| Seen here with flowers presented by Spring 2003 honors class |
| Seen here with flowers presented by Spring 2003 honors class |
biographical sketch
|
NAME |
POSITION TITLE |
|
Robert M. Grossfeld,
Ph.D. |
Professor- Zoology,
Physiology, Behavioral Biology |
EDUCATION/TRAINING
|
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION |
DEGREE |
YEAR |
FIELD OF STUDY |
|
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
B.S. |
1963 |
Microbiology |
|
|
Ph.D. |
1968 |
Neuroscience |
|
1968-1970 |
Research Fellow, Instructor,
Neurobiology Department, |
|
1970-1974 |
Assistant Professor of
Neurobiology and Behavior, |
|
1974-1976 |
Research Scientist, VA
Hospital, |
|
1976-1979 |
Visiting Faculty, Zoology
Department, |
|
1979-2001 |
Assistant, Associate, Full
Professor of Zoology, |
Research Interests:
(1) Neuron-glia intercellular chemical signaling in the nervous system--role in function, development, regeneration. (2) Chemical signaling between human mesenhymal stem cells--affect on differentiation to form bone or cartilage.
(1) Neuron-glia intercellular chemical signaling in the nervous system.
Glial
cells greatly outnumber neurons in mammalian brain and
spinal cord. Once thought to be passive elements of the nervous
system
(hence the name "glia" or "glue"), they are now known to be
active and equal partners with neurons, regulating neuronal function,
development and regeneration and organ blood flow. Most studies
of
neuron-glia interactions have focused on synapses, where one neuron
interacts
with another via neurotransmitter chemicals. We are testing
whether
similar interactions occur at regions of the nervous system devoid of
synapses,
i.e. in peripheral and central nerves, and whether they impact the
development
and regeneration of nerve fibers. Whereas neurons typically
signal via
electrical impulses and release of neurotransmitters, glial cell
responses
involve altered intracellular calcium and release of
gliotransmitters.
The energy-producing molecule ATP and the common amino acid glutamate
are
considered to be major transmitters by which neurons and glia signal
each
other. We are using optical imaging and electrical stimulation to
investigate when and how these compounds act as intercellular signals
in
isolated rodent optic nerve, an accessible central nervous system
model, and
the possible role of the dipeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate that is
considered
to be an important source of glutamate. These studies have potentail
implications not only for understanding normal neurological function
but also
pathology of neurodegeneative diseases, as these compounds are damaging
to
nerve cells and glia when present at excessively high concentrations in
extracellular fluid during injury or stroke, for example.
(2) Chemical signaling between human mesenhymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess the potential to differentiate into a variety of connective tissue cells as well as neural cells. Like glial cells, they can respond to diffusible chemicals such as ATP with increased cellular calcium that triggers changes in differentiation state or function. In a collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Elizabeth Loboa (http://www.bme.ncsu.edu/directory/bio.php?userid=egloboa), we are investigating MSCs harvested from adult human adipose tissue to determine how their responsiveness to small chemical transmitters might influence their differentiation to form bone or cartilage tissue.
Selected Publications:
Gafurov B.S., Urazaev A.K., Grossfeld R.M., and Lieberman E.M. (2002) Mechanism of NMDA receptor contribution to axon-to-glia signaling in the crayfish medial giant nerve fiber. Glia 38(1):80-86
Gafurov B., Urazaev A.K., Grossfeld R.M., Lieberman E.M. (2001) N- acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) is the probable mediator of axon-to-glia signaling in the crayfish medial giant nerve fiber. Neuroscience 106(1): 227-235.
Urazaev A.K., Grossfeld R.M., Fletcher P.L., Speno H., Gafurov B.S., Buttram J.G., Lieberman E.M. (2001) Synthesis and release of N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) by crayfish nerve fibers: Implications for axon-glia signaling. Neuroscience 106(1): 237-247
Rathinam, A.V., Chen, T.T. and Grossfeld, R.M. (2000) Cloning and sequence analysis of a cDNA for an inducible 70 kDa heat shock protein [HSP70] of the American oyster [Crassostrea virginica]. DNA Sequence 11:261-264.
Sheller, R.A.,
Grossfeld, R.M., Hargittai, P.T. and Lieberman, E.M. Glutamate-mediated neuron-glia signaling in invertebrates and vertebrates (1995) In: Neuron-Glia Interrelation in Phylogeny Ed. A. Vernadakis and B.I. Roots, Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, pp 129-159.
Tirard, C.T., Grossfeld, R.M., Volety, A.K., and
Tirard, C. T., Grossfeld, R. M., Levine, J. and Kennedy-Stoskopf, S. (1995) Effect of hyperthermia in vitro on stress protein synthesis and accumulation in oyster haemocytes. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 5:9-25.
Lieberman, E., Hargittai, P. and Grossfeld, R. (1994) Electrophysiological and metabolic interactions between axons and glia in crayfish and squid. Progress in Neurobiology 44:333-376.
Xue, Z.-y. and Grossfeld, R. M. (1993) Stress protein synthesis and accumulation after traumatic injury of crayfish CNS. Neurochemical Research 18:209-218.
Rochelle, J. M., Grossfeld, R. M., Bunting, D. L., Tytell, M., Dwyer, B. E. and Xue, Z.-Y. (1991) Stress protein synthesis by crayfish CNS tissue in vitro. Neurochemical Research 16:533-542.
Grossfeld, R. M.
(1991) Axon-glia
exchange of macromolecules. Annals of the
Grossfeld, R. M., Klinge, M. A., Lieberman, E. M. and Stewart, L. C. (1988) Axon-glia transfer of a protein and a carbohydrate. Glia 1:292-300.
Grossfeld, R. M. and Hansen, D. B. (1987) Long-term persistence of GAD activity in injured crayfish CNS tissue. Neurochemical Research 12:977-984.
Grossfeld, R.M.
and Shooter, E.M. (1971) A study of the changes in protein
composition of mouse brain during ontogenetic development. J.
Neurochem. 18:
2265-2277.
Kravitz, E.A.,
Slater, C.R., Takahashi, K., Bownds, M.D. and Grossfeld, R.M. (1970)
Excitatory
transmission in invertebrates: Glutamate as a potential neuromuscular
transmitter compound. In: Excitatory Synaptic
Mechanisms. P.
Anderson and J.K.S. Jansen, eds. Universitets Forlaget Pub. pp.
85-93.
Teaching Interests:
(1) Advanced Physiology; (2) Spinal Cord Injury & Repair
(1) Advanced physiology (ZO/PHY 503-504)- a two-semester graduate/senior lecture/discussion course on integrative molecular, cellular and systems physiology. The first semester covers membrane transport, endocrine control, excitable and contractile cell function, networks of excitable cells, and cardiovascular function. The second semester covers Respiratory, Renal, and Digestive functions. The courses emphasize analysis, understanding and integration of data and application of principles to novel situations.
(2) Spinal Cord Injury & Repair-Seminar course offered to senior undergraduate students and graduate students. The course emphasizes broad aspects of issues in neuroscience, including scientific findings and novel approaches to repair of spinal cord and brain, and relevant political, social, ethical, and human issues.
Teaching, Mentoring
Awards: