Michael J. Zigmond Professor
PhD, University of Chicago, 1968
Email: zigmond@pitt.edu
Research Interest:
Michael Zigmond and his research group are interested in neuronal cell death, survival, and adaptation with particular attention paid to aging and to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. Much of the current work focuses on three questions: First, what underlies the loss of dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease and how do trophic factors (e.g., GDNF, BDNF, and IGF1) and exercise act to decrease the vulnerability of these neurons? Second, what is the relation between dopamine neuron loss and the motoric deficits that occur in normal aging? Third, how does prior exposure to a mild stressor reduce the vulnerability of dopamine neurons to a subsequent severe stress? These studies are being extended through collaborations to include MPTP-treated monkeys (with Dr. Judy Cameron) and patients (with Robert Moore and Anthony DeLitto). Of particular interest with regard to these questions is the role of signaling cascades (e.g., Ras/ERK, PI3K/Akt) and antioxidant capacity in increasing neuronal resiliency. Ongoing studies involve cell lines, primary cultures of dopamine neurons, and animal models, and make use of cell and molecular biology, genomic and proteomic analyses, immunocytochemistry, microdialysis, and behavioral analysis. Zigmond and his labmates believe that these studies will provide basic information on the neurobiology of synaptic transmission, as well as insights into key aspects of aging and neurodegenerative disease.
Recent Publication
Tillerson J, Cohen A, Zigmond MJ, Schallert T. Forced limb use effects on the behavioral and neurochemical effects of 6-hydroxydopamine. J. Neuroscience, 21:4427-35, 2001.
Ding, Y.M., Jaumotte, J.D., Signore, A.P. and Zigmond, M.J. Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on primary cultures of substantia nigra: Specific damage to dopamine neurons and the impact of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. J. Neurochem, 89: 776-787, 2004.
Smith, A.D., Kozlowski, D.A., Bohn, M.C. and Zigmond, M.J. Effect of AdGDNF on dopaminergic neurotransmission in the striatum of 6-OHDA-treated rats. Exp. Neurol, 193: 420-426, 2005.
Cavanaugh, J.E., Jaumotte, J.D., Lakoski, J.M. and Zigmond, M.J. The role of ERK1/2 and ERK5 in dopaminergic cell survival under basal conditions and in response to oxidative stress. J Neurosci Res. 84: 1367-75, 2006
Leak, R.K., Liou, A.K.F. and Zigmond, M.J. Effect of sublethal 6-hydroxydopamine on the response to subsequent oxidative stress in dopaminergic cells: evidence for preconditioning. J Neurochem. 99: 1151-1163, 2006
