Senior Research Associate, Laboratory of Dr. Charles Allen

moldavan@ohsu.edu

Research Interests:

He is studying the modulation by presynaptic receptors of optic nerve signaling, the properties of the GABA_A tonic current, and the contribution of GABA spill-over and GABA transporters to this current in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus.

 

Study of the mechanisms underlying the GABA_B receptor-mediated modulation of glutamate release from retinohypothalamic tract terminal in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Investigation of the role of the SCN in circadian rhythm regulation. Electrophysiological studies of sensorimotor, associate cortex and reticular thalamic nucleus neurons during conditioning; participation of caudate putamen (striatum) in motor control; electrophysiology and pharmacology of hippocampal, motor cortex and hypothalamic neurons (slices, in vitro studies).

 

Education:

Ph.D. Physiology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kyiv, Ukraine, 1992

B.S. Biology, Kyiv State University, Ukraine, 1979

 

Professional Experience:

2007-current   Senior Research Associate, Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Science University

2001-2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health & Science University

2000-2007 Senior Researcher, Department of Brain Physiology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kyiv, Ukraine

1994-2000 Researcher, Department of Brain Physiology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kyiv, Ukraine

1992-1993 Researcher, Scientific Center "SONAR", Kyiv, Ukraine

1989-1992 Researcher, Department of Brain Physiology, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kyiv, Ukraine

1985-1989 Postgraduate Course, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kyiv, Ukraine

1978-1989 Research Assistant, Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, Kyiv, Ukraine

 

Selected Publications:

Moldavan M.G., Allen C.N.  Retinohypothalamic Tract Synapses in the Rat Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Demonstrate Short-term Synaptic Plasticity.  J. Neurophysiol., 2010 May; 103(5): 2390-9.

Moldavan M.G., Bramley J.R., Sollars P.J., Pickard G.E., and Allen C.N.  Identification of a Tonic GABA_A receptor-mediated current in suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons.  Soc. Neurosci Abs., Chicago, 278.4, 2009 October: 17-21.

Moldavan M.G., Gryganski A.P., Kolotushkina O.V., Kirchhoff B., Skibo G.G., Pedarzani P. Neurotropic and Trophic Action of Lion's Mane Mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Exstracts on Nerve Cells In Vitro. Intern. J. Med. Mush. - 2007. - 9, N1. - P. 15-28.

Moldavan M.G., Irwin R.P. and Allen C.N. Presynaptic GABA(B) receptors Regulate Retinohypothalamic Tract Synaptic Transmission by inhibiting Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels. J Neurophysiol. 2006 Jun; 95 (6): 3727-41.

Gompf H.S., Moldavan M.G., Irwin R.P., Allen C.N. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) inhibits excitatory and inhibitory synaptic signaling in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Neuroscience. 2005;132(4):955-965.

Kolotushkina E.V., Moldavan M.G., Voronin K.Yu., Skibo G.G. The influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitro. Fiziol Zh., 49 (1): 38-45, 2003.

Moldavan M.G., Sachenko V.V., Dryga A.A. Participation of neurotransmitter systems of Nucleus caudatus in realization of instrumental conditioned reflex. Fiziol Zh., 48 (2): 42, 2002.

Moldavan M.G., Grodzinskaya A.A. General toxic and neurotropic action of higher Basidiomycetes fungi of genus Amanita and Psilocybe. Modern problems of toxicology, N2: 14-25, 2002.

Moldavan M.G., Grodzinskaya A.A., Solomko E.F., Lomberg M.L. Wasser S.P., Storozhuk V.M. Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer. extract effect on hippocampal neurons in vitro. Fiziol Zh., 47 (6): 15-23, 2001.

Moldavan M.G. Neuronal reactions in the reticular nucleus of the thalamus upon realization of conditioned placing and its differential. Neirofiziologiya (Neurophysiology) 1999; 31 (5): 426-29.

Moldavan M.G. Unit activity in the thalamic reticular nucleus during external stimulation in cats taught an instrumental conditioned reflex. Neirofiziologiya (Neurophysiology) 1991; 23(2): 189-99.

Moldavan M.G. Spike reactions of neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus of cat during instrumental conditioning. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology 1991, 23 (1): 8-18.

Moldavan M.G. Responses of the reticular nucleus neurons and dorsal thalamic nuclei neurons in the cat during extinction of a conditioned instrumental reflex. Neirofiziologiya (Neurophysiology) 1991; 23(1): 3-8.

Moldavan M.G., Busel' B.I. Neuronal reactions of the reticular nucleus and adjacent thalamus structures in the cat to natural stimulation in a chronic experiment. Neirofiziologiya (Neurophysiology) 1989;21(4):451-61.

Busel B.I., Moldavan M.G., Kniga A.P. An inhibitory effect of external stimulation on spike responses of associative cortex neurons in cat during conditioning. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, 22 (2): 147-155, 1990.

Sitnik K.M., Sheliag-Sosonko U.R., Kanevskiy V.A., Dima A.G., Melnikov D.I., Busel B.I., Moldavan M.G., Golovushkin M.I. Biotelemetry application in remote geophysical investigations. AN USSR Reports, 282 (2): 291-295, 1985.

Busel' B.I., Moldavan M.G. Activity of motor cortex neurons in the cat during a conditioned postural change reflex. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, 16 (6): 745-753, 1984.