James Gibb
Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Title: Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Email address: James.Gibb@pharm.utah.edu
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.
