M. Behnam Ghasemzadeh, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Schroeder Complex 426
(414) 288-6636
Email

Education
B.S., 1986, Chemistry, Jackson State University

Ph.D., 1990, Neurochemistry, University of Kansas

Professional Experience
1990-1995
Post-doctoral training, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania.

1995-1998
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Washington State University.

1998-2002
Research Assistant professor, Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina.

2002-Present
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University.


Research Interests
The research in my laboratory is aimed at elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. Currently, there are two areas of investigation in the laboratory.

The first area of interest is aimed at studying the cellular and molecular underpinnings of drug abuse in the brain. Repeated exposure to psychostimulants such as amphetamine and cocaine produce behavioral modification which is accompanied by specific changes in synaptic transmission and synaptic efficacy. These changes are long-lasting and thought to underlie the addicted state. Recent work in my laboratory has focused on cocaine-mediated plasticity in glutamate neurotransmission and glutamate receptor function, including the role of protein phosphorylation and protein-protein interactions in regulation of receptor function. Using an animal model of cocaine abuse called behavioral sensitization, we have identified a family of proteins in the brain which are regulated by repeated exposure to cocaine and in return can control the behavioral response to cocaine administration. Interestingly, these proteins bind to and regulate glutamate receptor function. The goal of this research is to identify new and promising pharmacological targets for therapeutic purposes.

The second area of interest is investigating the cellular and molecular plasticity underlying schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects about 1% of the world population with long-lasting and devastating personal and social consequences. The disease is manifested by a set of abnormal behaviors including psychotic symptoms, thought disorganization and cognitive deficits. These behavioral modifications are accompanied by specific changes in the brain structures, neurotransmission and synaptic efficacy. Using animal models of schizophrenia which represent both the positive and negative behavioral symptoms of the disease, we are investigating the pattern of gene expression of specific receptors and signaling proteins in the brain. The goal of these studies is to identify molecular changes in the brain that characterize these behavioral states.

Teaching
Molecular Pathology, BISC160 Course Director

Selected Publications

1. Lu X-Y, Ghasemzadeh MB, Kalivas PW (1998) Expression of D1, D2, substance P and enkephalin mRNAs in the projection neurons from the nucleus accumbens. Neuroscience, 82:767-780.
2. Sarkar DK, Pastorcic M, De A, Engel M, Moses H, Ghasemzadeh MB (1998) Role of Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-type I and TGF- type II receptors in the TGF-1-regulated gene expression in pituitary prolactin-secreting lactotropes." Endocrinology 139:3620-3628.
3. Kalivas PW, Cornish J, Ghasemzadeh MB (1998) Cocaine Craving and Paranoia: a combination of pharmacology and learning. Psychiatry Annals 28:569-576.
4. Ghasemzadeh MB, Nelson L, Lu X-Y, Kalivas PW (1999) Neuroadaptations in ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptor mRNA produced by cocaine treatment. Journal of Neurochemistry 72:157-165.
5. Lu X-Y, Ghasemzadeh MB, Kalivas PW (1999) The regional distribution and cellular localization of GABAB1 receptor mRNA in the rat brain. J Comp Neurology 407:166-182.
6. Lu X-Y, Ghasemzadeh MB, Kalivas PW (1999) Expression of glutamate receptor/subunit messenger RNA's for NMDAR1, GluR1 and mGluR5 by accumbal projection neurons. Brain Research 63:287-296.
7. Ghasemzadeh MB, Pierce RC, Kalivas PW (1999) The monoaminergic neurons of the rat brain preferentially express a splice variant of a1B subunit of the N-type calcium channel. Journal of Neurochemistry 73:1718-1723.
8. Hu G, Duffy P, Swanson C, Ghasemzadeh MB, Kalivas PW (1999) The regulation of dopamine transmission by metabotropic glutamate receptors. J Pharm Exp Ther 289:412-416.
9. Crespo JA, Oliva JM, Ghasemzadeh MB, Kalivas PW, Ambrosio E (2002) Neuroadaptive Changes in NMDAR1 gene expression after extinction of cocaine self-administration. Annals New York Academy Science, 965:78-91.
10. Ghasemzadeh MB, Permenter LK, lake R, Worley PF, Kalivas PW (2003) Homer1 proteins and AMPA receptors modulate cocaine-induced behavioral plasticity. Eur J Neurosci 18:1645-51.
11. Kalivas PW, Toda S, Bowers MS, Baker DA, Ghasemzadeh MB (2003) The temporal sequence of changes in gene expression by drugs of abuse. Methods Mol Med 79:3-11.