Lisa Cain's Home page

	University of Texas Medical Branch
	Cell Biology Graduate Program

Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D

Our research at The University of Texas Medical Branch is focused on the trophic requirements of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons for development and survival. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons degenerate in Alzheimer's disease and are the main cholinergic innervators of the hippocampus. We are concerned with what neurotrophic factors are essential for the development and survival of these neurons and how the requirements of these neurons change with increasing age.

Credentials

B.S., Jackson State University, 1984
Ph.D., University of Mississippi Medical Center, 1989
Assistant Professor
Cell Biology Graduate Program
Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences

Our studies are focused on identifying the role of various factors such as nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3, neurotrophin-4, brain derived growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor on basal forebrain neuron survival utilizing a well defined tissue culture system. Data is analyzed by the use of cytochemical and immuno-cytochemical staining and by the use of enzymatic assays.

A light photomicrograph of acetylcholinesterase positive neurons from a rat embryo day seventeen basal forebrain culture.

Presently we are studying the effect of basic fibroblast growth (bFGF) factor on the survival of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. bFGF is found in increased amounts in the Alzheimer's brain in comparison to control brains. The question remains as to why is it there? We have observed that in culture bFGF stimulates the glia (Type I astrocytes) to produce a factor(s) that promotes the survival of the cholinergic neurons. This factor present in conditioned media from basal forebrain cultures stimulated with bFGF may be a novel or known factor. We would like to investigate the effect of this factor on neuron survival and neuron protection in an in vivo model. In addition, we are presently making plans to characterize and to purify this factor.

In our laboratory, we are also studying extensively glia and their requirements for survival during different developmental stages. We are interested in the specific role of microglia and oligodendrocytes in regards to basal forebrain neuron development and survival. In the future, we would like to determine how these cells are affected by Alzheimer's disease and what roles they play in the pathogenesis of the disease. Another interest that I have is to devise mechanisms that will allow the growth of adult and aged glia and neurons in culture. We are presently in the process of growing glia from adult rats and treating them with various growth factors in order to enhance their survival. In addition to my work in the nervous system. I am also collaborating with other professors and investigating the effect of growth factors and hormones on the development of secondary follicles in culture.

Recent Publications

Friedman WJ, Ibanez CF, Hallbook F, Persson H, Cain LD, Dreyfus CF, Black IB (1993): Differential actions of neurotrophins in the locus coeruleus and basal forebrain. Exp Neurol 119:72-78.

Perkins LA, and Cain LD. (1995): Basic fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) Increases The Survival of Embryonic and Postnatal Basal forebrain Cholinergic Neurons In Primary Culture. Int. J. Devel Neurosci. 13:51-61.

Cain LD, Chatterjee S, and Collins TJ ( 1995): In Vitro Folliculogenesis of Rat Preantral Follicles. Endocrinology, In Press.

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Last updated: 07/22/05

University of Texas Medical Branch

Cell Biology Graduate Program

Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D

Credentials

Recent Publications