Lane J. Wallace, Ph.D.

Professor
College of Pharmacy

Contact Information
532 Parks Hall
500 W. 12th Avenue
Columbus, OH  43210
PHONE: (614) 292-9917
FAX: (614) 292-9083
E-MAIL: Wallace.8@osu.edu

Link to NLM PubMed publications list for Lane J. Wallace (last 10 years)

Research Area:

Understanding the mechanisms by which brain function is negatively impacted by neurodegenerative diseases and by drug abuse.  I hope that a better understanding of these mechanisms will provide clues for ways to develop better therapies.

Current Research:

Some of my research involves laboratory work.  This activity currently focuses on: (1) the influence of environment on effects of drugs such as amphetamine and cocaine, (2) changes in brain chemistry induced by amphetamine and cocaine in the nucleus accumbens and striatal areas of the brain, and (3) mechanism by which nerves store the neurotransmitter dopamine.  Other aspects of my research involve computer modeling.  The goal of the computer work is to develop a realistic model of dopaminergic synapses which will be used to (1) accurately describe how much dopamine is actually used to communicate between nerves and how much is stored in a reserve, (2) to suggest possible changes in synaptic structure that account for the observed effects of drugs of abuse on the dopaminergic systems of the brain, and (3) to estimate conditions under which oxidation of dopamine that escapes storage might lead to destruction of the dopaminergic nerve terminal.

As of summer of 2003, most of my time is spent on the computational research interest.  The major project is development of a model of the dopaminergic varicosity in the dorsal striatum.  The first goal is to establish a model with an accurate number of dopamine molecules and transporters and an accurate rate of transporter activity, synthetic activity, metabolizing activity, and exocytotic rate.  The second goal is to use this model to provide a comprehensive picture of the dopaminergc varicosity when different drugs are present in the brain.  The third goal is to provide a picture of the changes occurring following exposure to a toxic regimen of amphetamine.  The laboratory portion of my research is focusing on potential mechanisms by which toxic amphetamine regimens cause destruction of dopaminergic nerve terminals.