Edward E. Morrison, PhD

In the mammalian central nervous system neuron replacement is not possible except, in the olfactory system. Olfactory neurons are unique, they are replaced normally and when injured. This remarkable capacity for postnatal neurogenesis makes the olfactory system an excellent model for studies examining neuron development and plasticity. My research is concerned with studying the ability of olfactory neuroblasts to produce new neurons. One technique we use to study this process is nerve cell transplantation. Olfactory transplant neurons survive in different regions of the CNS, and continue to develop and grow new nerve processes into host brain tissue. Currently, we are studying transplants to obtain a better understanding of development and neurogenesis that could then be applied to other CNS neurons. Can transplanted olfactory neurons serve as replacement cells for lost neurons in the brain and spinal cord?

My laboratory also studies the human olfactory system, specifically morphology, distribution and changes that occur with aging and disease. Another area of ongoing study is to determine the effect of pathogens on the olfactory system. Olfactory neurons are "naked" to the external environment and may serve as a portal for pathogens to reach the brain. How pathogens gain entry into olfactory epithelial cells and reach the CNS are complex and poorly understood and could have important clinical implications.

Our laboratory is also studying canine olfaction. Canine detector dogs are the most effective tool available to law enforcement agencies. Our efforts are directed at examining the structure and function of canine olfaction.

Movie Clip from Explorer:  Science of Dogs, National Geographic Television.  Clip illustrates how the sense of Olfaction is perceive through a "dogs" point of view in a back yard setting.

Mansour M, Schwartz D, Judd R, Akingbemi B, Braden T, Morrison E, Dennis J, Bartol FF, Hazi A, Napier I, Abdel-Mageed AB.  Thiazolidinediones/PPARγ agonists and fatty acid synthase inhibitors as an experimental combination therapy for prostate cancer.  Intl J Oncology 38(2):537-546, 2011.

Sherrill JD, Sparks M, Dennis J, Mansour M, Kemppainen BW, Bartol FF, Morrison EE, Akingbemi BT. Developmental exposures of male rats to soy Isoflavones impact Leydig cell differentiation. Biol Reprod. 2010 Jun 10. [Epub ahead of print]PMID: 20554919

Mansour M, White D, Wernette C, Dennis J, Tao Y-X, Collins R, Parker L, Morrison E. Pancreatic neuronal melanocortin-4 receptor modulates serum insulin levels independent of leptin receptor. Endocrine 37:220-230, 2010.

Mansour M, Coleman E, Dennis J, Akingbemi B, Schwartz D, Braden T, Judd R, Plaisance E, Stewart LK, Morrison EE. Activation of PPARy by Rosiglitazone does not negatively impact male sex steroid hormones in diabetic rats. PPAR Res Vol. 2009, Article ID 101857.

Mansour MM, Goyal HO, Braden TD, Dennis JC, Schwartz DD, Judd RL, Bartol F, Coleman ES, Morrison EE. Activation of penile proadipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y with an Estrogen: interaction with estrogen receptor alpha during postnatal development. PPAR Res Vol. 2008, Article ID 651419.

Craven B, Neuberger T, Paterson E, Weleb A, Josephson E, Morrison EE, Settles G. Reconstruction and morphometric analysis of the nasal airway of the dog (Canine familiaris) and implications regarding olfactory airflow.  Anat Rec 290:1325-1340, 2007.

Shi J, Aono S, Lu W, Ouellette A, Ji Y, Wang L, Lenz S, Dykstra C, Morrison EE, Elson C. A novel role for defensins in intestinal homeostasis: regulation of 1L-1B secretion.  J Immunol 179:124-1253, 2007.

Smith TD, Alport LJ, Burrows AM, Bhatnagar KP, Dennis JC, Tuladhar P, Morrison EE. Perinatal size and maturation of the olfactoryand vomeronasal neuroepithelia in Lorisoids and Lemuroids. American Journal of Primatology 69:74-85, 2007.

Aono S, Li C, Zhang G, Kemppainen R, Gard J, Lu W, Schwartz D, Morrison E, Dykstra C, Shi J. Molecular and functional characterization of bovine beta defensin-1. Vet Immunol Immunopathology 30:746-755, 2006.

Panangala V, Shelby R, Shoemaker C, Klesius P, Mitra A, Morrison, EE. Immunofluorescent test for simultaneous detectionof Edwardsiell ictaluri and Flavobacterium colmnare. J Aq Diseases. 68:197-207, 2006.

Dennis JC, Coleman ES, Swyers SE, Moody SW, Wright JC, Judd R, Morrison EE. An immunochemical study of GFAP expression in the olfactory bulb and mitosis in the sensory epithelium of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Neurocytol 35:3-10, 2005.

Smtih TD, Bhatnagar KP, Burrows AM, Shrimp KL, Dennis JC, Smith MA, Maico-Tan L, Morrison EE. The vomeronasal organ of greater bushbabies (Otolemur spp.): species, sex, and age differences. J Neurocytol 34:135-147, 2005.

Josephson E, Yilma S, Vodyanoy V, Morrison E. Structure and function of long lived olfactory organotypic cultures from postnatal mice. J Neurosci Res 75:642-653, 2004.

Smith TD, Dennis JC, Bhatnagar KP, Bonar CJ, Burrows AM, Morrison EE. Ontogenetic observations on the vomeronasal organ in two species of tamarins using beta III tubulin. Anat Rec 278A:409-418, 2003.

Dennis JC, Eward WC, Morrison EE. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the canine vomeronasal organ. J Anatomy 202:515-524, 2003.

Brann JH, Dennis JC, Morrison EE, Fadool DA. Type specific inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor localization in the vomeronasal organ and its interaction with a transient receptor potential channel, TRP2. J Neurochemistry 83(6):1452-1460, 2002.

Menco BPhM, Morrison EE. Morphology of the mammalian olfactory epithelium: form, fine structure, function and pathology. In: Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation, 2nd Edition, RL Doty, editor, Marcel Decker, Inc., 2002.

Sinnarajah S, Dessauer CW, Srikumar D, Chen J, Yuen J, Dennis J, Yilma S, Morrison EE, Vodyanoy V, Kehrl JH. RGS2 inhibits Gs signaling by impairing activation of type III, V, and VI adenylyl cyclases. Nature 409:1051-1055, 2001.