Research in my laboratory focuses on central nervous system control of gastrointestinal function.  Our goals are to determine the roles of GABA and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in clinically relevant problems such as diabetes mellitus and gastroesophageal reflux disease.  

The methods used in this research include patch clamp electrophysiology in slices of the brain stem, in vivo recordings of end organ function using pharmacological stimuli such as microinjection of drug into the brain and intravaneous drug infusion, and electron microscopy coupled with immunohistochemistry. These techniques are used to map the pathways in the brain that affect end organs; namely, the stomach, lower esophageal sphincter and cecum.  We are also investigating the roles of glucose and insulin in diabetes mellitus, locating glucose-sensing areas in the brain and finding out how these areas can be used to treat problems associated with the disease.

Selected Publications:

• Herman MA, Cruz MT, Sahibzada N, Verbalis J, Gillis RA  GABA signaling in the nucleus tractus solitarius sets the level of activity in dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus cholinergic neurons in the vagovagal circuit.  Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol.  296:G101-11, 2009