CEDAR CREST COLLEGE

Research: Herbal Medicines and Medicinal Leeches

Kent K. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Department of Biological Sciences
Neuroscience Program

On this page: Students - Projects - Freshmen Research NEW January 2005

Students in the Lab

2004-2005

2003-2004

2002-2003

2001-2002

2000-2001

1999-2000

Projects

There are several ongoing areas of research in my lab:

Herbal Neuropharmacology: We have been examining the cellular actions of Kava, an herbal substance used as a mild sedative and anti-epileptic, to determine its cellular and synaptic actions. Recently, we have expended our inquiry into other herbal substances such as Valerian.

Calcium Imaging: One of the most important ions in the nervous system, both for normal function and in pathological states such as seizure or stroke, is calcium. We are fortunate to have a confocal microscope as part of the W. M. Keck Imaging Center at Cedar Crest College, and we are using confocal microscopy with calcium-sensitive dyes to examine the effects of herbal medicinals on intracellular calcium levels in nerve cells.

Confocal Imaging of Morphology: The morphology, or shape, of neurons is critical to their ability to process information. Using confocal microscopy, we are visualizing the morphology and cytoskeletal structure of nerve cells.

Behavior and Learning: As a psychologist, I have a long-standing interest in behavior and learning. We are conducting several behavioral studies focused on T-maze learning and the effects of herbal substances.

Freshmen Research, Spring 2005

Dr. Ettinger's lab section, Mon 2:30-5:30 PM
RD: Candace Fraser
Project: Calibration of Calcium Imaging

A number of projects in our lab use the confocal microscope to measure calcium levels in live nerve cells. This is done by using a dye that changes its level of fluorescence when it binds to free calcium. Our measurements of calcium levels have always been relative; that is, we can see whether calcium is increasing or decreasing, but we don't know the absolute levels (i.e., microcmolar concentrations) of calcium. Last year, a freshmen research group conducted calibration procedures to establish the relationship between fluorescence and calcium concentration. In this year's project, students  will extend that study by examining and additional variable, dye volume, and its effect on fluorescence.

Students participating in this project will:

Dr. Fitzgerald's lab section Tue 8-11 AM
RD: Laura Dalton
Project: Imaging of Neurons Using Phalloidin Labeling

The morphology, or shape, of neurons is critical to their ability to process information, and the cytoskeleton is the part of the cell responsible for maintaining this morphology. In this project, students will use phalloidin, a toxin that labels cytoskeletal protein, and the confocal microscopy to create images of neuronal structure.

Students participating in this project will:

Dr. Rosch's lab section Wed 1-4 PM
RD: Kent Fitzgerald
Project: Behavioral Effects of Valerian

Valerian is one of several herbal substances that have been used as mild sedatives and anti-epileptic medications. Since we use the leech as a model system to investigate the cellular actions of these substances, it is important to understand their behavioral effects as well. In this project, we will determine the effects of valerian on spontaneous behaviors in the medicinal leech.

Students participating in this project will:



 
Lab Guides:
Instrumentation for neurophysiology
Neurophysiology of the leech