Robin William Rockhold, Ph.D.
Professor
RRockhold@pharmacology.umsmed.edu
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
U173
(601) 984-2810
Circulatory Regulation and Drugs of Abuse
"Certain very marked characteristics distinguished the substances belonging to the group of excitants from all other drugs described... Nearly all the substances belonging to this series exercise also a stimulating action on the heart".
From "Phantastica, A Classic Survey on the Use and Abuse on Mind-Altering Plants", L. Lewin, M.D., 1924, translated from the second German edition by P.H.A. Wirth, 1998, Park Street Press, Rochester, Vermont.
Current Research
Brain systems influence the function of blood vessels and the heart to mediate cardiovascular responses. Drugs of abuse influence this regulatory control by interactions with specific brain neurotransmitters and their receptors. Often the result is deleterious alterations in cardiovascular function that can be catastrophic. Current research focuses on the neuropharmacologic basis for such adverse responses. Emphasis is placed on brain neurotransmitter circuits that respond to stimulant drugs of abuse and modify peripheral heart and blood vessel reactions.
Our studies are primarily performed in freely moving rodents that have been instrumented to enable long term monitoring of circulatory function. The technique known as in vivo microdialysis is frequently utilized to measure the concentration of neurotransmitters and drugs within localized brain regions.
Most recently, these techniques have been employed to focus on the neuropharmacological basis of behavioral responses during the development of dependence upon and withdrawal from opioid drugs, and in particular butorphanol (Stadol™). The role of kappa opioid receptors in mediation of the action of the mixed agonist-antagonist opioids is of primary interest.
The laboratory is also engaged in drug discovery research, examining the toxicological properties of disubstituted piperidine alkaloid components from the venom of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta.
Education Activities
An important commitment to the education of future scientific personnel is supported by an active pre-college science education award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The grant sponsors a program called Base Pair, which prepares high school students for laboratory studies at UMC under the mentorship of active research faculty.
A new post-baccalaureate program, the Professional Portal Track, offers a two year Master of Biomedical Science degree that can confer matriculation of graduates into the School of Medicine or Dentistry. Designed to improve health care in Mississippi, the program enhances the academic competitiveness of students underrepresented in medicine and dentistry and who are most likely to return and deliver medical and dental care to underserved communities or populations.
Selected Publications
Howell, G., Butler, J., deShazo, R.D., Farley, J. M., Gibson, J., Liu, H., Nanaykkara, D., Yates, A., Yi, G.B. and Rockhold, R.W. Cardiodepressant and neurologic actions of Solenopsis invicta (imported fire ant) venom alkaloids. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunopharmacology, 94: 380-386, 2005. 
Tanaka, S., Fan, L.-W., Tien, L.-T., Park, Y., Liu-Chen, L.-Y., Rockhold, R.W. and Ho, I.K. Butorphanol dependence increases hippocampal k-opioid receptor gene expression. J. Neurosci. Res., 82: 255-263, 2005.
Howell, G., West, L., Jenkins, C., Lineberry, B., Yokum, D. and Rockhold, R. In vivo antimuscarinic actions of the third generation antihistaminergic agent, desloratadine. Biomedcentral Pharmacology 5:13 (18 Aug), 2005; http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2210/5/13.
Zhu, H., Jordan, J., Hardy, S., Fulcher, B., Childress, C., Varner, C., Windham, B., Jeffcoat, B., Rockhold, R., Zhou, W. Linear acceleration-evoked cardiovascular responses in awake rats. J. Appl. Physiol. 103: 646-54, 2007.
Links of Interest
THE BASE PAIR PROGRAM:
Base Pair/SOAR
http://basepair.library.umc.edu/
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
http://www.hhmi.org
THE AGEM PROGRAM:
http://www.agemstatewide.com
THE PROFESSIONAL PORTAL TRACK:
http://som.umc.edu/admissions.html#PPT