Research Interests
Epilepsy, Neurobiology, Synaptic Transmission, Ion Channels, Neuroendocrinology, Cellular Excitability
Research Description
My laboratory explores research questions at the intersection of neuroscience, physiology, and endocrinology. We are particularly interested in the neural mechanisms linking epilepsy and comorbid reproductive endocrine disorders. Both women and men with temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common form of epilepsy seen in adults, show higher rates of reproductive endocrine disorders in comparison with the general population. Importantly, reproductive endocrine problems can reciprocally impact the severity of epilepsy seen and influence the choice and efficacy of anti-seizure treatments. We aim to understand how temporal lobe seizures impact the hypothalamic control of reproduction, and how altered hypothalamic function reciprocally affects seizure activity and epilepsy severity. Other ongoing areas of research in the lab include exploring the roles that astrocytes play in modulating synaptic transmission, and building on our recent finding of a male-specific reduction in social motivation in mice that lack the diazepam binding inhibitor peptide. We use several research techniques including patch clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics/chemogenetics, stereotactic surgeries, electroencephalography (EEG), viral vectors, neuroanatomy, and behavioral assays.
Education
A.B. - Smith College, Northampton, MA
Ph.D. - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Postdoc - Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Grants
National Institutes of Health
Whitehall Foundation
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
Brain Research Foundation
Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy
Awards and Honors
Brain Research Foundation Fay/Frank Seed Grant 2016-2018
Whitehall Foundation Research Grant, 2016-2019
NARSAD Young Investigator Grant, 2016-2018
Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) Taking Flight Award, 2014
McCormick Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford School of Medicine, 2012
Epilepsy Foundation Fellowship, 2011
Endocrine Scholars Award, 2008
Peach Outstanding Graduate Student Award, University of Virginia, 2006
NIH National Research Service Award, 2005-2007
Fulbright Fellowship to Italy, 2001
Beckman Foundation Science Scholarship, 2000
Courses Taught
MCB 401 - Cell and Membrane Physiology
Additional Campus Affiliations
Beckman Institute
Neuroscience Program
External Links
Recent Publications
Adams, C., DeFazio, R. A., Christian, C., Milescu, L. S., Schnell, S., & Moenter, S. M. (2019). Changes in Both Neuron Intrinsic Properties and Neurotransmission Are Needed to Drive the Increase in GnRH Neuron Firing Rate during Estradiol-Positive Feedback. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 39(11), 2091-2101. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2880-18.2019
Ujjainwala, A. L., Courtney, C. D., Wojnowski, N. M., Rhodes, J. S., & Christian, C. (Accepted/In press). Differential impacts on multiple forms of spatial and contextual memory in diazepam binding inhibitor knockout mice. Journal of Neuroscience Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24393
Li, J., Robare, J. A., Gao, L., Ghane, M. A., Flaws, J. A., Nelson, M. E., & Christian, C. A. (2018). Dynamic and Sex-Specific Changes in Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neuron Activity and Excitability in a Mouse Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. eNeuro, 5(5). https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0273-18.2018
Courtney, C. D., & Christian, C. (2018). Subregion-Specific Impacts of Genetic Loss of Diazepam Binding Inhibitor on Synaptic Inhibition in the Murine Hippocampus. Neuroscience, 388, 128-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.07.012
Ujjainwala, A. L., Courtney, C. D., Rhoads, S. G., Rhodes, J. S., & Christian, C. (2018). Genetic loss of diazepam binding inhibitor in mice impairs social interest. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 17(5), [e12442]. https://doi.org/10.1111/gbb.12442
