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Charles F. Zorumski, MD
Current
Position
Samuel B. Guze Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Neurobiology
University Roles
Head of the Department of Psychiatry
Education and Training
Bachelor of Arts: St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1974 Medical Degree: St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1978 Residency: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, 1982
Major Awards
Listed in America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical Ltd, 2004-present
Listed in Best Doctors in America, 2003-present (Best Doctors, Inc)
NIMH Board of Scientific Counselors (Intramural Program), 2009-
Institute of Medicine, Forum on Neuroscience, 2009
Areas of Clinical Interest
Electroconvulsive therapy
Brain Stimulation Methods
Areas of Research Interests
Our laboratory is interested in physiology and pharmacology of amino acid neurotransmitters with emphasis on the regulation of responses at glutamate and GABA receptors. In our studies we use a variety of methods to examine modulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and AMPA/kainate classes of glutamate receptors. We are also examining the role of glutamate reeptors in synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Other studies are directed at understanding the modulation of GABA and glutamate receptors by neurosteroids. Our clinical studies are examining the benefits and risks of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in various groups of patients with psychiatric disorders, including the use of ECT as a maintenance therapy.
Special Populations, Data Sets and Facilities
Facilities are available for preparing in vitro hippocampal cell cultures and hippocampal slices. Equipment for intra- and extracellular electrophysiological recording from cultured cells, tissue slices or living animals.
Key Publications
Chisari M, Eisenman LN, Krishnan K, Bandyopadhyaya AK, Wang C, Taylor A, Benz A, Covey DF, Zorumski CF, Mennerick S: The influence of neuroactive steroid lipophilicity on GABAA receptor modulation: evidence for a low affinity interaction. Journal of Neurophysiology 2009; 102: 1254-1264.
Mennerick S, Chisari M, Shu H-J, Taylor, A, Vasek, M, Eisenman L, Zorumski CF: Diverse voltage-sensitive dyes modulate GABAA receptor function. Journal of Neuroscience 2010; 30: 2871-2879.
Tokuda K, O’Dell KA, Izumi Y, Zorumski CF: Midazolam inhibits hippocampal long-term potentiation and learning through dual central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor activation and neurosteroidogenesis. Journal of Neuroscience 30: 16788-16795, 2010.
Tokuda K, Izumi Y, Zorumski CF: Ethanol enhances neurosteroidogenesis in hippocampal pyramidal neurons by paradoxical NMDA receptor activation. Journal of Neuroscience 2011; 31: 9905-9909.
Izumi Y, Zorumski CF: NMDA receptors, mGluR5 and endocannabinoids are involved in a cascade leading to hippocampal long-term depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2012; 37: 609-617.
Zorumski CF, Izumi Y: NMDA receptors and metaplasticity: mechanisms and possible roles in neuropsychiatric disorders. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 2012; 36: 989-1000.
Funded Research Projects
NIGMS: Anesthetics: Cellular and Molecular Actions - PI Project 4: Physiological Studies of Neurosteroid Analogs
NIMH(PI): Modulation of Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity
NINDS: Washington University Center for Translational Neuroscience (PI, Core F)
NIAAA (PI): Ethanol, neurosteroids and hippocampal plasticity