• 1965 B.A. Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics summa cum laude, St. Mary's College, Winona MN
• 1972 Ph.D. Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle WA
• 1972-1973 Research Associate, Anatomy, University of Colorado, Denver CO
• 1973-1974 Postdoctoral Fellow, Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School and University of Iowa
• 1974-1978 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami School of Medicine
• 1978-1985 Associate Professor, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami School of Medicine
• 1985-present Professor, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami School of Medicine
• 1986-1993 Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award

Our laboratory studies how mammalian central neurons respond to environmental stresses. One project seeks to determine mechanisms underlying the complementary neuroprotective effects of neurotrophins (e.g. NGF, BDNF) and certain bone morphogenetic proteins (e.g. BMP7) during hypoglycemic stress. This project focusses on septal neurons, especially the cholinergic population. Another project studies mechanisms by which striatal and septal neurons respond to hyperthermia, including why hyperthermia exacerbates the damage produced by other stresses such as hypoglycemia and ischemia. Our current work focusses on cultured neurons, but we are beginning to incorporate in vivo approaches as well. Knowledge concerning the dominant mechanisms underlying stress-induced neuronal damage will aid in designing strategies to minimize the delayed neuronal death that follows these stresses.

• Google Scholar Citations
• PubMed Citations

1. Panickar KS, Nonner D, White MG, Barrett JN. Overexpression of Cdk5 or non-phosphorylatable retinoblastoma protein protects septal neurons from oxygen-glucose deprivation.Neurochem Res. 2008 Sep;33(9):1852-8. Epub 2008 Mar 20.
2. Talbot JD, Barrett JN, Barrett EF, David G. Rapid, stimulation-induced reduction of C12-resorufin in motor nerve terminals: linkage to mitochondrial metabolism.J Neurochem. 2008 May;105(3):807-19. Epub 2008 Jan 17.
3. White MG, Luca LE, Nonner D, Saleh O, Hu B, Barrett EF, Barrett JN. Cellular mechanisms of neuronal damage from hyperthermia.Prog Brain Res. 2007;162:347-71. Review.
4. Talbot J, Barrett JN, Barrett EF, David G. Stimulation-induced changes in NADH fluorescence and mitochondrial membrane potential in lizard motor nerve terminals.J Physiol. 2007 Mar 15;579(Pt 3):783-98. Epub 2007 Jan 11.
5. Panickar KS, Nonner D, Barrett JN (2005) Overexpression of Bcl-xl protects septal neurons from prolonged hypoglycemia and from acute ischemia-like stress. Neuroscience (In Press).
6. Nonner D, Panickar K, Barrett EF, Barrett JN. (2004) Bone morphogenetic proteins and neurotrophins provide complementary protection of septal cholinergic function during phosphatase inhibitor-induced stress. Journal of Neurochemistry, 91:77-87.
7. White MG, Emery M, Nonner D, Barrett JN (2003) Caspase activation contributes to delayed death of heat-stresed striatal neurons. Journal of Neurochemistry, 87:958-968.
8. Nonner D, Barrett EF, Kaplan P, Barrett JN (2001) Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP6 and BMP7) enhance the protective effect of neurotrophins on cultured septal cholinergic neurons during hypoglycemia. Journal of Neurochemistry 76:1-10.