RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Neural regulation of anterior pituitary hormone secretion
• Sexual dimorphisms in anterior pituitary hormone secretion
• Effect of aging on both neuroendocrine and endocrine regulation
• Neurotoxins and their effects on brain peptides and neurotransmitters
• Brain peptides and neurological disorders associated with aging
• Drugs of abuse and their effects on endocrine-associated growth and development

• Radioimmunoassay procedures
• ELISA techniques
• HPLC techniques
• Small animal surgery
• Stereotaxic surgical procedures
• Longitudinal blood sampling procedures

• Aging and the endocrine system
• Aging and the central nervous system
• Sexual dimorphisms and the CNS and endocrine system
• Developmental aspects of the endocrine system
• Drugs of abuse on the CNS and endocrine system

1. Li Y., Meyer E.M., Walker D.W., Millard W.J., He Y.J., King M.A.  “Alpha7 Nicotinic Receptor Activation Inhibits Ethanol-induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Cytochrome C Release and Neurotoxicity in Primary Rat Hippocampal Neuronal Cultures.”  J. Neurochem., 81:853-858 (2002).
2. Yang S.H., He Z., Wu S.S., He Y.J., Cutright J., Millard W.J., Day A.L., Simpkins J.W.  “17-? Estradiol Can Reduce Secondary Ischemic Damage and Mortality of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.”  J. Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 21:174-181 (2001).
3. Kranz H., Brazeau G.A., Napaporn J., Martin R.L., Millard W.J., Bodmeier R.  “Myotoxicity Studies of Injectable Biodegradable In-situ Forming Drug Delivery Systems.”  Internat. J. Pharmaceutics, 212:11-18 (2001).
4. Martin R.L., Perez E., He Y.J., Dawson Jr R., Millard W.J.  “Leptin Resistance is Associated with Hypothalamic Leptin Receptor mRNA Protein Downregulation.”  Metabolism, 49:1479-1484 (2000).
5. Li Y., Papke R.L., Martin E.J., He Y.J., Millard W.J., Meyer E.M.  “Characterization of the Neuroprotective and Toxic Effects of Alpha7 Nicotinic Receptor Activation in PC12 Cells.” Brain Res., 830:218-225 (1999).