Nonna Otmakhova, Ph.D.       Research Scientist, Biology

RESEARCH  INTERESTS

The role of dopamine (and other neuromodulators) in hippocampal synaptic function and plasticity, implications for the information processing under normal and pathological conditions (schizophrenia, alcohol and drug addiction).

MAJOR FIELDS OF TRAINING AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

 ‘In vitro’ and ‘in vivo’ electrophysiology (EEG, field potential, and intracellular recording).
 Stereotaxic surgery on small laboratory animals (mice, rats, rabbits).
 Pharmacology in electrophysiological and behavioral studies in animals.
 Animal behavioral methods (place conditioning, passive and active avoidance, positive
 reinforcement learning, open field, hot plate, Porsolt's forced swimming test, elevated plus-maze, dopamine stereotypies).
 Animal models of epilepsy, depression, anxiety, alcohol, and drug addiction.
 Basics of computer programming.
 Basics of histology.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS, HONORS

1993-pres. Society for Neuroscience, regular member
1997 –1999  1F32 MH11720-01 NIH INRSA Award.
1997 - 1999   NARSAD Young Investigator Award.
1998 – 2000  The Supreme Council 33o Scottish Rite Schizophrenia Research Program, N. M. J., USA
 

PUBLICATIONS

     Otmakhova NA, Lisman J (1999). Dopamine selectively inhibits the direct cortical pathway to the CA1 hippocampal region. - The Journal of Neuroscience, 19(4): in press.
     Otmakhova NA, Lisman J (1998). D1/D5 dopamine receptors inhibit depotentiation at CA1 synapses via cAMP-dependent mechanism. – The Journal of Neurosciense, 18(4): 1270-1279.
    Nesterova IV, Gurevich EV, Nesterov VI, Otmakhova NA, Bobkova NV (1997). Bulbectomy-induced loss of raphe neurons in counteracted by antidepressant treatment. - Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 21: 137-140.
     Otmakhova NA, Lisman J (1996). ).D1 dopamine receptor activation increases the magnitude of early LTP in CA1 hippocampal synapses. - The Journal of Neuroscience 16(23), 7478-7486.
     Katkov YA, Otmakhova NA, Gurevich EV, Nesterova IV, Bobkova NV  (1994)  Antidepressants suppress bulbectomy-induced augmentation of voluntary alcohol consumption in C57Bl/6j but not in DBA/2j mice. - Physiol. & Behav: 56, 501-509.
     Gurevich EV, Alexandrova IY, Otmakhova NA, Katkov YA, Nesterova IV, Bobkova NV  (1993)  Effects of bulbectomy and subsequent antidepressant treatment on brain 5-HT2 and 5-HT1A receptors in mice. - Pharmacol. Biochem. & Behavior: 45, 65-70.
     Otmakhova NA, Gurevich EV, Katkov YA, Nesterova IV, Bobkova NV  (1992).  Dissociation of multiple behavioral effects of olfactory bulbectomy between C57Bl/6j and DBA/2j mice. - Physiol. & Behavior: 52, 441-448.
     Gurevich EV, Bobkova NV, Katkov YA, Otmakhova NA, Nesterova IV (1992).  The behavioral and biochemical sequelae of the removal of the olfactory bulbs in C57Bl/6j mice. -  Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deyatelnosti (USSR): 42(4), 779-787
     Bobkova NV, Plakhinas LA, Bashsrova LA, Vetrile LA, Otmakhova NA  (1991). Behavioral and biochemical effects following immunization by protein conjugated dopamine in rats. - In: W. Winlow (Ed.) Signal Molecules and Behavior.  Manchester (U.K.),  Manchester University Press.  Series Studies in Neuroscience, v. 15: 205-213.
     Otmakhova NA  (1990)  Characteristics of lateralization in rats prone to audiogenic epilepsy. - Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deyatelnosti (USSR): 40(1), 151-155
     Galeev AL, Zhuravlev GI, Konovalov VF, Otmakhova NA, Andreeva LA  (1989).  A method for the polygraphic recording of data under microwave radiation conditions. - Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal SSSR: 75(12), 1794-1796
     Otmakhova NA, Konovalov VF, Andrejeva LA  (1989). The effect of stressfully loud sound on motor asymmetry in rats. - Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal SSSR: 75(12), 1672-1676
     Otmakhova NA  (1989).  Sex differences in some forms of motor asymmetry in rats. -  Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology: 25(5), 446-450
     Konovalov VF, Otmakhova NA  (1989).  Effects of lateralized electric stimulation of the brain on audiogenic convulsions in rats. - Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine:108(7), 920-22
     Fedotchev AI, Bondar' AT, Otmakhova NA  (1988).  Dynamic pattern of EEG asymmetry during verbal-logical activities with heteromodal stimuli. - Human Physiology: 14(3), 168-174
     Otmakhova NA  (1987)  Sex differences in the functional asymmetry of the human brain. - In: Konovalov VF (Ed.) Asymmetry of the Brain and the Memory. Puschino, 115-124.
     Konovalov VF, Otmakhova NA  (1984). Hemispheric interaction specificity during the process of memory fixation. - Voprosi Psikhologii (USSR): 4, 96-102.
     Konovalov VF, Otmakhova NA  (1984).  Hemispheric asymmetry of the EEG reactions on different methods of verbal information exposure.- Psykhologichesky Journal (USSR): 4, 62-70.
     Konovalov VF, Otmakhova NA  (1983).  EEG manifestations of functional asymmetry of the human cortex during perception of words and music. - Human Physiology: 9, 250-255.
     Petukhov VV, Orlova NA  (1979).  Zinc and synaptic transmission. - In: Neurotransmitters in Normal and Pathological Status. Kazan, 270-272.

