My laboratory's research efforts are focused on examining mechanisms involved in brain damage, particularly in the rat hippocampus, that results from exposure to:
  1.  alcohol
  2.  HIV-1 proteins
  3.  pesticides
  4.  psychomotor stimulants

In studying these topics, my laboratory employs a broad range of neurochemical and behavioral techniques, including cell culture of brain tissue, in vivo rodent studies, and immunohistochemistry. To go to the lab webpage click here.

* =graduate student or postdoctoral fellow; ** = undergraduate

• *Mulholland PJ, *Self RL, **Hensley AK, Little HJ, Littleton JM, Prendergast MA (2006).  A 24 h corticosterone exposure exacerbates excitotoxic insult in rat hippocampal slice cultures independently of glucocorticoid receptor activation or protein synthesis. Brain Research, 1082:165-172.
• *Wilkins Jr, LH, Prendergast MA, Blanchard JA, Holley RC, Chambers ER, Littleton JM (2006).  Potential value of changes in cell markers in organotypic hippocampal cultures associated with chronic EtOH exposure and withdrawal: comparison with NMDA-induced changes.  Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, 30: 1768-1780.
• Gearhart DA, Sickles DW, Buccafusco JJ, Prendergast MA, Terry AV (2007). Chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos oxon, and diisopropylfluorophosphate inhibit kinesin-dependent microtubule motility. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 218: 20-29.
• Prendergast MA, Little HJ (2007). Adolescence, glucocorticoids and alcohol. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. 86: 234-245.
• Prendergast MA, *Self RL, *Smith KJ, Ghayoumi L, Mullins MM, *Butler TR, Buccafusco JJ, Gearhart DA, Terry Jr AV (2007). Microtubule-associated targets in chlorpyrifos oxon hippocampal neurotoxicity. Neuroscience, 146: 330-339.
• Buccafusco JJ, Powers JC, Prendergast MA, Terry Jr. AV, Jonnala RR (2007). MHP-133, a drug with multiple CNS targets: potential for enhanced cognition, neuroprotection, and analgesia. Neurochemical Research, 32:1224-1237.
• Littleton JM, Barron S, Prendergast MA, Nixon SJ (2007) Smoking kills (alcoholics) ! Shouldn’t we do something about it ? Alcohol and Alcoholism, 42(3): 167-173.
• *Smith KJ, *Self RL, *Butler TR, Mullins MM, Ghayoumi L, Holley RC, Littleton JM, Prendergast MA (2007). Methamphetamine exposure antagonizes  N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated neurotoxicity in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Brain Research, 1157: 74-80.
• Terry AV, Gearhart DA, Beck WD, Truan JN, Prendergast MA, Buccafusco JJ (2007). Chronic, intermittent exposure to chlorpyrifos in rats: Protracted effects on axonal transport, neurotrophin receptors, cholinergic markers, and information processing. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 322(3): 1117-1128.
•  *Smith KJ, *Butler TR, *Self RL, **Braden BB, Prendergast MA (2008). Potentiation of N-methyl-D-asparate receptor-mediated neuronal injury during methamphetamine withdrawal in vitro requires co-activation of IP3 receptors.  Brain Research, 1187: 67-73.