• Department Home Page
• Department Research
• Department Faculty
• Department Teaching & Training
• Email: James.Gibb@pharm.utah.edu

James W. Gibb

Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Education and Training

B.S. 1958, University of Alberta

M.S. 1961, University of Alberta

Ph.D. 1965, University of Michigan

Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH, 1965-67

Research Interests

Dr. Gibb's investigates neurotransmission in the brain; in particular, the synthesis and metabolism of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Since amphetamines alter the brain concentration of these neurotransmitters, these psychostimulants are used to perturb these central neurotransmitters. Alterations by amphetamines of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase, as well as the metabolism of their respective transmitters, provide critical information concerning interrelationships of these neurotransmitters in normal and pathologic states. Given in large doses, which simulate drug abuse conditions, amphetamines are neurotoxic to both dopaminergic and serotonergic nerve terminals. Elucidating the mechanism(s) of this neurotoxicity has application in understanding neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric illness and drug abuse.

Selected Publications

Hansen, J.P., Riddle, E.L., Sandoval, V., Brown, J.M., Gibb, J.W., Hanson, G.R. and Fleckenstein, A.E., 2002.   Methylenedioxymethamphetamine decreases plasmalemmal and vesicular dopamine transport: Mechanisms and implications for neurotoxicity. J. Pharmacol. Exper. Ther. 300:1093-100.

Brown, J.M., Riddle, E.L., Sandoval, V., Weston, R.K., Hanson, J.E., Crosby, M.J., Ugarte, Y.V., Gibb, J.W. Hanson, G.R. and Fleckenstein, A.E., 2002.  A single methamphetamine administration rapidly decreases vesicular dopamine uptake. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 302:497-501.

Truong, J.G., Wilkins, D.G., Baudys, J., Crouch, D.J., Johnson-Davis, K.L., Gibb, J.W., Hanson, G.R. and Fleckenstein, A.E., 2005.  Age-dependent methamphetamine-induced alterations in vesicular monoamine transporter-2 function: Implications for neurotoxicity, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther 314:1087-92.

Rau, K.S., Birdsall, E., Hanson, J.E., Johnson-Davis, K.L., Carroll, F.I., Wilkins, D.G., Gibb, J.W., Hanson, G.R., and Fleckenstein, A.E.  Bupropion increases striatal vesicular monoaminetransport, 2005. Neuropharmacol. 820-30.

Rau, K.S., Birdsall, E., Baucum, A.J., Adair, B.P., Bitter, R., Gibb, J.W., Hanson, G.R., Fleckenstein, A.E., 2006.  Methamphetamine administration reduces hippocampal VMAT-2. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 318:676-682.

Fleckenstein, A.E., Volz T.J. Riddle, E.L., Gibb, J.W., Hanson. G.R., 2007. New insights into the mechanism of action of amphetamines. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 47:681-98.

Pharmacology & Toxicology   College of Pharmacy   30 S. 2000 E., Rm 201, SLC  UT 84112  phone: 801-581-6287  fax: 801-585-5111 phtx@pharm.utah.edu