Neuroendocrine Research opportunities

This Web page describes predoctoral and postdoctoral research opportunities in Neuroendocrinology in the Cell Biology Graduate program at the The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston Texas.

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What are neuroendocrine cells?
Faculty involved in Neuroendocrinology research
Core laboratories
Typical curriculum for Neuroendocrinology studies
Links to other neuroendocrinology Web pages

Number of visitors to this site beginning 08/17/97

What are neuroendocrine cells?

Neuroendocrine cells are a specialized group of nerve cells (neurons) that produce hormones. These hormones may be amines, neuropeptides, or specialized amino acids. They package the hormones in vesicles and send these packages via long processes (axons) to blood vessels. When stimulated (by hormones from the blood stream or other neurons) the neuroendocrine cells secrete the hormones into the blood stream. The hormones then travel to their target cells and may stimulate, inhibit or maintain function of these cells. The target cells may feed back information to these neurons that regulates further secretion.

Specialized groups of neuroendocrine cells can be found at the base of the third ventricle in the brain (in a region called the hypothalamus). This area controls most anterior pituitary cells and thereby regulates functions in the entire body, like responses to stress, cold, sleep, and the reproductive system. The neurons send processes to a region connecting to the pituitary stalk and the hormones (called releasing or inhibiting hormones) are released into the blood stream. They are carried by portal vessels to the pituitary cells where they may stimulate, inhibit, or maintain the function of a particular cell type. Many of the projects in the neuroendocrine group focus on the regulatory circuitry in this pathway.

Research in neuroendocrinology in the Cell Biology Graduate Program includes studies of neuroendocrine cells involved in the regulation of sleep, responses to stress, cold, reproductive cycles, aging, molecular mechanisms behind estrogen actions, studies of steroid receptors; egg laying in aplysia, and neuronal development. Cellular and molecular biology approaches are combined to study all aspects of hormone storage, synthesis, and secretion in neuroendocrine cells. Back to Menu

Faculty involved in Neuroendocrine Research

• Tapan Banerji, Ph.D.
  Lisa Cain, Ph.D.
  Gwen V. Childs, Ph.D.
  Thomas J. Collins, Ph.D.
  Brian Miller, Ph.D.
  Gregg Nagle, Ph.D.
  Mark Opp, Ph.D.
  Sherry Painter, Ph.D.
  Terry Parkening, Ph.D.
  J. Regino Perez-Polo, Ph.D.
  Giulio Taglialatela, Ph.D.
  Cheryl Watson, Ph.D.
  

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Core Laboratories

• Radioimmunoassay
  Radioreceptor Assay
  HPLC
  Molecular Biology
  Cytochemistry and Imaging
  

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Typical curriculum for studies in Molecular Neuroendocrinology

• Year 1, Terms I and II as described on Curriculum Web page. Choose Physiology (CMPB 6501) as an elective
  Year 1, Term III elective: Endocrinology (INTD 6520) (May of Term III to October of Term IV).
  Electives in Years 2 or 3: Choose from Neuroendocrinology (CELL 6228) Comparative Endocrinology (CELL 6129), or Chronobiology (CELL 6210).
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Links to other Neuroendocrine Research Programs

• Try this site for a search of important topics in Neuroendocrinology -Starting Point

  Another search engine: The New Rider's WWW Yellow pages

  Molecular Signalling at Purdue University describes another graduate training program.

  Richard B. Simerly, Ph.D. home page describing studies in Reproductive behavior and physiology.

  The neuroendocrine circuitry behind birdsong learning and production is found on Gregory Ball's Home page

  Neuroendocrine regulation of Growth hormone Michael O. Thorner's laboratory

  Neuroendocrine control of pituitary function. Alan D. Rogol's laboratory

  A home page for Marilyn Mcginnis , Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy at UCLA.

  Brown University Neurosciences Graduate Program Brochure.
  

  The Neurosciences Program at the University of Minnesota
  

  Neuroendocrine research at the University of Virginia.
  

  Mental Health research institute in Australia.
  

  Register to be alerted to the NIH GUIDES whenever key words, like Neuroendocrinology, are mentioned in an announcement. You choose your own set of key words.
  

  Contribute to the 2nd Internet World Congress on Biomedical Science '95.
  

  Learn more about the Interdisciplinary Reproductive Biology group at the University of Florida

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