Department of Pharmacodynamics
Department of Pharmacodynamics
Dorette Z. Ellis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pharmacodynamics
University of Florida
PO Box 100487
Gainesville, FL 32610-0487
Office: (352) 273-7689
ellis@cop.ufl.edu
Curriculum Vitae
PubMed Publications
Research Interests
My research is focused on 2 areas: 1) the regulation of aqueous humor dynamics; particularly how hormonal signals regulate aqueous humor production in the ciliary processes and how hormonal signals regulate the exit of aqueous humor from the eye via the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal. Improper regulation of aqueous humor dynamics leads to high intraocular pressure which is a risk factor for glaucoma, a blinding disease that affects millions of people worldwide. 2) Regulation of cerebrospinal fluid production; particularly how cerebrospinal fluid is produced by the choroid plexuses. Improper regulation of cerebrospinal fluid results in hydrocephalus, a condition that occurs in 1 in 2000 births. We are currently investigating how nitric oxide and other nitric oxide-independent activators of soluble guanylate cyclase, cGMP, and protein kinase G regulate aqueous humor production, aqueous humor outflow and cerebrospinal fluid production. Additionally, we have demonstrated the ability of the cardiac glycoside, ouabain, to regulate aqueous humor outflow and we are currently elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which this occurs. To answer our questions we use a multidisciplinary approach including pharmacology, biochemistry and molecular biology. Techniques used in our lab include Western blots, SDS PAGE gel electrophoresis, 2-D gel electrophoresis, LC-MS/MS (ICBR) densitometry analysis, cell culturing, tissue dissection, biochemical assays, Differential Interference Contrast imaging (used to examine the effects of drugs on cell morphology), immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, eye anterior segment organ perfusion (used to test the effects of drugs on the rate of outflow of fluid from the eye), and confocal microscope measurement of cell volume.
Laboratory Staff
William M Dismuke, B.S. Graduate Student
Darius Faison, Undergraduate Student
Binna M. Chokshi, Undergraduate Student
Collaborators and Affiliations
Naj Sharif, PhD Alcon Research
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