Email: apmayer@ku.edu

Education:

Area of Study:

The goal of my research is to better understand the role of neurotransmitters in epileptic seizures. We use the convulsant 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), which is an inhibitor of the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). GAD is involved in the conversion of glutamate to GABA. By inhibiting the conversion, we see an increase in the excitatory amino acid glutamate and a decrease in the inhibitory amino acid GABA. The resulting excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in the brain manifests itself as seizures. We use this seizure model in rats, dosing 3-MPA and monitoring neurochemical changes in the brain utilizing microdialysis while simultaneously measuring electrocorticograph (ECoG) activity. We want to investigate the relationship of seizure duration and intensity to oxidative stress and oxidative damage, by varying the intensity and duration of seizures as well as possible tolerance and sensitization to seizures by varying the time between seizure events.

Personal Interests:

I am currently a 2nd year grad student in the lab living here in Lawrence. I love watching and playing sports, as well as spending time with my daughter Emma.