Epilepsy Neurophysiology Lab
Location: Room L2-129, McKnight Brain Institute
Director: Dr. Steve Roper
Email: roper@neurosurgery.ufl.edu*
Dr. Roper's laboratory studies the cellular basis of epilepsy as a complement to his clinical activities in the surgical treatment of intractable epilepsy. A variety of techniques are utilized but most projects are centered on single-cell recordings from neurons using in vitro brain slices. Alterations in synaptic connectivity, function, and plasticity are specific areas of interest. Complimentary studies of histology and neuronal structure are also pursued. Dr. Huan-Xin Chen helps direct Dr. Roper's lab and Dr. Hilda Martinez is also a valued assistant. New additions to the lab are Dr. Fuwen Zhou, who arrived from the University of Tennessee, and Dr. Dilek Akakin, who is visiting from Marmara University Medical Facility in Istanbul, Turkey.
Dr. Roper's major project involves the problem of cortical dysplasia and epilepsy. Cortical dysplasia is a problem with brain development that often results in difficult-to-control epilepsy. Although much has been learned over the past two decades, many important questions regarding cortical dysplasia and epilepsy remain unanswered: What causes it? When does it cause epilepsy? What changes take place in areas of cortical dysplasia that produce seizures? What are the best ways to prevent areas of cortical dysplasia from producing seizures?
Dr. Roper's lab studies an animal model (in utero irradiation) that produces cortical dysplasia in rats. They attempt to find out how the neural circuitry is altered in this condition using single-cell electrical recordings and microscopy. They have found that the early radiation treatment results in a loss of inhibitory neurons in the cortex. This is reflected in a loss of inhibitory electrical currents in the principal cells, the pyramidal cells. They have also shown that the surviving inhibitory neurons lack the normal complement of excitatory electrical currents; suggesting that they may be unable to regulate the excitatory activity of the cortex properly.
Dr. Roper has also enjoyed an exciting collaboration with Dr. Dennis Steindler. Together, they have characterized the functional properties of a variety of stem cells and progenitor cells as they differentiate into mature neurons. Current efforts attempt to restore the lost inhibitory neurons in the rat cortical dysplasia model using neurons developed from adult human neural progenitor cells (AHNPs) from Dr. Steindler's lab. These amazing human cells are obtained from tissue that is removed during surgery for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. If this research is successful AHNPs, could be used in the future to transplant into people with epilepsy and other diseases in order to restore lost or injured neurons that are preventing normal brain function.
View publications by Dr. Steve Roper
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