REVIEW

     Otmakhova NA, Konovalov VF  (1988). Interhemispheric differences and the interaction of the hemispheres. - Uspekhi Fiziologicheskikh Nauk (USSR): 19(1), 88-108

RECENT  ABSTRACTS

     Otmakhova NA, Lisman J. Dopamine selectively controls theperforant path cortical input to the CA1 hippocampal region: Implications for schizophrenia. - Society for Neuroscience, Los Angeles, CA , 1998, 24(1): 349 (139.2).
     Otmakhova NA, Lisman J. D1/D5 dopamine receptors inhibit depotentiation in CA1-CA3 hippocampal synapsesthrough adenylyl cyclase. - Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA , 1997, 23(1): 662 (264.2).
     Otmakhova NA, Lisman J. D1 dopamine receptor activation increases early LTP in Schaffer - CA1 hippocampal synapses - Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC , 1996, 22(1): 331 (135.14).
     Otmakhova NA, Lisman J. Monoamine depletion affects synaptic plasticity in CA1 region of hippocampal slice by c-AMP dependent mechanism. - Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, 1995, 21(2): 1322
     Bobkova NV, Nesterova IV,Gurevich EV, Alexandrova I, Otmakhova NA. The antidepressant effect on degenerativa process in the supraoptical and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei induced by bilateral olfactory bulb ablation in C57/6j mice. - Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, 1995, 21(2): 1440
     Otmakhova NA, Woodworth CH, Robinson RG.  Locomotor response elicited by microinjection of DAMGO in the ventral pallidal region does not show asymmetry. - Society for Neuroscience, Miami Beach, 1994, V. 20 (1): 781.
     Bobkova N, Nesterova I, Otmakhova N, Gurevich E, Katkov Yu. Bulbectomy-induced loss of raphe neurons is counteracted by antidepressant treatment. - Society for Neuroscience, Miami Beach, 1994, V. 20 (1): 384.
     Otmakhova NA, Woodworth CH, Robinson RG. Locomotor response to microinjections of picrotoxin into ventral pallidal region does not show lateralization. - Society for Neuroscience, Washington DC., 1993, V.19 (2): 1582.
     Otmakhova NA, Woodworth CH, Robinson RG. Behavioral response to SKF 38393 in nucleus accumbens shows both hemispheric asymmetry and regional non-uniformity. - Society for Neuroscience, Anaheim, 1992, V. 18 (1): 718.
     Otmakhova NA, Gurevich EV, Katkov YA, Bobkova NV  Antidepressants reverse the active avoidance deficit in olfactory bulbectomized mice. - The Third Congress of the Bulgarian Pharmacological Society (International Conference), Sofia, 1990: 102
     Otmakhova NA  Apomorphine-induced rotation in rats and its relation to other forms of motor asymmetry depending on the sex. - In: Signal Molecules and Mechanisms of Animal Behavior (International Conference), Puschino, 1989: 45