Graduate Studies Faculty

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Deborah A. Finn, Ph.D.

Professor, Dept of Behavioral Neuroscience

Research Pharmacologist, Research Service, VAMC

Admin Unit: SOM-Behavioral Neuroscience Department

Email: finnd@ohsu.edu

Phone: 503-721-7984

Lab Phone: 503-220-8262, ext. 5-6600

Fax: 503-273-5351

Office: VA building 101, room 418

Mail Code: VAMC R&D-49 or OHSU L-470

Programs:

Behavioral Neurocience
Neuroscience Graduate Program

Research Interests:

1. GABAergic neurosteroid modulation of ethanol drinking and ethanol withdrawal 2. The impact of steroid levels on brain function and behavior, with behavioral assessments using animal models of anxiety, depression, and seizure susceptibility 3. Use of genetic animal models to examine alcohol-related behaviors » PubMed Listing

Preceptor Rotations

Dr. Finn has not indicated availability for preceptor rotations at this time.

Faculty Mentorship

Dr. Finn might be available as a mentor for 2008-2009. Dr. Finn might be available as a mentor for 2010-2011. Dr. Finn is not available as a mentor for 2009-2010.

Profile

Major Areas

Neuropharmacology; neuroendocrinology of ethanol intake and withdrawal

Summary of Current Research

My research focuses on the physiological significance of neuroactive steroid action. These endogenous modulators can alter brain function by enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission via potent and selective interactions with GABA-A receptors. Behaviorally, GABA-agonist steroid metabolites possess anxiolytic, locomotor stimulant, anticonvulsant and sedative-hypnotic properties. In a broad sense, studies are investigating whether drugs or physiological states which produce alterations in endogenous allopregnanolone (ALLO) levels, the most potent neuroactive steroid, could influence seizure susceptibility, anxiety levels, drug withdrawal hyperexcitability or dysphoria, or patterns of drug intake and the response to drug intake. One funded project is testing the hypothesis that a decrease in endogenous ALLO levels, which alters GABAergic tone, in conjunction with a decrease in GABA-A receptor sensitivity, contribute to the increased ethanol withdrawal severity in the selectively bred Withdrawal Seizure-Prone mice. Long term goals of this research are to gain information that will aid in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying ethanol withdrawal as well as the therapeutic potential of neurosteroid treatment during ethanol withdrawal. A second funded project is utilizing microinjection into discrete brain regions to identify the site(s) of action of ALLO to alter ethanol drinking behavior, measured via lickometers and operant ethanol self-administration procedures in male and female mice. One long term goal of this research is to evaluate the influence of neurosteroids on gender differences in human patterns of alcohol intake and the response to alcohol, since males and females differ in endogenous neurosteroid levels. A third project, through an involvement with the Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA), is using a combination of environmental and genetic manipulations to generate an animal model of high alcohol intake. Currently, we are pursuing a model whereby chronic intermittent alcohol vapor exposure and withdrawal produces high alchol intake (termed "withdrawal-induced drinking" or WID). The goal of these studies is to identify pertinent neurotransmitters and begin to discern neural sites that are important for the expression of WID.

OHSU — Oregon Health & Science University