Associate Professor
Psychiatry
Anatomy and Neurobiology
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The broad aim of my research is to understand control of excitation and inhibition by neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. This is an important goal because neurotransmitter actions can be double-edged, underlying normal neurotransmission on the one hand and neurotoxicity on the other. In one project we are exploring the cellular and synaptic homeostatic response to physiological and pathophysiological depolarization. We find that the nervous system limits glutamate functioning but permits continued GABA functioning during and following excessive depolarization. These mechanisms likely help limit excitotoxicity during seizures or ischemia. Our findings have led us into studies of the factors controlling action potential fidelity in the hippocampus and into studies examining presynaptically silent synapses, synapses that fail to release neurotransmitter. In a second project, we are investigating the mechanisms by which chronic electrical inhibition causes death of immature neurons. This project may be important for understanding how ethanol and other drugs damage the immature nervous system. Finally, we are involved in a collaborative effort to understand the mechanisms by which endogenous neuroactive steroids directly modulate GABA and glutamate receptor function. For all of these studies we use electrophysiological, molecular, and imaging techniques applied to simple in vitro systems of neurons in culture and to intact brain slices, as well as to heterologous expression systems.
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Research Publications
Moulder KL, Jiang X, Taylor AA, Shin W, Gillis KD, Mennerick S (2007 Sep 12). Vesicle pool heterogeneity at hippocampal glutamate and GABA synapses. J Neurosci. 27 (37): 9846-54. Full Article >
Meeks JP, Mennerick S (2007). Astrocyte membrane responses and potassium accumulation during neuronal activity. Hippocampus. 17 (11): 1100-8. Full Article >
Eisenman LN, Shu HJ, Akk G, Wang C, Manion BD, Kress GJ, Evers AS, Steinbach JH, Covey DF, Zorumski CF, Mennerick S (2007 Apr). Anticonvulsant and anesthetic effects of a fluorescent neurosteroid analog activated by visible light. Nat Neurosci. 10 (4): 523-30. Full Article >
Moulder KL, Jiang X, Taylor AA, Olney JW, Mennerick S (2006 Jun 14). Physiological activity depresses synaptic function through an effect on vesicle priming. J Neurosci. 26 (24): 6618-26. Full Article >
Cirrito JR, Yamada KA, Finn MB, Sloviter RS, Bales KR, May PC, Schoepp DD, Paul SM, Mennerick S, Holtzman DM (2005 Dec 22). Synaptic activity regulates interstitial fluid amyloid-beta levels in vivo. Neuron. 48 (6): 913-22. Full Article >
Akk G, Shu HJ, Wang C, Steinbach JH, Zorumski CF, Covey DF, Mennerick S (2005 Dec 14). Neurosteroid access to the GABAA receptor. J Neurosci. 25 (50): 11605-13. Full Article >
Contact Info
Steve Mennerick, Ph.D.
Office Location: G13 Biotechnology Bldg.
Office Phone: 314-747-2988
Lab Phone: 314-362-8658
Campus Box: 8134
Fax: 314-747-2983
menneris@psychiatry.wustl.edu
http://www.psychiatry.wustl.edu/c/Faculty/ResearchSummaries/MennerickS.aspx
