Jack A. Boulant, Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Physiology & Cell Biology

Degree: University of Rochester
Postdoctoral Training: Yale University

Contact Information
201 Hamilton Hall
1645 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH  43210
PHONE: 614-292-7407
FAX: 614-292-4888
E-MAIL: boulant.1@osu.edu

Link to NLM PubMed publications list for Jack A. Boulant (last 10 years)

Research Area:

Hypothalamic control of body temperature and fever; neural interactions between regulatory systems; neural control of circadian rhythms. 

Current Research:

Within the brain, the hypothalamus controls several regulatory systems including the control of body temperature, blood pressure, body water, feeding and reproductive activity.  Our previous studies show that some hypothalamic neurons sense changes in temperature, osmotic pressure, glucose and reproductive hormones.  These neurons can be affected by fever-producing agents, such as interleukin-1 and prostaglandins.  In addition, some neurons show circadian changes in their firing rates and temperature sensitivities.

Current experiments study the sensory and integrative properties of these neurons, in vitro, in hypothalamic tissue slices. 
Microelectrodes record the intracellular or extracellular activity of individual neurons in rat brain slices.

These experiments characterize neurons according to their responses to temperature and various perfusion media which test each neuron's sensitivity to osmotic pressure, glucose, reproductive hormones, fever-producing agents, neurotransmitters, as well as substances affecting cyclic AMP and the synaptic connections between nearby neurons.  These studies provide an understanding of how hypothalamic networks function in a host of regulatory systems necessary for homeostasis.  They also provide cellular explanations for the role of these neurons during thermal stress, exercise, fever, dehydration, malnutrition, menopausal hot flashes, and drug applications.

Techniques: 

• Extracellular and intracellular (whole-cell) recordings, including voltage clamp techniques
• Three-Dimensional morphological reconstruction of recorded retrogradely-labeled neurons