JOSEPH C. CALLAWAY, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology

The University of Tennessee College of Medicine

Address

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 515

Memphis, TN 38163

Tel: (901) 448-8497; Fax: (901) 448-7193;

Lab: 221 Wittenborg Anatomy Building

Education

Ph.D. Institution: University of Washington, Seattle

Postdoctoral: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY

Research Interests

Research is focused on the integration of synaptic inputs in the dendrites of individual CNS neurons, the regional properties of neurons, the interaction between pairs of synaptically connected neurons, and the plasticity of synaptic inputs.

Studies are conducted mainly on thin slice preparations of rat cerebellum though identifiable neurons in slice preparations of other parts of the brain are also utilized. Concurrent whole cell patch electrophysiology and high-speed fluorescence imaging is used to measure signals throughout the dendrites of individual neurons. Imaging studies focus on calcium and sodium ion changes in the soma and dendrites of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Voltage sensitive dyes are also used to access the spatial extent of synaptic inputs. Synaptic inputs are activated by extracellular stimulus of appropriate axons or by simultaneous recording of a presynaptic neuron. The laboratory is equipped to visually patch one or more neurons on the surface of a thin slice using DIC optics. Imaging of calcium transients while recording potentials from synaptic inputs is used to examine the effects of local dendritic integration on the amplitude and extent of calcium elevation in the dendrites and to determine the contribution of this calcium to long term depression of excitatory synaptic inputs in Purkinje cells.

Recent Publications

• Foehring RC, Zhang XF, Lee JC, Callaway JC. Endogenous calcium buffering capacity of substantia nigral dopamine neurons. J Neurophysiol. 2009 Oct;102(4):2326-33. Epub 2009 Aug 12. PMID: 19675297
• Lehtonen M, Reisner K, Auriola S, Wong G, Callaway JC. Mass-spectrometric identification of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in nematodes. Chem Biodivers. 2008 Nov;5(11):2431-41. PMID: 19035572
• Canavier CC, Oprisan SA, Callaway JC, Ji H, Shepard PD. Computational model predicts a role for ERG current in repolarizing plateau potentials in dopamine neurons: implications for modulation of neuronal activity. J Neurophysiol. 2007 Nov;98(5):3006-22. Epub 2007 Aug 15. PMID: 17699694
• Schwab US, Callaway JC, Erkkilä AT, Gynther J, Uusitupa MI, Järvinen T. Effects of hempseed and flaxseed oils on the profile of serum lipids, serum total and lipoprotein lipid concentrations and haemostatic factors. Eur J Nutr. 2006 Dec;45(8):470-7. Epub 2006 Nov 10. PMID: 17103080
• Callaway JC, Grob CS, McKenna DJ, Nichols DE, Shulgin A, Tupper KW. A demand for clarity regarding a case report on the ingestion of 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in an Ayahuasca preparation. J Anal Toxicol. 2006 Jul-Aug;30(6):406-7; author reply 407. No abstract available. PMID: 16872575
• Callaway JC, Brito GS, Neves ES. Phytochemical analyses of Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2005 Jun;37(2):145-50. PMID: 16149327

view complete list of references (pubmed link)