PHARMACOLOGY FACULTY
Selected Publications
  • Cross, D.J., Cavazos, J.E. "Plasticity and Epileptogenesis: Circuitry Reorganization." In: Encyclopedia of Basic Epilepsy Research, P. Schwartzkroin (Ed.), Elsevier, 2008 (in press).
  • Jetter, G.M., J.E. Cavazos. "Epilepsy in the Elderly." Seminars of Neurology 28(3): 336-341, 2008.
  • Cross, D.J., Cavazos, J.E. "The Role of Sprouting and Plasticity in Epileptogenesis and Behavior." In: Behavioral Aspects of Epilepsy. S. Schachter, G.L. Holmes, D.G. Trenite (eds). Demos Medical Publishing, pp. 51-57, 2007.
  • Cross, D.J., J.E. Cavazos. "Synaptic Reorganization in Subiculum and CA3 after Early-Life Status Epilepticus in the Kainic Acid Rat Model." Epilepsy Research 73(2): 156-65, 2007.
  • Cavazos, J.E., D.J. Cross. The Role of Synaptic Reorganization in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Epilepsy and Behavior 8(3): 483-93, 2006.
  • Pugh MJV, L.A. Copeland, J.E. Zeber, M.T. Amuan, J.A. Cramer, J.E. Cavazos, L.E. Kazis. "The Impact of Epilepsy on health status among younger and older adults." Epilepsia, 46:1820-1827, 2005.
  • Cavazos, J.E., S.M. Jones., D.J. Cross. "Sprouting and Synaptic Reorganization in the Subiculum and CA1 Region of the Hippocampus in Acute and Chronic Models of Partial-Onset Epilepsy." Neuroscience 126: 677-688, 2004.
  • Cavazos, J.E., Sanchez R.M. "Mechanisms of Seizures and Epilepsy." Chapter 2 of "Epilepsy: Scientific Foundations of Clinical Practice," edited by Rho, J.M., Sankar, R., Cavazos, J.E. pp. 5-20. Marcel Dekker, Inc. ISBN 0-8247-5043-8, 2004.
  • Cavazos, J.E. "Post-Stroke Seizures and Epilepsy in the Elderly Population." Profiles of Seizure Management: Pharmacy Series Vol. 3, No. 2: 11-15, 2004.
José E. Cavazos
 

José E. Cavazos

Professor of Medicine-Neurology & Physiology

Associate Professor of Pharmacology

Office: 210-617-5300 x4373 or 617-5161
Email: cavazosj@uthscsa.edu

 

Keywords

KEYWORDS

 

Research Summary

My laboratory studies activity-dependent plasticity in the hippocampal formation in the developing, adult, and aged brain using a variety of experimental models of epilepsy, seizures, and epileptogenesis. Previous studies from my laboratory have shown that repeated seizures induce progressive neuronal death and axon sprouting that permanently alter the hippocampal circuitry lending it more susceptible to additional seizures and memory dysfunction. We currently are investigating the molecular mechanisms that link the synchronous neuronal hyperexcitability with these morphological events including the role of caspases using in-vivo models and in-vitro organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. We investigate the features of seizure-induced axon sprouting in other limbic circuitries using anatomical tracing techniques, and their electrophysiological consequences in the neuronal excitability of the abnormally connected circuitry using brain slices. Lastly, we are evaluating several antagonists at the various steps in this cascade that leads to circuit plasticity with the aim of identifying the crucial steps in the epileptogenic process amenable to novel pharmacological targets for a better treatment of seizures and epilepsy.