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Melanie Woodin

woodin2.jpg
Associate Professor
Department: 
Cell & Systems Biology
Research Areas: 
Animal Physiology, Neurobiology
Graduate Programs: 
Cell & Systems Biology, Neuroscience
Office phone: 
416-978-8646
Lab phone: 
416-978-8646
Fax: 
416-978-8532
URL: 
http://www.woodinlab.com/
Office: 
RW 303
Lab: 
RW 323

m [dot] woodin (at)utoronto [dot] ca

Address: 

Department of Cell & Systems Biology
University of Toronto
25 Harbord St.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5S 3G5

Research: 

Dr. Woodin's long-term goal as an independent investigator is to understand the cellular mechanisms and the functional significance of inhibitory synaptic plasticity. She is interested in the mechanisms that underlie GABAergic synaptic plasticity, as well as the adaptive significance this plasticity imparts. Using combined electrophysiological recordings with Ca2+-imaging from hippocampal cultures and slices we aim to determine the following: (1) the mechanisms underlying coincident pre- and postsynaptic activity-induced modification of hippocampal GABAergic synapses; (2) whether inhibitory plasticity is sufficient for the expression of pathway-restricted LTP in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus; and (3) how inhibitory synaptic plasticity regulates pyramidal neuron spiking in the rodent hippocampus.

CURRICULUM VITAE

  • Selected publications:
2012
Acton,, Mahadevan,, Mercado,, Uvarov,, Ding,, Pressey,, Airaksinen,, Mount,, Woodin, (2012).  Hyperpolarizing GABAergic Transmission Requires the KCC2 C-Terminal ISO Domain. The Journal of Neuroscience.
2011
Pamenter,, Hogg,, Ormond,, Shin,, Woodin,, Buck, (2011).  Endogenous GABAA and GABAB receptor-mediated electrical suppression is critical to neuronal anoxia tolerance. PNAS. doi:10.107,
Ormond,, Woodin, (2011).  Disinhibition-mediated LTP in the hippocampus is synapse specific. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 5(17), 
2010
Balena,, Acton,, Woodin, (2010).  GABAergic synaptic transmission regulates calcium influx during spike timing dependent plasticity. Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience. 2(26), doi:10.2289.
Lamsa,, Kullmann,, Woodin, (2010).  Inhibitory Circuit Plasticity. Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience. 2(8), doi:10.3389.
2009
Ormond J, W.MA. (2009).  Disinhibition mediates a form of hippocampal long-term potentiation in area CA1.. PLoS ONE. 4(9), 9. Abstract
2008
Balena, T., Woodin, M. (2008).  Coincident pre- and postsynaptic activity down-regulates NKCC1 to hyperpolarize ECl during development. European Journal of Neuroscience. 27, 2402-2412.
Balena T, A.B. (2008).  Extracellular potassium regulates the chloride reversal potential in cultured hippocampal neurons. Brain Research. 1205, 12-20.
Saraga, F., Balena, T., Wolansky, T., Dickson, C., Woodin, M. (2008).  Inhibitory synaptic plasticity regulates pyramidal neuron spiking in the rodent hippocampus. Neuroscience. 64-75.
2007
Ormond, J., Woodin, M. (2007).  Chloride Homeostasis and Development. In: Encylopedia of Neuroscience (Hirokawa N, Windhorst U, eds).. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York Springer..
Fiumelli, H., Woodin, M. (2007).  Role of activity-dependent regulation of neuronal chloride homeostasis in development.. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 17(1), 81-86. Abstract
2006
Cheung, U., Moghaddasi, M., Hall, H., Smith, J., Buck, L., Woodin, M. (2006).  Excitatory actions of GABA mediate severe-hypoxia-induced depression of neuronal activity in the pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis).. Journal of Experimental Biology. 209(Pt 22), 4429-35. Abstract
2004
Woodin, M., Poo, M. (2004).  Activity-dependent regulation of cation-chloride cotransporters. In: Excitatory-inhibitory balance: synapses, circuits and systems plasticity. (Hensch TK, Fagiolini M, eds). New York. Kluwer Academic Press..
2003
Woodin, M., Ganguly, K., Poo, M. (2003).  Coincident pre- and postsynaptic activity modifies GABAergic synapses by postsynaptic changes in Cl- transporter activity.. Neuron. 39(5), 807-20. Abstract
2002
Woodin, M., Munno, D., Syed, N. (2002).  Trophic factor-induced excitatory synaptogenesis involves postsynaptic modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.. Journal of Neuroscience. 22(2), 505-14. Abstract
2000
Munno, D., Woodin, M., Lukowiak, K., Syed, N., Dickinson, P. (2000).  Different extrinsic trophic factors regulate neurite outgrowth and synapse formation between identified Lymnaea neurons.. Journal of Neurobiology. 44(1), 20-30. Abstract
1999
Hamakawa, T., Woodin, M., Bjorgum, M., Painter, S., Takasaki, M., Lukowiak, K., Nagle, G., Syed, N. (1999).  Excitatory synaptogenesis between identified Lymnaea neurons requires extrinsic trophic factors and is mediated by receptor tyrosine kinases.. Journal of Neuroscience. 19(21), 9306-12. Abstract
Woodin, M., Hamakawa, T., Takasaki, M., Lukowiak, K., Syed, N. (1999).  Trophic factor-induced plasticity of synaptic connections between identified Lymnaea neurons.. Learning and Memory. 6(3), 307-316. Abstract
1998
Woodin, M., Stephenson, R. (1998).  Circadian rhythms in diving behavior and ventilatory response to asphyxia in canvasback ducks.. Americal Journal of Physiology. 274 (3 Pt , R686-93. Abstract