Kostrzewa
 |
Richard M. Kostrzewa, PhD |
Education and Professional Background:
Dr. Kostrzewa is professor of Pharmacology. He received his BS (1967) in Chemistry and MS (1967) in Pharmacology from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. He received his Ph.D. (1971) in Pharmacology from the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa, 2005 from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice Poland. Following his post-doctoral training in New Orleans he was appointed to the faculty at Louisiana State University. He joined the faculty in the department of Pharmacology at ETSU in 1978, rising to the rank of Professor in 1984. Dr. Kostrzewa is a world recognized authority in the neuropharmacological aspects of Parkinson Disease and ADHD, with a primary focus on Serotoninergic, histaminergic and dopaminergic systems.
Research Interest:
• Serotoninergics and Histaminergics in Parkinson Disease & ADHD
• Neurotoxins and Neurotoxicity
• Dopamine Receptor Supersensitivity
My principle research interest is on dopamine neurons, their induction of receptor sensitization and transduction into behavioral expression, and the ensuing deleterious or neuroprotective in vivo environ. The process of dopamine receptor supersensitivity is produced in our laboratory by repeated dopamine agonist treatments independent of/or in combination with dopamine denervation. Similarly, we have used dopaminomimetics or dopaminolytics to produce receptor supersensitivity in non-dopaminergic systems, and to determine the effects of different neuronal phenotypes on dopamine receptor phenomena. These processes are studied in the context of animal models of schizophrenia, tardive dyskinesia, and neurodegenerative disorders. Behavioral and neurochemical procedures comprise the major approaches in these studies. By implanting probes in specific brain regions, and by ‘perfusing’ with in vivo microdialysates, we are able to analyze femtomolar extraneuronal levels of dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites in brain, through high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED). Related studies are on the role of serotoninergics in Parkinson’s disease and in hyperactivity. The objective of these series of studies is to increase understanding of neuronal mechanisms that can be engaged to fine-tune drug treatments for specific human neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.
Active Research funding:
These studies have been or are supported by NINDS and Eli Lilly Co.
Selected Publications:
Kostrzewa RM and J Segura-Aguilar (2007) Botulinum neurotoxin: evolution from poison, to research tool – onto medicinal therapeutic and future pharmaceutical panacea. Neurotox. Res. 12, 275-290.
Kostrzewa RM (2008) Neurotoxins, In: New Encyclopedia of Neuroscience (Squire L, T Albright, F Bloom, F Gage and N Spitzer, Eds.) (Elsevier:The Netherlands).
Kostrzewa RM, JP Kostrzewa, R Brown, P Nowak and R Brus (2008) Dopamine receptor supersensitivity: development, mechanisms, presentation, and clinical applicability. Neurotox. Res. 14, 121-128.
Nowak P, A Bortel, J Dąbrowska, I Biedka, G Slomian, W Roczniak, RM Kostrzewa and R Brus (2008) Histamine H3 receptor ligands modulate L-dopa-evoked behavioral responses and L-dopa-derived extracellular dopamine in dopamine-denervated rat striatum. Neurotox. Res. 13 (3,4), 231-240.
Kostrzewa RM, JP Kostrzewa, RA Kostrzewa, P Nowak and R Brus (2008) Pharmacological models of ADHD. J. Neural Transm. 115, 287-298.
Kostrzewa RM, RA Kostrzewa and JP Kostrzewa (2009) Botulinum toxin for restoration of bladder control. The Female Patient 34, 20-23.
Kostrzewa RM (2009) Evolution of neurotoxins: from research modalities to clinical realities. Curr. Protocols in Neuroscience Chapter 1:Unit1.18.
Kostrzewa RM (2009) Modeling tardive dyskinesia: predictive 5-HT2C receptor antagonist treatment, In: The Pathophysiology of Central 5-HT2C Receptors (Di Giovanni G, V Di Matteo and E Esposito, Eds.) (Humana Press: Totowa, NJ).
Nowak P, RA Kostrzewa, D Skaba and RM Kostrzewa (2010) Acute L-DOPA effect on hydroxyl radical- and DOPAC-levels in striatal microdialysates of Parkinsonian rats. Neurotox. Res. 17(3), 299-304.
Kostrzewa RM, L Antkiewicz-Michaluk and F Fornai (2010) Dopaminergic nerves as targets for neurotoxins, In: Neurotoxicology, Target Organ Toxicity Series, 3rd Edition (Harry J and H Tilson, Eds.) (Informa Health Care, New York, NY), pp. 112-137.