Research Interest

Synaptic physiology and synaptic modulation using patch-clamp electrophysiology from brain slices and primary neuronal culture (olfactory bulb, hippocampus). We examine neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels related to neurodegenerative conditions (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, stroke) and psychiatric disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety, schizophrenia). One model is the olfactory bulb of the mammalian brain which contains two primary population of neurons. Large neurons, mitral/tufted cells, receive signals about odors in the environment from sensory neurons in the nose. This odor information is then sent to higher brain regions for further processing. Small interneurons, granule and periglomerular cells, modify the output of mitral/tufted cells. The olfactory bulb has high concentrations of neuroactive substances implicated in a variety of neurophathological conditions. Click on the link below to see an example of an electrophysiology experiment demonstrating the activation of receptors involved in some of these conditions.

Publications

Selected Publications

Davila NG, Houpt TA, Trombley PQ. (2007) Expression and Function of Kainate Receptors in the Rat Olfactory Bulb. Synapse May;61(5):320-34.
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 calcium-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.
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.
Trombley PQ, Shepherd GM. (2003) The Olfactory Bulb., In: George Adelman, Barry H. Smith (Eds) "Encyclopedia of Neuroscience", Elsevier, Amsterdam and New York.
Horning MS, Trombley PQ. (2001) Zinc and Copper Influence Excitability of Rat Olfactory Bulb Neurons by Multiple Mechansisms. J Neurophysiol. 86(4):1652-60.
Horning MS, Blakemore LJ, Trombley PQ. (2000) Endogenous mechanisms of neuroprotection: Role of zinc, copper, and carnosine. Brain Research 852:56-61 Abstract
Berkowicz DA, Trombley PQ. (2000) Dopaminergic modulation at the olfactory nerve synapse. Brain Research 855:90-99. Paper
Rutkoski NJ, Fitch CA, Yeiser EC, Dodge J, Trombley PQ, Levenson CW. (1999) Regulation of neuropeptide Y mRNA and peptide concentrations by copper in rat olfactory bulb. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 65(1):80-6.
Trombley PQ, Hill BJ, Horning MS. (1999) Interactions between GABA and glycine at inhibitory amino acid receptors on rat olfactory bulb neurons. J Neurophysiol. 82:3417-3422.Paper
Trombley PQ (1998) Selective modulation of GABAa receptors by aluminum. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 755-761.
Trombley PQ, Horning MS, Blakemore LJ. (1998) Carnosine modulates zinc and copper effects on amino acid receptors and synaptic transmission. NeuroReport 15:3503-3507.
Chen, G., Trombley, P.Q. & van den Pol, A.N. (1996) Excitatory actions of GABA in developing hypothalmic neurones. J. Physiol. 494.2:451-464.
Trombley, P.Q. & Shepherd, G.M. (1996) Differential modulation by zinc and copper of amino acid receptors from rat olfactory bulb neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 76:2536-2546.
Trombley, P.Q. & Shepherd, G.M. (1993) Synaptic transmission and modulation in the olfactory bulb. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 3:540-547.

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
Blakemore LJ, Alshingiti AM, Levenson CW, Trombley PQ (2002) Electrophysiological and Molecular Analysis of NPY in the Rat Olfactory Bulb. Neurosci Abs 32
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
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
Trombley PQ, Hill BJ, Blakemore LJ (2002) Zinc Modulation of Glycine Receptors. Zinc Signals 3rd International Conference
Davila NG, Houpt TA, Trombley PQ (2002) Kainate Receptor Function, Distribution, and Composition in the Rat Olfactory Bulb. Neurosci Abs 32