Associate Professor 212C McAlester Hall (573) 884-8141 millerden@missouri.edu Lab: Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory

My research is in neuropsychopharmacology, with an interest in the development of pharmacotherapies for drug addiction and neurodegnerative disorders.

Our current research is investigating novel targets for treatments for methamphetamine abuse and addiction. We have recently determined that ligands for sigma receptors can alter methamphetamine's neurochemical and behavioral properties. We are conducting collaborative research to understand this interaction better. A second recent project has determined the polyphenols, such as apocynin, can also diminish methamphetamine's effects. Our research is investigating how polyphenols might work with stimulants and how they might be protective against drug-induced neurotoxicity.

A rat running in the automated activity monitor

My second research focus has been on the causes of and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Our research has determined that environmental exposure to “heavy” metals, such as cadmium, can cause a degeneration of striatal dopamine neurons (Miller, Dopheide et al., 2005), which might contribute to the development of Parkinson disease and schizophrenia. Ongoing research is investigating how drugs of abuse, such as tobacco, that inherently contain “heavy” metals may contribute to cadmium exposure and, subsequently, neurodegenerative disorders.

Finally, my laboratory has established a collaborative research program to investigate the development and progression of Alzheimer disease and stroke. Collectively, we have investigated how ethanol, polyphenols and lobeline can be neuroprotective and prevent behavioral impairments in rodent disease models (Wang et al., 2005, 2007).

Dennis Miller and Matt Will discuss a new research project (January, 2009)

Wang, Q., Sun, A.Y., Simonyi, A., Miller, D.K., Smith, R.E., Luchtefeld, R.G., Korthuis, R.J. & Sun, G.Y. (2009). Oral administration of grape polyphenol extract ameliorates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal damage and behavioral deficits in gerbils: comparison of pre- and post-ischemic administration Journal of Nutrional Biochemistry 20(5), 367-377

Rodvelt, K. R., Schachtman, T. R., Kracke, G. R. & Miller, D. K. (2008). NMDA receptor blockade augmented nicotine-evoked dopamine release from rat prefrontal cortex slices. Neuroscience Letters, 440(3), 319-322

Miller, D. K., Lever, J. R., Rodvelt, K. R., Baskett, J. A., Will, M. J., & Kracke, G. R. (2007). Lobeline, a potential pharmacotherapy for drug addiction, binds to μ opioid receptors and diminishes the effects of opioid receptor agonists. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 89, 282-291.

Wang, Q., Sun, A. Y., Simonyi, A., Kalogeris, T. J., Miller, D. K., Sun, G. Y., & Korthius, R. J. (2007). Ethanol preconditioning protects against ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain damage: Role of NADPH oxidase-derived ROS. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 43, 1048-1060.