Margaret E. Rice, PhD

Dr. Rice is Professor of Neurosurgery and Physiology and Neuroscience. Her laboratory investigates methods of extrasynaptic communication (volume transmission) between neurons via the neurotransmitter dopamine. In addition, she actively investigates the regulation of antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione, two molecules that actively protect neurons and glia from oxidative stress. Dopamine transmission and oxidative stress both contribute to neuronal cell death in the striatum, contributing to the development of Parkinson's Disease.

Publications

• Chen BT, Moran KA, Avshalumov MV, Rice ME. Limited regulation of somatodendritic dopamine release by voltage-sensitive Ca channels contrasted with strong regulation of axonal dopamine release. J Neurochem 96:645-655, 2006.
  
  
• Bao L, Avshalumov MV, Rice ME. Inhibition causes striatal dopamine release suppression and medium spiny neuron depolarization via H2O2 elevation, not ATP depletion. J Neurosci 25:10029-10040, 2005.
  
  
• Avshalumov MV, Chen BT, Koos T, Tepper JM, Rice ME. Endogenous hydrogen peroxide regulates the excitability of midbrain dopamine neurons via ATP-sensitive potassium channels. J Neurosci 25:4222-4231, 2005.