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Associate Research Professor, Research Series
Associate Research Professor, Research Series - Basic Medical Sciences
Faculty
Basic Medical Sciences
Education
- DSc: Physiology, Moscow State University, 1992
- PhD: Biology, Moscow State University, 1977
Publications
- Wang J, Bastle RM & Nikulina EM (2017). VTA BDNF enhances social stress-induced compulsive cocaine bingeing. Oncotarget. Vol. 8(4), 5668-5669., 01/2017 - Article, Refereed Journal -
- Wang J, Bastle RM, Bass CE, Hammer RP Jr, Neisewander JL & Nikulina EM (2016). Overexpression of BDNF in the ventral tegmental area enhances binge cocaine self-administration in rats exposed to repeated social defeat. Neuropharmacology. Vol. 109, 121-130., 10/2016 - Article, Refereed Journal -
- Hoffman AN, Parga A, Paode PR, Watterson LR, Nikulina EM, Hammer RP Jr & Conrad CD (2015). Chronic stress enhanced fear memories are associated with increased amygdala zif268 mRNA expression and are resistant to reconsolidation. Neurobiol Learn Mem. Vol. 120, 61-68., 04/2015 - Article, Refereed Journal -
- Johnston CE, Herschel DJ, Lasek AW, Hammer RP Jr & Nikulina EM (2015). Knockdown of ventral tegmental area mu-opioid receptors in rats prevents effects of social defeat stress: implications for amphetamine cross-sensitization, social avoidance, weight regulation and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Neuropharmacology. Vol. 89, 325-334., 02/2015 - Article, Refereed Journal -
- Wang J, Bina RW, Wingard JC, Terwilliger EF, Hammer RP Jr & Nikulina EM (2014). Knockdown of tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens shell prevents intermittent social defeat stress-induced cross-sensitization to amphetamine in rats. Eur J Neurosci. Vol. 39(6), 1009-1017., 03/2014 - Article, Refereed Journal -
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Research Summary
My research is to study the mechanisms of social stress-induced prolonged sensitivity to psychostimulants. Social defeat stress in rats is a relevant model to investigate the neurochemical mechanisms related to humans. We have identified transient expression of functional mu-opioid receptors in the ventral tegmental area that increases the induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which triggers the transition to long-lasting drug cross-sensitization.