Robert C. Foehring, PhD

Education

• PhD Institution: University of Florida, Department of Neuroscience
• Postdoctoral: University of Washington, Department of Physiology and Biophysics

Research Interests

Current research focuses on neurons in the cerebral cortex and amygdaloid nuclei. Specifically, we examine (1) the roles of ion channels in determining neuronal integrative properties, (2) the diversity of voltage-gated Ca2+ and K+ channels, (3) modulation of ionic currents and neuronal firing behavior by transmitters (e.g., norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine, dopamine), and (4) the postnatal development of neuronal integrative behavior. We are particularly interested the coupling of intracellular [Ca2+] to activation of Ca-dependent K+ channels. The approach is primarily electrophysiological, employing patch clamp recordings, pharmacological and genetic manipulations, and calcium imaging techniques. Two preparations are used: in vitro brain slice and acutely dissociated neurons.

Representative Publications

• Kirchner MK, Armstrong WE, Guan D, Ueta Y, Foehring RC. PIP(2) alters of Ca(2+) currents in acutely dissociated supraoptic oxytocin neurons. Physiol Rep. 2019 Aug;7(16):e14198. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14198. PubMed PMID: 31444865; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6708058.
• Armstrong WE, Foehring RC, Kirchner MK, Sladek CD. Electrophysiological properties of identified oxytocin and vasopressin neurones. J Neuroendocrinol. 2019 Mar;31(3):e12666. doi: 10.1111/jne.12666. Epub 2019 Feb 14. Review. PubMed PMID: 30521104.
• Kirchner MK, Foehring RC, Callaway J, Armstrong WE. Specificity in the interaction of high-voltage-activated Ca(2+) channel types with Ca(2+)-dependent afterhyperpolarizations in magnocellular supraoptic neurons. J Neurophysiol. 2018 Oct 1;120(4):1728-1739. doi: 10.1152/jn.00285.2018. Epub 2018 Jul 18. PubMed PMID: 30020842; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6230773.
• Guan D, Pathak D, Foehring RC. Functional roles of Kv1-mediated currents in genetically identified subtypes of pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of mouse somatosensory cortex. J Neurophysiol. 2018 Aug 1;120(2):394-408. doi: 10.1152/jn.00691.2017. Epub 2018 Apr 11. PubMed PMID: 29641306; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6139458.
• Wang L, Chandaka GK, Foehring RC, Callaway JC, Armstrong WE. Changes in potassium channel modulation may underlie afterhyperpolarization plasticity in oxytocin neurons during late pregnancy. J Neurophysiol. 2018 May 1;119(5):1745-1752. doi: 10.1152/jn.00608.2017. Epub 2018 Mar 14. PubMed PMID: 29537926; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6008096.
• Kirchner MK, Foehring RC, Wang L, Chandaka GK, Callaway JC, Armstrong WE. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2) ) modulates afterhyperpolarizations in oxytocin neurons of the supraoptic nucleus. J Physiol. 2017 Jul 15;595(14):4927-4946. doi: 10.1113/JP274219. Epub 2017 May 15. PubMed PMID: 28383826; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5509854.

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