Charles E. RibakProfessor, Anatomy & Neurobiology |
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Research Interests |
Electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry, hippocampus, neocortex, development, GABAergic neurons, epilepsy, development, aging | |
| URL | www.ucihs.uci.edu/anatomy/ribak.html | |
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Academic Distinctions |
Klingenstein Fellow in the Neurosciences (1983-1986) Citation Classic Author, Institute for Scientific Information (1987) Michael Prize in Epilepsy (1987) Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award (1990) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1994) President of the Cajal Club (2000-2002) EDITORIAL BOARDS: Journal of Neurocytology (1984 - 1988) Epilepsy Research (1986 - Present) Brain Research (1988 - Present) Journal of Mind and Behavior (1988 - Present) Anatomy and Embryology (1992 - 1996) Archives of Medical Research (1993 - Present) Journal für Hirnforschung - Journal of Brain Research (1993 - 2000) Epilepsia (1995 - Present) Hippocampus (2000 – Present) |
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| Appointments |
EDITORIAL BOARDS: Journal of Neurocytology (1984 - 1988) Epilepsy Research (1986 - Present) Brain Research (1988 - Present) Journal of Mind and Behavior (1988 - Present) Anatomy and Embryology (1992 - 1996) Archives of Medical Research (1993 - Present) Journal für Hirnforschung - Journal of Brain Research (1993 - 2000) Epilepsia (1995 - Present) Hippocampus (2000 – Present) |
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Research Abstract |
My laboratory has used immunocytochemical and labeling methods to analyze changes in neural circuitry in several experimental models of epilepsy. Our current studies involve temporal lobe epilepsy models in rats. Our lab was the first to show that granule cells in the dentate gyrus form hilar basal dendrites after seizures. These dendrites provide additional postsynaptic targets for mossy fibers and thus enhance recurrent excitatory circuitry. We are interested in understanding the mechanisms that cause hilar basal dendrites to form after seizures. Two possibilities include increased neurogenesis or hilar neuronal death.Both occur following seizures. In addition to these studies of temporal lobe epilepsy, our lab in collaboration with Dr. Steward's lab is examining changes in GABA immunstaining following electroconvulsive shock. We have also used antibodies to GABA transporters to identify their cellular localization in several brain regions. GABAergic neurons typically show immunostaining for GABA transporter in their axon terminals. However, developing interneurons in the cerebral cortex transiently express large amounts of GABA transporter in their cell bodies and dendrites. Such an expression may explain the neurotrophic role that GABA has during development of the cerebral cortex. A recent interest involves the use of hippocampal and neocortical slice-cultures to accelerate the brain aging process. These slices are treated with a drug that inhibits cathepsins to cause the proliferation of lysosomes and the formation of meganeurites. Meganeurites are the swollen proximal axons of pyramidal neurons that are filled with aggregates of packed lysosomes. Pyramidal cells in layer III of neocortex display prominent numbers of meganeurites in 70-year old people. The appearance of meganeurites in these neurons and the associated degeneration of their axons may lead to a severe disconnection of cortical circuitry and a concomitant loss of cognitive function. Patents: US patent application serial no. 08/787,784 for Brain Aging Assay (Patent Pending) Co-inventors: G. Lynch, E. Bednarski and C.M. Gall |
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| Publications |
Dashtipour, K., Tran, P.H., Okazaki, M.M., Nadler, J.V. and Ribak, C.E. Ultrastructural features and synaptic connections of hilar ectopic granule cells in the rat dentate gyrus are different from those of granule cells in the granule cell layer. Brain Research, 890:261-271 (2001). |
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Yan, X.-X., Spigelman, I., Tran, P.H. and Ribak, C.E. Atypical features of rat dentate granule cells: recurrent basal dendrites and apical axons. Anat. Embryol., 203:203-209 (2001). |
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Yan, X.-X., Najbauer, J., Woo, C.C., Dashtipour, K., Ribak, C.E. and Leon, M.L. Expression of active caspase-3 in mitotic and postmitotic cells of the rat forebrain. J. Comp. Neurol., 433:4-22 (2001). |
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Bi, X., Yong, A.P., Zhou, J., Ribak, C.E. and Lynch, G. Rapid induction of intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles in apolipoprotein-E deficient mice. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 98: 8832-8837 (2001). |
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Mirzaeian, L. and Ribak, C.E. Immunocytochemical mapping of Fos protein following seizures in gerbils indicates the activation of hippocampal neurons. Hippocampus, 2000, 10:31-36. |
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| Ribak, C.E., Tran, P.H., Spigelman, I., Okazaki, M.M. and Nadler, J.V. Status epilepticus-induced basal dendrites on rodent granule cells contribute to recurrent excitatory circuitry. J. Comp. Neurol., 2000, 428:240-253 . | ||
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Orozco-Suarez, S., Brunson, K.L., Feria-Velasco, A and Ribak, C.E. Increased expression of GABA transporter-1 in the forebrain of infant rats with CRH-induced seizures but not in those with hyperthermia-induced seizures. Epilepsy Res., 2000, 42:141-157. |
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| Ribak CE, Bakay RA. Neurocytology of a primate model human temporal lobe epilepsy. Adv Neurol,1999;79:737-41. | ||
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Zhou J, Ribak CE, Yan XX, Giolli RAE. Synaptic and neurochemical features of calcitonin gene-related peptide containing neurons in the rat accessory optic nuclei. Brain Res,1999 Aug 14;838(1-2):119-30. |
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Yong AP, Bednarski E, Gall CM, Lynch G, Ribak CE. Lysosomal dysfunction results in lamina-specific meganeurite formation but not apoptosis frontal cortex. Exp Neurol, 1999 May;157(1):150-60. |
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Professional Society |
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Anatomists
American Epilepsy Society
Society for Neuroscience
International Brain Research Organization
Cajal Club, President-elect (1998 - 2000); President (2000 - 2002)
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| Graduate Programs |
Neurobiology |
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| Link to this profile | http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=2251 | |
| Last updated | 03/15/2002 | |