Ralph Fregosi, Ph.D.

We study how the motor neurons that control the muscles of breathing develop, and how perinatal exposure to neurotoxins alters their normal development. The neurotoxin currently under study is nicotine. Our experimental focus is on alterations in the motor neuron biophysical properties, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitter receptor expression and gene expression. Mainstay techniques include whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology, measures of breathing in awake animals, extracellular recording of motor nerves, electromyography, immunocytochemistry, pharmacology, and RNA sequencing.