Katherine Brimblecombe
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
I have been a member or Prof. Cragg's group since starting my DPhil in 2010, and when I graduated in 2013 I extended my stay as a post-doctoral researcher! I predominantly use fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FCV) to detect monoamines, especially dopamine with sub-second time resolution in rodent ex-vivo brain slices. To date, my work has focused on investigating the mechanisms controlling dopamine release between striatal sub-territories.
I am particularly interested in how local control of dopamine release differs between striatal sub-territories and how these differences correspond to healthy and disease states of the brain.
I am currently investigating the dynamic relationship between Ca2+ and dopamine release in the dorsal and ventral striatum, which we hope will provide insights into the eitiology and potential treatment options for Parkinson's disease. I have also investigated how dopamine transmission varies between the illusive striosome and matrix sub-territories.
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The Striosome and Matrix Compartments of the Striatum: A Path through the Labyrinth from Neurochemistry toward Function.
Brimblecombe KR. and Cragg SJ., (2017), ACS Chem Neurosci, 8, 235 - 242
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LRRK2 BAC transgenic rats develop progressive, L-DOPA-responsive motor impairment, and deficits in dopamine circuit function.
Sloan M. et al, (2016), Hum Mol Genet, 25, 951 - 963
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Transcription factors FOXA1 and FOXA2 maintain dopaminergic neuronal properties and control feeding behavior in adult mice.
Pristerà A. et al, (2015), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 112, E4929 - E4938
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Substance P Weights Striatal Dopamine Transmission Differently within the Striosome-Matrix Axis.
Brimblecombe KR. and Cragg SJ., (2015), J Neurosci, 35, 9017 - 9023
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Gating of dopamine transmission by calcium and axonal N-, Q-, T- and L-type voltage-gated calcium channels differs between striatal domains.
Brimblecombe KR. et al, (2015), J Physiol, 593, 929 - 946