Nachum Dafny, PhD

Mechanisms Of Pain, Pain Suppression, Stress And Drugs Of Abuse

The main focus of this laboratory is on two topics: pain mechanisms, including pain suppression and electro-acupuncture, and drug abuse mechanisms, involving morphine, cocaine, amphetamines, Ritalin and ecstasy. Behavioral, neurophysiological, pharmacological, endocrinological, and immunological procedures are used, primarily with the rodent as an animal model. The electrophysiological procedures used include single cell and evoked potential recording, electroencephalography (EEG), and brain stimulation. Computerized techniques are used for monitoring animal behavior.

The laboratory is also involved with several other studies. These concern connections between the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems; brain regulation of hormonal secretion; mechanisms of obesity and satiety; and the electrophysiology of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, and of peptides, with clinical application to Parkinsonism, Huntington’s chorea, and Tardive dyskinesia. In addition, we conduct collaborative immunological and endocrinologic studies with other groups in the Texas Medical Center.

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