Go to LAB PAGE for teaching and research information

Synaptic Transmission and Neuromodulation

My primary research interest is to understand the detailed mechanisms of synaptic differentiation among neurons and those mechanisms employed between neurons and muscle cells. The nerve cell is chemically integrated with other cells at morphologically-identified locations called synapses. The characteristics of the synapse are affected by its activity level which modulates long-term alterations in both synaptic structure and performance. Neuromodulators that are endogenously released either enhance or suppress synaptic efficacy, in turn affecting the behavioral state of an animal. Neuromodulators affect cellular process by various intracellular messenger cascades that are dependent on the type of neuromodulator and its associated receptor. Such changes are believed to play a role in learning and memory, as well as in the behavioral state of an animal.

• Sparks, G.M., Dasari, S. and Cooper, R.L. (2004) Actions of MDMA at glutamatergic neuromuscular junctions Neuroscience Research 48:431-438.
• Dasari, S. and Cooper, R.L. (2004) Modulation of sensory to motor circuits by serotonin, octopamine, and dopamine in semi-intact Drosophila larva. Neuroscience Research 48:221-227. 
• Sparks, G. and Cooper, R.L. (2004) 5-HT offsets homeostasis of synaptic transmission during short-term facilitation.  J. of Applied Physiology 96:1681-1690.
• Pagé, M.-P. and Cooper, R.L. (2004) Novelty stress and reproductive state alters responsiveness to sensory stimuli and 5-HT neuromodulation.  Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 139A:149-158.
• Badre, N.H., Martin, M.E. and Cooper, R.L. (2005) The physiological and behavioral effects of carbon dioxide on Drosophila larvae.  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A. 140:363-376.
• Bhatt, D. and Cooper, R.L. (2005) The pharmacological and physiological profile of glutamate receptors at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction. Physiological Entomology 30:305-310.
• Xing, B., Long, A.A.,  Harrison, D.A. and Cooper, R.L. (2005) Developmental consequences of NMJs with reduced presynaptic calcium channel function  Synapse 57:132-147.
• Dropic, A.J., Brailoiu, E., and Cooper, R.L. (2005) Presynaptic mechanism of action induced by 5‑HT in nerve terminals: Possible involvement of ryanodine and IP3 sensitive Ca2+ stores.  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A. 142:355-361.
• Dasari, S. and Cooper, R.L. (2006) Direct influence of serotonin on the larval heart of Drosophila melanogaster. J. of Comparative Physiology. 176B: 349-357.
• Johnstone, A.F.M. and Cooper, R.L. (2006) Direct innervation of the Drosophila mealanogaster larval heart. Brain Research  1083: 159-163.
• Viele, K., Lancaster, M., and Cooper, R.L. (2006) The self-modeling structure of evoked post-synaptic potentials. SYNAPSE 60:32-44
• Logsdon, S., Johnstone, A.F.M., Viele, K. and Cooper, R.L. (2006) Regulation of synaptic vesicles pools within motor nerve terminals during short-term facilitation and neuromodulation.  J. of Applied Physiology 100:662-671.
• Shuranova, Z.P., Burmistrov, Y.M., Strawn, J.R., and Cooper, R.L. (2006). Evidence for an Autonomic Nervous System in Decapod Crustaceans.  International Journal of Zoological Research 2(3):242-283. (A review article)
• Pagé, M.-P., Hailes, W., and Cooper, R.L. (2007) Modification of the tail flip escape response in crayfish by neuromodulation and behavioral state with and without descending CNS input. International Journal of Zoological Research. 3:132-144
• Lancaster, M., Viele, K., Johnstone, A.F.M., and Cooper, R.L. (2007) Automated classification of evoked quantal events.  Journal of Neuroscience Methods 159: 325–336.
• Dasari, S., Viele, K.,  Turner, A.C. and Cooper R.L. (2007) Influence of p-CPA and MDMA on physiology, development and behavior in Drosophila melanogaster. European Journal of Neuroscience. 26: 424–438.
• Johnstone, A.F.M., Kellie, S and Cooper, R.L. (2008) Presynaptic depression in phasic motor nerve terminals and influence of 5-HT on docked vesicles.  The Open Neuroscience Journal 2: 16-23.
• Badre, N.H. and Cooper, R.L. (2008) Reduced calcium channel function in Drosophila disrupts associative learning in larva, and behavior in adults. International Journal of Zoological Research. 4 (3) 152-164.
• Cooper, R.L. (2008) Mapping proprioceptive neurons on chordotonal organs in the crab, Cancer magister Crustaceana. 81(4): 447-475.
• Desai-Shah, M., Viele, K., Sparks, G., Nadolski, J.,  Hayden, B., Srinivasan, V.K.,  and Cooper, R.L. (2008). Assessment of synaptic function during short-term facilitation in motor nerve terminals in the crayfish. The Open Neuroscience Journal 2:24-35.
• Desai-Shah, M. and Cooper, R.L. (2009) Different mechanisms of Ca²⁺ regulation that influence synaptic transmission: comparison between Crayfish and Drosophila NMJs. SYNAPSE 63:1100-1121.
• Dasari, S., Wang, L., Harrison, D.A. and Cooper R.L. (2009) Reduced and misexpression of 5-HT₂ receptors alters development, behavior and CNS activity in Drosophila melanogaster.  International Journal of Zoological Research 5(3): 101-114.
• Lee, J.-Y., Bhatt, D., Bhatt, D., Chung, W.-Y., and Cooper, R.L. (2009) Furthering pharmacological and physiological assessment of the glutamatergic receptors at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part C 150:546-557.
• Cooper, A.S., and Cooper, R.L. (2009) Historical view and physiological demonstration of synaptic transmission at the crayfish opener muscle.  Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) 32: http://www.jove.com/index/details.stp?ID=1595
• Bierbower, S.M. and Cooper, R.L. (2009) Measures of heart and ventilatory rates in freely moving crayfish. Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) 32: http://www.jove.com/index/details.stp?id=1594 , doi: 10.3791/1594.
• Cooper,  A.S., Rymond, K.E.,  Ward, M.A., Bocook, E.L. and Cooper, R.L. (2009) Monitoring heart function in larval Drosophila melanogaster for physiological studies.  (In Press JOVE). Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE).
• Desai-Shah, M., Papoy, A.R., Ward, M., and Cooper, R.L. (2009) Roles of  the SERCA, PMCA and NCX in calcium regulation in the Drosophila larval heart. (Accepted pending minor revisions, The Journal of Physiological Sciences).