Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics

Education 

B.A., University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D., Texas A&M University HSC

Postdoctoral Fellow, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Research Interests

My recent research interests have focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the interaction between a wide array of Neuropsychopharmacological agents and their respective receptors.  My past research has focused on understanding 1.) the neuroteratogenic effects of ethanol on the GABAergic inhibitory neurotransmitter system, and 2.) the chronic effects of ethanol on excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter systems in brain areas regulating anxiety-like behaviors.  Most recently, I have researched the effects of anesthetic agents on learning and memory mechanisms in the hippocampal region of the brain.  I have utilized numerous types of electrophysiology in slice and isolated cell and tissue culture preparations from different brain areas to investigate alterations in receptor pharmacology and function.  I have also utilized various molecular biological approaches such as gel electrophoresis, western immunoblotting, single-cell RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR to understand the contribution of gene and protein expression to these topics.  My current research interests are focused on understanding the impact of various pharmacological and environmental agents such as ethanol, benzodiazepines, pesticides, and chemical pollutants on central nervous system development.  These agents can have significant, lasting negative effects on brain development that can lead to severe mental and cognitive defects.

Selected Publications

Hsiao, S-H., Acevedo, J.L., DuBois, D.W., Smith, K.R., West, J.R., and Frye, G.D., Early postnatal ethanol intubation blunts GABA_A receptor up-regulation and modifies 3-hydroxy-5-pregnan-20-one sensitivity in rat MS/DB neurons, Dev. Brain Res., 130: 25-45, 2001. PMID: 11557091

Hsiao, S.-H., DuBois, D.W., Miranda, R.C. and Frye, G.D., Critically-timed binge ethanol exposure blunts GABA_AR function in septal neurons developing in vivo, but not in vitro,  Brain Res., 1008: 69-80, 2004. PMID: 15081384

DuBois, D.W., Parrish, A.R., Trzeciakowski, J. and Frye, G.D., 'Binge' ethanol exposure delays development of GABAergic miniature postsynaptic currents in septal neurons, Dev. Brain Res., 152: 199-212, 2004. PMID: 15351508

DuBois, D.W., Trzeciakowski, J.P., Parrish, A.R., and Frye, G.D.,   GABAergic miniature postsynaptic currents in septal neurons show differential allosteric sensitivity after binge-like ethanol exposure, Brain Res., 1089: 101-115, 2006. PMID: 16630580

DuBois, D.W., Perlegas, A., Floyd, D.W., Weiner, J.L., McCool, B.A., Distinct functional characteristics of the lateral/basolateral amygdala GABAergic system in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice, J Pharmacol Exp Ther., 318(2): 629-640, 2006.  PMID:  16651400

Läck, A.K., Diaz, M.R., Chappell, A., DuBois, D.W., McCool, B.A., Chronic ethanol and withdrawal differentially modulate pre- and postsynaptic function at glutamatergic synapses in rat basolateral amygdale, J Neurophysiol., 98(6):  3185-3196, 2007.  PMID:  17898152