Esther Penick

Associate Professor of Biology

Contact 309-341-7431 epenick@knox.edu

Years at Knox: 2005 to present

Education
Ph.D., Cellular and Clinical Neurobiology, 2000, Wayne State University.
Postgraduate study, Biology, 1993-1995, University of Detroit-Mercy.
B.A., Art History, 1993, St. Louis University.

Teaching Interests
Neurobiology

Selected Professional Accomplishments

Honors/Grants
National Research Service Award, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2004-2006. Project Title: Examination of GABAergic input modulation in VTA.

Publications
"Opiates block long-term potentiation of inhibitory synapses." Co-authored with F. S. Nugent and J.A. Kauer. Nature 446 (2007): 1086-1090.

"Recycling Endosomes Supply AMPAR for LTP." Co-authored with M. Park, J. G. Edwards, J. A. Kauer, and M. D. Ehlers. Science 305 (2004): 1972-1975.

"Serotonergic Facilitation of Synaptic Activity in the Developing Rat Prefrontal Cortex." Co-authored with J. C. Beique, L. Mladenovic, and R. Andrade. The Journal of Physiology 556.3 (2004): 739-754.

"Novel Protein Kinase A-Dependent Long-Term Depression of Excitatory Synapses." Co-authored with J. L. Gutlerner, E. M. Snyder, and J. A. Kauer. Neuron 36.5 (2002): 921-931.

"The 5-HT4 Receptor-induced Depolarization in Rat Hippocampal Neurons is Mediated by cAMP but is Independent of Ih." Co-authored with S. Haj-Dahmane, G. Torres, and R. Andrade. Neuroscience Letters 324.1 (2002): 1-4.

"A 5-HT7 Receptor-Mediated Depolarization in the Anterodorsal Thalamus. II. Involvement of the Hyperpolarization-activated Current Ih." Co-authored with R. Andrade. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 297.1 (2001): 403-9.

"A 5-HT7 Receptor-Mediated Depolarization in the Anterodorsal Thalamus. I. Pharmacological Characterization." Co-authored with R. Andrade. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 297.1 (2001): 395-402.

"Calcium-independent Afterdepolarization Regulated by Serotonin in Anterior Thalamus." Co-authored with R. Andrade. The Journal of Neurophysiology 83.5 (2000): 3173-3176.

"Central 5-HT4 Receptors: Electrophysiology." Coauthored with R. Andrade and S. Haj-Dahmane. 5-HT4 receptors in the Brain and Periphery. Edited by R. M. Eglen, 1998.

Presentations
"Acute Effects of 17-beta estradiol on the Nucleus Accumbens in Young Rats." Abstract, Society for Neuroscience 36th annual meeting, San Diego, California, 2010.

"Menthol Induced Hypoxicischemic Neuroprotection: A Potential Role for TRPM8 in Acute Cerebral Ischemia," With Munoz, M.L., Barks, J.D., Poster, Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., 2008.