PHARMACOLOGY FACULTY
Selected Publications
  • Strong, R., Reddy V., Morley, J. Cholinergic deficits in the septal-hippocampal pathway of the SAM-P8 senescence accelerated mouse. Brain Res. 966, 150-156, 2003.
  • Corbit, J. Hagerty,T., Fernandez,E., Morgan, W.W. and Strong, R. Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA in PC12 cells during persistent stimulation by VIP and PACAP38: Differential regulation by protein kinase A- and protein kinase C-dependent pathways. Neuropep. 36, 34-45, 2002.
  • Hagerty T., Fernandez E., Lynch K., Wang S. S., Morgan W. W., and Strong R. Interaction of a glucocorticoid-responsive element with regulatory sequences in the promoter region of the mouse tyrosine hydroxylase gene. J Neurochem 78, 1379-1388, 2001.
  • Foster D., Strong R., and Morgan W. W. A tetracycline-repressible transactivator approach suggests a shorter half-life for tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA. Brain Res Brain Res Protoc 7, 137-146, 2001
  • Hagerty, T, Morgan, W.W., Elango, N. and Strong, R. Identification of a glucocorticoid responsive element in the promoter region of the mouse tyrosine hydroxylase gene. J. Neurochem.,76, 825-834, 2001.
Randy Strong
 

Randy Strong

Professor of Pharmacology
Ph.D., UT Health Science Center - Houston

Office: 210-617-5300/5197
Email: strong@uthscsa.edu

 

Keywords

KEYWORDS

 

Research Summary

My research has two major objectives: the first is directed toward understanding receptor mechanisms involved in regulating tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression, the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of catecholamines. The latter substances are crucially involved in various life-sustaining functions and are implicated in diseases such as hypertension, depression and Parkinson’s disease. We are examining the signal transduction mechanisms that mediate the effects of selected neurotransmitter and neuromodulators on TH gene expression in a cultured adrenal chromaffin cell line. Most recently, we have focused on vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) receptors and glucocorticoid receptors. We have investigated both transcriptional and post-transcriptional responses to PACAP and VIP and found that the PAC1 receptor distinguishes between the two agonists by stabilizing TH mRNA in response to PACAP, but not VIP. We are investigating intracellular signaling pathways in this response. We also recently identified the glucocorticoid responsive element in the promoter region of the TH gene. We are examining how second messenger pathways that are stimulated by neuropeptide receptors modulate the transcriptional responses to glucocorticoids.

 

The second research objective is directed toward understanding the role of oxidative stress in the aging brain. One project is aimed at determining how reactive catecholamine metabolites contribute to neuropathology of aging and Parkinson’s disease. We are particularly interested in the role that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) plays in degeneration of dopamine neurons. This highly reactive metabolite of dopamine becomes elevated in Parkinson’s disease and is neurotoxic. Rotenone, a pesticide that reproduces the pathology of Parkinson’s disease in rats, has been shown to elevate DOPAL in cultured cells. DOPAL is believed to be cleared by the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2). We have developed an ALDH2 knockout mouse to determine the role of this enzyme in DOPAL catabolism. We are also using this new mouse model to study the role of DOPAL in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease.


Lab Personnel

Dr. Elizabeth Fernandez - Assistant Professor/Research

Dr. Sheela Kadapakkam - Instructor/Research

Dr. Shou-Shu Wang - Postdoctoral Fellow

Vanessa Martinez - Intermediate Research Laboratory Technician

Alexandra Soto-Piña - Graduate Student

Margaret Wey - Graduate Student