Elisabeth Van Bockstaele, Ph.D.

Contact Dr. Van Bockstaele

900 Walnut St.
Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-503-1245
215-503-9238 fax

Graduate School
Ph.D., New York University, New York, NY

University Appointment
Professor, Department of Neuroscience

Research and Clinical Interests
My scientific research is aimed at understanding the role of norepinephrine in stress-related illness, particularly psychiatric disorders. My research involves mostly preclinical studies examining the cellular adaptations of noradrenergic circuits to drugs of abuse (opiates, cannabinoids and psychostimulants) but more recently has expanded to include clinical investigations. Ongoing research efforts in my laboratory are aimed at developing novel opiate detoxification approaches for counteracting norepinephrine overactivity following withdrawal from opiates as well as elucidating the impact of stress on vulnerability to substance abuse. These studies include an examination of receptor trafficking and signaling pathways in monoaminergic nuclei as well as gender differences in drug-induced anxiety. My research approach is collaborative and I routinely work with other investigators in the pursuit of knowledge using a multi-disciplinary scientific approach.

Publications

Most recent Peer-reviewed Publications

1. Cellular adaptations of dorsal raphe serotonin neurons associated with the development of active coping in response to social stress
2. Sex-biased stress signaling: The corticotropin-releasing factor receptor as a model
3. Increased vulnerability of the brain norepinephrine system of females to corticotropin-releasing factor overexpression
4. Ultrastructural analysis of rat ventrolateral periaqueductal gray projections to the A5 cell group
5. Severe stress switches CRF action in the nucleus accumbens from appetitive to aversive
6. Stress-induced sensitization of cortical adrenergic receptors following a history of cannabinoid exposure
7. Gene delivery of antioxidant enzymes inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120-induced expression of caspases
8. Cannabinoid modulation of noradrenergic circuits: Implications for psychiatric disorders
9. Cannabinoid receptor signaling and modulation of monoamines: Implications for psychiatric and neurological disorders
10. Serotonergic innervation and serotonin receptor expression of NPY-producing neurons in the rat lateral and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei
11. HIV-1 Tat neurotoxicity: A model of acute and chronic exposure, and neuroprotection by gene delivery of antioxidant enzymes
12. Intracisternal rSV40 administration provides effective pan-CNS transgene expression
13. Molecular and cellular sex differences at the intersection of stress and arousal
14. Opiate agonist-induced re-distribution of Wntless, a mu-opioid receptor interacting protein, in rat striatal neurons
15. An evaluation of neuroplasticity and behavior after deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens in an animal model of depression
16. HIV-1 gp120 upregulates matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in a rat model of HIV encephalopathy
17. Bone marrow-derived cells migrate to line the vessels of the CNS: Opportunities for gene delivery to CNS vasculature
18. Direct intra-accumbal infusion of a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist abolishes WIN 55,212-2-induced aversion
19. Collateralized dorsal raphe nucleus projections: A mechanism for the integration of diverse functions during stress
20. Amygdalar peptidergic circuits regulating noradrenergic locus coeruleus neurons: Linking limbic and arousal centers

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