Sam J. Enna, Ph.D.

Professor
University of Missouri Kansas City, 1970

Research Focus

Brain neurotransmitter receptors, especially those associated with amino acid substances.

Research Description

Research in my laboratory is aimed at defining the molecular, biochemical and pharmacological properties of brain neurotransmitter receptors, in particular those associated with amino acid neurotransmitter substances. Recent work has been aimed at examining the regulation, expression and function of ÿ-aminobutyric acid B (GABA B) receptors in brain. Besides providing new information on the role of this receptor in the response to physiological and pharmacological manipulations, these studies have provided new insights into the genomic and nongenoic regulation of this unusual, heterodimeric, G protein-coupled receptor.  Current studies include an examination of GABA-B receptor subunit expression in human brain autopsy material obtained from individuals who had suffered from psychiatric disorders.

Laboratory techniques include in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, analysis of cyclic AMP production, Western blotting, solution hybridization nucleus protection assay, and behavioral analyses.

Selected Recent Publications

Enna, S.J. GABAB Receptors. In: Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry (W. Lennarz and M. Daniel Lane, eds.), Vol. 2, Elsevier, pp. 167-170, 2004.

Enna, S.J., and Bowery, N.G. GABAB Receptor Alterations as Indicators of Physiological and Pharmacological Function. Biochem. Pharmacol., 2004, 68:1541-1548.

Sands S.A, Reisman, S.A., and Enna, S.J. Effect of Antidepressants on GABAB Receptor Function and Subunit Expression in Rat Hippocampus. Biochem. Pharmacol., 2004, 68:1489-1495.

Bowery, N., Enna, S.J., and Olsen, R. Six Decades of GABA. Biochem. Pharmacol., 2004, 68:1477-1478.

McCarson, K.E., Duric, V., Reisman, S.A., Winter, M., and Enna, S.J. GABAB Receptor Function and Subunit Expression in the Rat Spinal Cord as Indicators of Stress and the Antinociceptive Response to Antidepressants. Brain Res., 2006, 1068:109-117.

McCarson, K.E., Ralya, A., Reisman, S.A., and Enna, S.J. Amitriptyline Prevents Thermal Hyperalgesia and Modifications in Rat Spinal Cord GABAB Receptor Expression and Function in an Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain. Biochem. Pharmacol., 2005, 71:196-202.

Enna, S.J., and McCarson, K.E. The Role of GABA in the Mediation and Perception of Pain. In: GABA, Advances in Pharmacology, Vol. 54, Academic Press, pp. 1-27, 2006.

Enna, S.J., Reisman, S.A., and Stanford, J.A. CGP56999A, a GABAB Receptor Antagonist, Enhances Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Attenuates Dopamine Depletion in the Rat Corpus Striatum following a 6-Hydroxydopamine Lesion of the Nigrostriatal Pathway. Neurosci. Lett., 2006, 406:102-106.

Enna, S.J. The GABA Receptors. In: The GABA Receptors, 3rd Edition (S.J. Enna and Hanns Mohler, eds), Humana Press, Clifton, New Jersey, pp. 1-21, 2007.

Enna, S.J., Fuerstein, G., Piette, J., and Williams, M. Fifty Years of Biochemical Pharmacology: The Discipline and the Journal. Biochem. Pharmacol., 2008, 76:1-10.

Enna, S.J. and Williams, M. Challenges in the Search for Drugs to Treat Central Nervous System Disorders. J. Pharmacol. Exptl. Therap., in press.

Editorial and Administrative Staff

Lynn Lecount-Clark: Managing Editor
llecount@kumc.edu

Cindy Martin: Coordinator
cmartin2@kumc.edu

Leigh Ann Arbuckle: Senior Coordinator
larbuckle@kumc.edu