Diane T. Piekut, Ph.D.

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OVERVIEW: Medical Education /Anatomical Gift Program

I am committed to and maintain extensive responsibilities in the medical school curriculum through participation in development and administrative functions as well as leadership roles in several key courses. I am involved particularly in teaching medical human anatomy throughout years 1-4 of our medical school curriculum and several residency programs. I am also involved in the development and implementation of clinical human anatomy elective courses. Additionally, I am the Director of the Anatomical Gift Program at the University of Rochester.

RESEARCH:

The focus of my research program is to determine the activation and plasticity of neurons, especially corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-containing neurons, in response to a brain insult (i.e., stress, transient global forebrain ischemia, seizure). Current studies address 1) the effect of transient global ischemia and seizure on the neuroendocrine hypothalamus, particularly neural substrates involved in regulation of the pituitary-adrenal axis, and 2) the differential effects of acute and chronic stress on the regulation of specific mRNA and peptide expression in activated neurons. 3) In addition to its neuroendocrine function, CRF also functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in extrahypothalamic brain sites. Studies in this laboratory suggest that extrahypothalamic CRF is significantly increased following specific brain insults and may play a role in ischemic and seizure brain damage. Investigations, which address the association of CRF induction following a brain insult with neuropathological processes, the administration of a CRF receptor antagonist to protect against the neurodegeneration and direct neurotoxic effects of CRF on neurons, are being pursued. Elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for neuronal vulnerability to brain insults will aid in the development of therapeutic drug interventions which selectively target the neuronal population most susceptible to ischemic or seizure damage, and thereby protect against neurodegeneration. Immunocytochemical localization of neuropeptides /neurotransmitters, in situ hybridization of neuropeptide gene expression, and tissue culture techniques are being employed in this research.

Current Appointments

• Associate Professor - Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy (SMD)