Professor of Physiology and of Biochemistry
Dr. Henderson received a B.A. in Human Biology in 1978 and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience in 1982 from Stanford University. She subsequently completed two postdoctoral positions at University of California, San Diego and at Tufts University Medical School. She joined the faculty of Dartmouth Medical School in 1989 and is a member of the Departments of Physiology and of Biochemistry.
The long-term goals of my laboratory are to understand how steroids alter the expression and function of ion channel proteins involved in synaptic signalling. Our recent studies are focused on determining how anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) act in the mammalian brain to regulate the expression and function of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) neurotransmitter receptors, the main inhibitory receptor in the mammalian CNS and a major target of a wide range of endogenous and exogenous psychoactive drugs.
To study aspects of synaptic function, we employ patch clamp recording from brain slices and isolated primary neurons of wild type and mutant mice, as well as from heterologous cells expressing different isoforms of wild type and mutant GABAA receptor subunits. We also employ piezoelectric-controlled ultrafast perfusion techniques and computer modelling to study how these drugs alter transitions of the receptors among different kinetic states.
To examine how steroid influence neuronal morphology and gene expression, we employ a range of techniques including in situ hybridization, semi-quantitative and real time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. In addition, our lab has a long-standing collaboration studying the effects of steroids on the brain and on behavior with Dr. Ann Clark in the Department of Psychology and Brain Science.
Dr. Henderson's laboratory website is here.
Journal Publications
Jorge JC, McIntyre KL, Henderson LP The function and the expression of forebrain GABAA receptors change with hormonal state in the adult mouse. J Neurobiol 50(2): 137-149, 2002.
McIntyre KL, Porter DM, Henderson LP Anabolic androgenic steroids induce age-, sex-, and dose-dependent changes in GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs in the mouse forebrain. Neuropharmacology 43(4): 634-645, 2002.
Yang P, Jones BL, Henderson LP Mechanisms of anabolic androgenic steroid modulation of α1β3γ2L GABAA receptors. Neuropharmacology 43(4):619-633, 2002.
Clark AS, Henderson LP Behavioral and physiological responses to anabolic androgenic steroids. Neurosci Biobehav Revs 27: 413-436, 2003.
Clark AS, Jones BL, Yang P, and Henderson LP Anabolic androgenic steroids and the brain: novel actions at the GABAA receptor and on GABAA receptor mediated-behaviors. In: Neurosteroid Effects in the Central Nervous System: The Role of the GABAA Receptor (CRC Press LLC). Smith, SS, ed. 119-141, 2004.
Yang P, Jones BL, Henderson LP Role of the &alpha subunit in the modulation of GABAA receptors by anabolic androgenic steroids. Neuropharmacology 49(3):300-316, 2005.
Penatti CAA, Porter DM, Jones BL, Henderson LP Sex-specific differences in the effects of chronic anabolic androgenic steroid treatment on GABAA receptor expression and function in adolescent mice. Neuroscience 135(2):533-543, 2005.Jones BL, Whiting PJ, Henderson LP Mechanisms of anabolic androgenic steroid inhibition of mammalian e-subunit-containing GABAA receptors. J Physiol (Lond) 573(3): 571-593, 2006.
Bevan CL, Porter DM, Schumann CR, Bryleva EY, Hendershot T, Liu H, Howard MJ, Henderson LP. The endocrine disrupting compound, nonylphenol, inhibits neurotrophin-dependent neurite outgrowth. Endocrinology 147(9): 4192-4204, 2006.
Clark AS, Costine BA, Jones BL, Kelton-Rehkopf MC, Meerts SH, Nutbrown-Greene LL, Penatti CAA, Porter DM, Yang P, Henderson LP. Sex- and age-specific effects of anabolic androgenic steroids on reproductive behaviors and on GABAergic transmission in neuroendocrine control regions. Brain Res 1126: 122-138, 2006.
Jones BL, Henderson LP. Trafficking and potential assembly patterns of ε-containing GABAA receptors. J Neurochem. 103(3): 1258-1271, 2007.
Reviews
Clark AS, Henderson LP Behavioral and physiological responses to anabolic androgenic steroids. Neurosci Biobehav Revs 27: 413-436, 2003.
Henderson LP, Penatti CAA, Jones BL, Yang P, Clark AS Anabolic androgenic steroids and forebrain GABAergic transmission. Neuroscience 138:793-799, 2006.
Henderson LP Steroid modulation of GABAA receptor-mediated transmission in the hypothalamus: effects on reproductive function. Neuropharmacology 52, 1439-1453, 2007.
Book Chapters
Henderson LP, Jorge JC Steroid modulation of GABAA receptors: CNS roles in reproduction, dysfunction and drug abuse. In: Advances in Molecular and Cell Biology v.32: Molecular Insights into Ion Channel Biology in Health and Disease (Elsevier). Maue, RA, ed., 2004; pp: 217-249.
Clark AS, Jones BL, Yang P, and Henderson LP Anabolic androgenic steroids and the brain: novel actions at the GABAA receptor and on GABAA receptor mediated-behaviors. In: Neurosteroid Effects in the Central Nervous System: The Role of the GABAA Receptor (CRC Press LLC). Smith, SS, ed. 2004; 119-141.
Henderson LP, Penatti CAA (in press) Androgen Actions on Receptors and Channels: Regulation of Electrical Excitability and Synaptic Transmission. In: Hormones, Brain and Behavior (Elsevier). Pfaff DW, Arnold A, Etgen A, Fahrbach S, Rubin R (second edition).
[8/15/08]