Dr Mark Bellingham

Position

Senior Lecturer

Qualifications and Awards

To be listed here shortly ...

Affiliations

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Associations

Australian Neuroscience Society
Society for Neuroscience

Contact Details

Biography

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Research Interests

Electrophysiology of synaptic transmission, ion currents and central pattern generation in CNS neurones
Current research focuses on the electrophysiology of central nervous system neurones using various in vitro slice preparations, patch clamp techniques, imaging, molecular biology and computer modelling. Projects include -

Synaptic transmission:
- Electrophysiology of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels during developmental regulation
- Real time PCR and single cell RT-PCR to determine neurotransmitter receptor and ion channel subunits
- Developmental changes in and mechanisms of short term synaptic plasticity
- Using RNA interference molecules to block neurotransmitter receptors or ion channels during in vivo (with Prof. Martha Constantine-Paton, MIT)
- Calcium imaging in single presynaptic terminals

Neurotransmitter receptors and ion currents in CNS neurones:
- Differences in neurotransmitter receptor and ion channel types in the neuromotor control system potential role in motor neurone death or survival in an animal model of motor neurone disease (with Dr. Peter Noakes, and Profs. Martha Constantine-Paton MIT)
- Estimation of motor unit number and motor neuron survival in motor neuron disease (with Dr. Pamela McCombe and Rob Henderson at Centre of Clinical Research)
- Cholinergic receptor modulation of motor neurones - neuropharmacology and second messenger systems, roles in neurodegerative disease
- Effects of anaethetic agents on motor neuron excitability

Rhythmic control of movements:
- Role of glycine and GABA A receptors in programmed cell death of motor neurones and rhythmic movements in normal and transgenic knockout mice (with Dr. Peter Noakes, SBMS UQ)
- Studies of ion currents controlling rhythm generation and computer models of single neurones and rhythmic networks

Neuroendocrine regulation in neurodegenerative disease (with Dr. Chen Chen and Frederik Steyn, SBMS)

Selected Publications

Glycinergic and GABAergic synaptic activity differentially regulate motoneuron survival and skeletal muscle innervation.
J.Neurosci. 25 (5):1249-1259.
G. B. Banks, R. Kanjhan, S. Wiese, M. Kneussel, L. M. Wong, G. O'Sullivan, M. Sendtner, M. C. Bellingham, H. Betz, and P. G. Noakes. (2005)

Cholinergic modulation of respiratory brainstem neurons and its function in sleep/wake state determination.
Clinical & Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 27: 132-137.
Bellingham, M.C., & Funk, G.D. (2000)

A novel presynaptic inhibitory mechanism underlies paired pulse depression at a fast central synapse.
Neuron, 23: 159-170
Bellingham, M.C & Walmsley, B. (1999)

Developmental changes in EPSC quantal size and quantal content at a central glutamatergic synapse in rat.
J.Physiol.(Lond.). 511: 861-869.
Bellingham, M.C., Lim, R. & Walmsley, B. (1998)

Presynaptic depression of excitatory synaptic inputs to rat hypoglossal motoneurons by muscarinic M2 receptors.
J.Neurophysiol. 76: 3758-3770
Bellingham, M.C. & Berger, A.J. (1996)

Neonatal neuronal circuitry shows hyperexcitable disturbance in a mouse model of the adult-onset neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
J.Neurosci.
van Zundert B, Peuscher MH, Hynynen M, Chen A, Neve RL, Brown RH Jr, Constantine-Paton M, Bellingham MC.
28: 10864-74

Grants

The role of neuronal hyper-excitability in motor neuron disease
Grant Body: NHMRC
Grant Period: 2009-2011

Motor unit number estimation in motor neuron disease
Grant Body: NHMRC
Grant Period: 2009-2011

Effects of anaesthetic agents on motor neuron excitability

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