Rita J. Valentino, Ph.D.

Description of Research Expertise

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Mechanisms of stress-induced plasticity; MechanismS of action of pscyhotherapeutic drugs; Central regulation of visceral functions; Functions of monoamine systems.

RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
electrophysiology, functional neuroanatomy, behavior, pharmacology

RESEARCH SUMMARY
I am investigating how stress leads to psychiatric and medical disorders. Specifically, my research centers on the stress-related neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). CRF targets and alters the activity of brain monoamine systems that have been implicated in depression and anxiety. We are studying how exposure to repeated stress or to a single severe stress produces long-term changes in the response of these neuronal systems to subsequent stressors. These changes may underlie some of the symptoms of a variety of stress-related medical and behavioral disorders, including attention disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and functional bowel disorders.

An important aspect of my work involves treatment intervention, or determining how to manipulate the effects of CRF using drugs to prevent the long-term impact of severe or repeated stress.

We are also mapping out and studying neuronal circuits that link the brain and gastrointestinal tract. Using neuroanatomical and electrophysiological approaches we identified a neural circuit that is positioned to coregulate pelvic (bladder and colon) functions with cortical activity and thereby may underlie the comorbidity of colonic and psychiatric disorders. The pharmacological manipulation of components of this circuit may prove useful in treating incontinence as well as pelvic visceral disorders that are often accompanied by anxiety and depression.