Advisor: Andrew H. Bass Start Date:
Fall 2005
I am interested in the molecular mechanisms of hormone action on the nervous system that elicit physiological and behavioral changes. My work in the Bass Lab focuses on investigating the role of calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels in auditory physiology of the plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus) with specific interest in identifying the molecular mechanisms of seasonal steroid-dependent auditory plasticity in these fish. Male midshipman nest in intertidal waters along the Pacific Coast of North America and produce vocalizations to attract females to the nest. Previous work has shown that female midshipman exhibit seasonal improvements in temporal coding of the primary frequency components of the male call (Sisneros and Bass, 2003). This sensory plasticity can be induced by treatment with steroid hormones (Sisneros et al. 2004). BK channels have been shown to play a critical role in electrical tuning of auditory hair cells and frequency coding in auditory organs. The expression and alternative splicing of the gene that codes for these channels are regulated by steroid hormones. I combine neurophysiology with molecular and endocrine tools to examine seasonal and steroid-dependent changes in expression of these channels in the auditory system of the midshipman as well as their role in auditory physiology.
