My research focuses on the effects of prenatal drug exposure using a rodent model. A large part of the work that we do is in the field of behavioral teratology, that is, studying the effects that drug exposure in utero has on later behaviors. Our work focuses primarily on the effects of ethanol as well as ethanol’s interactions with other drugs since polydrug exposure is probably more appropriate for modeling clinical populations. We study a variety of behavioral paradigms ranging from simple neonatal assessments and social behaviors to complex cognitive functioning.

In addition, with collaborators here at the University of Kentucky as well as at other universities, we examine more mechanistic questions looking at neuroanatomical structures and neuropharmacological indicators in an attempt to understand how these drugs alter normal brain function. We are also currently interested in how novel compounds can reduce some of the toxic effects of ethanol on the CNS. Students that receive training in my laboratory have the opportunity to gain expertise in a variety of behavioral, neuroanatomical, neuropharmacological and cell culture techniques.

Collaborations

Students that conduct research in my laboratory have the opportunity for collaborative projects with faculty from a number of departments including (although not limited to) Anatomy and Neurobiology, Pharmacology, and Pharmacy.

Current Funding 

Current funding for the majority of my research comes from the National Institute of Health.

*represents graduate or undergraduate students

• Rogers, D. T., Barron, S., & Littleton, J. M. (2004). Neonatal ethanol exposure produces a hyperalgesia that extends into adolescence, and is associated with increased analgesic and rewarding properties of nicotine in rats. Psychopharmacology, 171, 204-211.
• Barron, S., & Gilbertson, R.* (2005). Neonatal ethanol exposure but not neonatal cocaine selectively reduces specific isolation-induced vocalization waveforms in rates. Behavior Genetics, 35, 93-102.
• Hansen-Trench, L. S.*, & Barron, S. (2005). Effects of neonatal alcohol and/or cocaine exposure on stress in juvenile and adult female rats. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 27, 55-63.
• Gilbertson, R. J.*, & Barron, S. (2005). Neonatal ethanol and nicotine exposure causes locomotor activity changes in preweanling animals. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 81, 54-64.
• Barron, S., White, A., Swartzwelder, A., Bell, R. L., Rodd, Z. A., Slawecki, C. J., Ehlers, C. L., Levin, E. D., Rezvani, A. H., & Spear, L. P. (2005). Adolescent vulnerabilities to chronic alcohol or nicotine exposure: Findings from rodent models. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29(9), 1720-1725.
• Mellow, C. F., Rubin, M. Z., Sultana, R., Barron, S., Littleton, J. M., & Butterfield, D. A. (2007). Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) prevents protein oxidation induced by neonatal ethanol exposure in the hippocampus of young rats. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 31, 887-894.
• Littleton J.M., Barron, S., Nixon, S. J., & Prendergast, M. (2007). Smoking kills alcoholics! Shouldn't we do something about it? Alcohol and Alcoholism, 42(3), 167-173.
• Farook, J. M., Morrell, D. J., Lewis, B., Littleton J.M., & Barron, S. (2007). Topiramate (Topamax) reduces conditioned abstinence behaviors and handling induced convulsions (HIC) after chronic administration of ethanol in Swiss-Webster mice. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 42, 296-300.