Interactions between the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system.
My research program investigates interactions between the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. We study this at two different levels. Regeneration of alpha motoneurons and plasticity of neuromuscular synapses is studied as part of a PPG from the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research of NICHD. We use retrograde neuronal tracing, immunofluorescence, in vivo imaging, and gene therapeutic methods in these studies. We also study orthograde and retrograde mechanisms in the regulation of muscle fiber phenotype, in particular the interaction of hormones and neurotrophins. This work is funded from grants from the NIDCR and NIADDK.
Recent Publications: Eason, J. M., Schwartz, G., Shirley, K. A., and English, A. W. 2000. Investigation of sexual dimorphism in the rabbit masseter muscle showing different effects of androgen deprivation in adult and young adult animals. Arch. Oral Biol. 45: 683-690.
English, A., Carrasco, D., and Widmer, C. 1999. Torques Produced by Different Compartments of the Rabbit Masseter Muscle. J Appl. Biomech. 15: 347-359.
English, A., Eason, J., Schwartz, G., and Shirley, A. 1999. Sexual dimorphism in the rabbit masseter muscle: myosin heavy chain composition of neuromuscular compartments. Cells Tissues Organs 164: 179-191.
English, A. W., Eason, J., Pol, M., Schwartz, G., and Shirley, A. 1998. Different phenotypes among slow/beta myosin heavy chain-containing fibers of rabbit masseter muscle: A novel type of diversity in adult muscle. J. Mus. Res. Cell Motil. 19: 525-535.
Siegel, S. G., Patton, B., and English, A. W. 2000. Ciliary neurotrophic factor is required for denervation-induced motoneuron sprouting. Exp. Neurol.: IN PRESS.
