Peter G. Smith, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Nerves regulate function and structure of peripheral cells. Target cells in turn provide molecular signals that govern the quantity and type of innervation they receive. Our research examines this interplay between nerve and target and the factors that govern neuronal growth and degeneration.  We are especially interested in how this relationship is affected by gonadal steroid hormones such as estrogen.  Ongoing projects examine mechanisms and consequences of neuroplasticity in peripheral tissues including: reorganization of cardiac innervation following myocardial infarction, which may contribute to sudden cardiac death; estrogen-induced remodeling of innervation of the reproductive tract; mechanisms by which nerve projections are pruned under normal and pathophysiological conditions; and the role of estrogen in the etiology of female pain syndromes.

Recent Publications

Hasan, W., Zhang, R. Liu, M., Warn, J.D., and Smith, P.G. (2000) Coordinate expression of NGF mRNA and alpha-smooth muscle actin in cutaneous wound tissue of developing and adult rats. Cell and Tissue Research, 300: 97-109.

Steinle,J.J., Krizsan-Agbas, D., and Smith, P.G. (2000) Regional regulation of choroidal blood flow by autonomic innervation in the rat. American Journal of Physiology 279: R202-R209.

Zoubina, E.V. and Smith, P.G. (2000) Axonal degeneration and regeneration in rat uterus
during the estrous cycle. Autonomic Neuroscience, 84:176-185.

Steinle, J.J. and Smith, P.G. (2000) Presynaptic muscarinic facilitation of parasympathetic neurotransmission following sympathectomy in the rat choroid. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 294: 627-632.

Hasan, W. and Smith, P.G. (2000) Nerve Growth Factor expression in parasympathetic neurons: regulation by sympathetic innervation. European Journal of Neuroscience, 12: 4391-4397.

Zoubina, E.V. and Smith, P.G. (2001) Sympathetic hyperinnervation of the uterus in the estrogen receptor knock-out mouse. Neuroscience, 103: 237-244.

Zoubina, E.V., Mize, A.L., Alper, R.H. and Smith, P.G. (2001) Acute and chronic estrogen supplementation decreases uterine sympathetic innervation in ovariectomized adult virgin rats. Histology and Histopathology, 16: 989-996.

Smith, P.G., Krizsan-Agbas, D., Warn, J.D., Steinle, J.J., and Hasan, W. (2002) Modulation of parasympathetic neuron phenotype and function by sympathetic innervation. Autonomic Neuroscience, 93: 33-42.

Steinle, J.J., Pierce, J.D., Clancy, R.L, and Smith, P.G. (2002) Increased ocular blood vessel frequencies and sizes following chronic sympathectomy in rat. Experimental Eye Research, 74: 761-768.

Smith, P.G. and Liu, M. (2002) Impaired Cutaneous Wound Healing after Sensory Denervation in Developing Rats: Effects on Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis. Cell and Tissue Research, 307: 281-291.

Zoubina, E.V. and Smith, P.G. (2002) Distributions of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in sympathetic neurons of female rats: enriched expression by uterine innervation. Journal of Neurobiology, 52: 14-23.

Steinle, J.J. and Smith, P.G. (2002) Role of adrenergic receptors in vascular remodeling of the rat choroid. British Journal of Pharmacology, 136: 730-734.

Krizsan-Agbas, D. and Smith, P.G. (2002) Estrogen modulates myometrium-induced sympathetic neurite formation through actions on target and ganglion. Neuroscience, in press.

Zoubina, E. and Smith, P.G. (2002) Expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta by sympathetic ganglion neurons projecting to the proximal urethra of female rats. Journal of Urology, in press.

Zoubina, E. and Smith, P.G. (2003) Expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta by sympathetic
ganglion neurons projecting to the proximal urethra of female rats. Journal of Urology, 169: 382-385.

Hasan, W., Pedchenko, T., Krizsan-Agbas, D., Baum, L. and Smith, P.G. (2003) Sympathetic Neurons
Synthesize and Secrete Pro-Nerve Growth Factor Protein. Journal of Neurobiology, 57: 38-53.

Krizsan-Agbas, D., Pedchencko, T., Hasan, W., and Smith, P.G. (2003) Estrogen regulates sympathetic
neurite outgrowth by modulating brain derived neurotrophic factor synthesis and release by the rodent
uterus.  European Journal of Neuroscience, 18: 2760-2768.

Steinle, J.J. and Smith, P.G. (2003) Sensory but not parasympathetic nerves are required for ocular vascular
neogenesis after sympathetic denervation.  Autonomic Neuroscience, 109, 34-41.

Blacklock, A.D. and Smith, P.G. (2003) Estrogen increases sensory nociceptor innervation of rat mammary
gland.  Journal of Neurobiology, 59: 192-204.

Ting, A.Y., Blacklock, A.D. and Smith, P.G. (2004) Estrogen regulates vaginal sensory and autonomic nerve
density in the rat.  Biology of Reproduction, 71:1397-1404.

Blacklock, A.D., Cauveren, J.A. and Smith, P.G. (2004) Estrogen selectively increases sensory nociceptor
innervation of arterioles in the female rat.  Brain Research, 1018: 55-65.

Smith, P. G, and Bradshaw, S.  (2004) Innervation of the proximal urethra of ovariectomized and estrogen
treated female rats.  Histology and Histopathology, 19: 1109-1116.

Hasan, W., Smith, H. J., Ting, A. Y., and Smith, P. G.(2005) Estrogen alters nerve growth factor receptor
expression within sympathetic neurons. Journal of Neurobiology, 65: 192-204.

Blacklock, A.D., Johnson, M.S., and Smith, P.G. (2005) Estrogen increases sensory nociceptor
neuritogenesis by a direct, nerve growth factor-independent mechanism. European Journal of
Neuroscience, 21: 2320-2328.

Hasan, W., Jama, A., Donohue, T., Wernli, G., Onyszchuk, G., Al-Hafez, B., Bilgen, M. and Smith, P.G.
Sympathetic hyperinnervation and inflammatory cell NGF synthesis following myocardial infarction in rats.
Brain Research, in press.

Smith, P.G.  Neural Control of the Pupil.  Encyclopedic Reference for Neuroscience, in press.