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Esther Penick

Chair & Associate Professor of Neuroscience; Associate Professor of Biology

Esther Penick

Meet Professor Penick

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

Knox Faculty Research / Creative Work Grant: Estrogen alters synaptic transmission in the Nucleus Accumbens via the GPR30 estrogen receptor, 2014.
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.