Neuroreport 15(5):919-23.
Horning MS, Kwon B, Blakemore LJ, Spencer CM, Goltz M, Houpt TA, Trombley PQ. (2004) AMPA receptor subunit expression in rat olfactory bulb. Neurosci Lett.;372(3):230-4.
Matas A, ed.; Hertz MI, series ed.; Blakemore LJ., science ed. (2003) Manual of Kidney Transplant Medical Care. 1st ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fairview Publications.
Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. (2003) Kinetic variability of AMPA receptors among olfactory bulb neurons in culture. NeuroReport;14(17):965-970.
Davila NG, Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. (2003) Dopamine modulates synaptic transmission between rat olfactory bulb neurons in culture. J Neurophysiol.; 90(1):395-404.
Humar A, ed.; Hertz MI, series ed.; Blakemore LJ., science ed. (2002) Manual of Liver Transplant Medical Care. 1st ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fairview Publications.
Trombley PQ, Horning MS, Blakemore LJ. (2000) Interactions between carnosine and zinc and copper: Implications for neuromodulation and neuroprotection. Biochemistry (Moscow);65:7 807-816.
Horning MS, Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. (2000) Endogenous mechanisms of neuroprotection: Role of zinc, copper, and carnosine. Brain Research;852:56-61.
Trombley PQ, Blakemore LJ. (1999) Mammalian olfactory bulb neurons. In: Haynes LW, ed. The Neuron in Tissue Culture. Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trombley PQ, Horning MS, Blakemore LJ. (1998) Carnosine modulates zinc and copper effects on amino acid receptors and synaptic transmission. Neuroreport;15:3503-3507.

Recent Abstracts

Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. (2007) Participation of kainate receptors in synaptic and extrasynaptic transmission. AChemS 29.
Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. (2005) Slice electrophysiology and histological evidence of calcium-fluxing AMPA receptors in the olfactory bulb AChemS 27
Blakemore LJ, Resasco M, Mercado MA, Trombley PQ. (2004) Rat olfactory bulb neurons express functional calcium-fluxing AMPA receptors. AChemS 26.
Blakemore LJ, Mercado MA, Resasco M, Trombley PQ. (2004) Electrophysiological and histological evidence of functional calcium-fluxing AMPA receptors on olfactory bulb neurons. Neurosci Abs 34.
Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ (2003) Diverse Effects of Zinc at Olfactory Bulb AMPA Receptors May Reflect Molecular Heterogeneity and Altered Desensitization Kinetics. Neurosci Abs 33.
Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ (2003) Implications of Zinc Modulation of AMPA Receptors. Zinc Signals 4rd International Conference.
Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ (2003) The Efficacy of Synaptic Transmission in the Olfactory Bulb: Relation to AMPA Receptor Diversity and Modulation. AChemS 25
Campbell TD, Washington RP, Ginn BT, Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ, Steinbock O (2003) Electric-field-controlled Synthesis of Biocompatible HPMA Hydrogels with Self-organized Arrays of Micro-channels. 225th American Chemical Society National Meeting
Trombley PQ, Blakemore LJ (2002) Effects of Zinc on Glutamate Receptors and Potassium Currents May Alter Timing of Synaptic Events Between Olfactory Bulb Neurons. Neurosci Abs 32
Trombley PQ, Hill BJ, Blakemore LJ. (2002) Zinc modulation of glycine receptors in rat olfactory bulb neurons. Zinc Signals 3rd International Conference. Grand Cayman, British West Indies.
Blakemore LJ, Alshingiti AM, Levenson CW, Trombley PQ (2002) Expression and Function of NPY in the Rat Olfactory Bulb. AChemS 24
Alshingiti AM, VanLandingham JW, Fitch CA, Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ, Levenson CW. (2002) Zinc regulation of rat olfactory bulb NPY. Experimental Biology
Davila NG, Horning MS, Blakemore LJ, Houpt TA, Trombley PQ (2002) Electrophysiological, Immunocytochemical, and Molecular Analyses of Kainate Receptors in the Olfactory Bulb. AChemS 24
Davila NG, Horning MS, Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ (2001) Kainate receptor expression and function in the olfactory bulb. Neurosci Abs. 385.4.

Publications

Blakemore LJ, Levenson CW, Trombley PQ. Neuropeptide Y modulates excitatory synaptic transmission in the olfactory bulb. Neuroscience. 138(2):663-74. (2006)
Blakemore LJ, Resasco M, Mercado MA, Trombley PQ. Evidence for Ca(2+)-permeable AMPA receptors in the olfactory bulb. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 290(3):C925-35. (2006)
Horning MS, Kwon B, Blakemore LJ, Spencer CM, Goltz M, Houpt TA, Trombley PQ. Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate receptor subunit expression in rat olfactory bulb. Neurosci Lett. 372(3):230-4. (2004)
Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. Diverse modulation of olfactory bulb AMPA receptors by zinc. Neuroreport. 15(5):919-23. (2004)