334-844-4427 morriee@auburn.edu	Edward E. Morrison, PhD Professor of Veterinary Histology and Neuroscience, joined the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1990 and became Head of the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology in 2002. Along with his teaching Dr. Morrison is extensively involved in research dealing with Neuroscience and Biosensory systems. Dr. Morrison received his BS degree from Massachusetts and his MS and PhD degree from Kansas State University in 1980. He was a post doctoral fellow with Dr. Pasquale Graziadei, Florida State University.
Research Interests 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. Selected Publications Smith TD, Alport LJ, Burrows AM, Bhatnagar KP,Dennis JC, Tuladhar P, and Morrison EE. (2007) Perinatal Size and Maturation of the Olfactoryand Vomeronasal Neuroepithelia in Lorisoids and Lemuroids  AmericanJournal of Primatology 69:74-85. Panangala V, Shelby, R, Shoemaker C, Klesius P, Mitra A, and Morrison, EE. (2006)  Immunofluorescent test for simultaneous detectionof Edwardsiell ictaluri and Flavobacterium colmnare. J Aq Diseases. 68:197-207. Dennis JC, Coleman ES, Swyers SE, Moody SW, Wright JC,  Judd R and Morrison EE.  (2005)  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. Smtih TD, Bhatnagar KP, Burrows AM, Shrimp KL, Dennis JC, Smith MA, Maico-Tan L and Morrison EE.  (2005)  The vomeronasal organ of greater bushbabies (Otolemur spp.):  species, sex, and age differences.  J. Neurocytol 34:135-147. Josephson E, Yilma S, Vodyanoy V, and Morrison E.  (2004)  Structure and function of long lived olfactory organotypic cultures from postnatal mice.   J Neurosci Res 75:642-653. Smith TD, Dennis JC, Bhatnagar KP, Bonar CJ, Burrows AM, and Morrison EE.  (2003)  Ontogenetic observations on the vomeronasal organ in two species of tamarins using beta III tubulin. Anat Rec 278A:409-418. Dennis JC, Eward WC and Morrison EE.  (2003)  Immunohistochemistry analysis of the canine vomeronasal organ. J Anatomy 202:515-524. Brann JH, Dennis JC, Morrison EE, and Fadool DA.  (2002)  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. Menco BPhM and Morrison EE.  (2002)  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. Sinnarajah S, Dessauer CW, Srikumar D, Chen J, Yuen J, Dennis J, Yilma S, Morrison EE, Vodyanoy V, and Kehrl JH.  (2001)  RGS2 inhibits Gs signaling by impairing activation of type III, V, and VI adenylyl cyclases. Nature 409:1051-1055.