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McCobb, David Peter
Associate Professor
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- Associate Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior (BIO NB), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
I am interested in the cellular basis of behavior, and particularly in the role of intrinsic electrical excitability as defined by ion channels in shaping the functional properties of neuroendocrine cells. I am interested in modulation and regulation of ion channel expression by behavioral stress, and by steroid hormones, including sex steroids and stress steroids. I am interested more broadly in the ecological and evolutionary significance of plasticity, and heterogeneity in behavioral neuroendocrinology across age, sex, and species of animals.
Research Areas
- biomedical sciences
- biophysics (CALS)
- cell biology
- computational biology
- genetics
- genomics
- molecular biology
- molecular genetics
- neuroscience
- proteomics
- psychology
- science and technology studies
- sustainable development
- zoology
- Affiliations
- Research
- Publications
- Teaching
- Service
- Background
- Other
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Affiliations
other Cornell affiliations
Research
research overview
- The primary goal of my research is to better understand the lasting consequences of stress on the neuroendocrine system and the physical and mental health of humans and vertebrate animals. Equally important is increasing our general understanding of membrane electrophysiology, integrative brain and body function, and the development and evolution of nervous systems.
area(s) of concentration/expertise
- Animal Behavior
- Animal Social Behavior
- Cell Biology
- Evolution of Social Behavior
- Mammalian Molecular Biology
- Molecular Animal Science, molecular endocrinology
- Molecular Biol of the Cell, Gene Regulation-Animal Cells
- Neuromodulation, Molecular Neuroethology
- Neurophysiology
- Physiology of Reproduction
- Recombinant DNA Technology and its Application
keywords
- Cellular and molecular neurobiology
- Neurobiology
- Neuroendocrinology
submitted impact statement
- The impact of stress on electrophysiological function of the adrenal and pituitary glands
- Integrative decision making in the pituitary: electrical excitability of corticotropes as a node of signal integration in stress responses.
- Effects of stress on the intrinsic electrical excitability of the nervous system
Publications
individual publications
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academic article
- Pituitary network connectivity as a mechanism for the luteinising hormone surge. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 22:1267-1278. 2010
- Social stress alters expression of BK potassium channel subunits in mouse adrenal medulla and pituitary glands. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 21:167-176. 2009
- Beta2 and beta4 subunits of BK channels confer differential sensitivity to acute modulation by steroid hormones. Journal of Neurophysiology. 95:2878-2888. 2006
- Regulation of alternative splicing of Slo K+ channels in adrenal and pituitary during the stress-hyporesponsive period of rat development. Endocrinology. 147:3961-3967. 2006
- Acute modulation of adrenal chromaffin cell BK channel gating and cell excitability by glucocorticoids. Journal of Neurophysiology. 91:561-570. 2004
- Regulation of Slo potassium channel alternative splicing in the pituitary by gonadal testosterone. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 16:237-243. 2004
- Subordination stress alters alternative splicing of the Slo gene in tree shrew adrenals. Hormones and Behavior. 43:180-186. 2003
- Accurate quantitative RT-PCR for Slo splice variant ratios. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 115:189-198. 2002
- Opposing actions of adrenal androgens and glucocorticoids on alternative splicing of Slo potassium channels in chromaffin cells. Proceedings at the National Academy of Science USA. 99:7722-7727. 2002
- Pituitary Control of BK Potassium Channel Function and Intrinsic Firing Properties of Adrenal Chromaffin Cells. Journal of Neuroscience. 21:3429-3442. 2001
- Bovine versus rat adrenal chromaffin cells: Big differences in BK potassium channel properties. Journal of Neurophysiology. 83:3277-3286. 2000
- Control of alternative splicing of potassium channels by stress hormones. Science. 280:443-446. 1998
- A human calcium-activated potassium channel gene expressed in vascular smooth muscle. American Journal of Physiology. 269. 1995
- mSlo, a mammalian gene encoding a high conductance calcium-activated potassium channel. Science. 261:221-224. 1993
- Action potential waveform voltage-clamp commands reveal striking differences between calcium entry through low and high voltage-activated calcium channels. Neuron. 7:119-127. 1991
- The differentiation of excitability in embryonic chick limb motoneurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 10:2974-2984. 1990
- Development alters calcium current expression in identified chick limb motoneurons. Neuron. 2:1633-1634. 1989
- Dopamine and serotonin inhibition of growth cone motility of different identified neurons. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 19:19-26. 1988
- Interactive effects of serotonin and acetylcholine on neurite elongation. Neuron. 1:377-385. 1988
- Membrane voltage and neurotransmitter regulation of neuronal growth cone motility. Developmental Biology. 130:599-609. 1988
- The regulation of neurite outgrowth, growth cone motility, and electrical synaptogenesis by serotonin. Journal of Neurobology. 18:197-215. 1987
- Neuron-specific growth cone properties as seen in identified neurons of Helisoma. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 13:135-147. 1985
- Serotonin selectively inhibits growth cone motlity and synaptogenesis of specific identified neurons. Science. 226:561-564. 1984
- Tissue interactions promoting osteogenesis in chorioallantoic-grown explants of secondary palatal shelves of the embryonic chick. Archives of Oral Biology. 26:580-590. 1981
- The genesis of membrane bone in the embryonic chick maxilla:Epithelial-mesenchymal tissue recombination studies. Journal of Embryology and Experimental Morphology. 56:269-281. 1980
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chapter
- Towards a natural history of calcium-activated potassium channels. Molecular insights into Ion Channel Biology in Health and Disease. 2002
- Voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry and neuromuscular system development. Neurotoxicity of Excitatory Amino Acids. 85-108. 1990
- Characterization of cultured embryonic neurons from the snail Helisoma. Cell Culture Approaches to Invertebrate Neuroscience. 85-108. 1988
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document part
- Acute Modulation of BK channels by DHEA and other Steroids is mediated through Slo ß Subunits 2003
- Differences in the distribution of the STREX isoform of the BK channel in individual rat and bovine adrenal chromaffin cells 2003
- Regulation of alternative splicing of Slo potassium channels in chromaffin cells by calcium 2002
- Regulation of alternative splicing of Slo potassium channels in the rat pituitary by testosterone 2002
- DHEA and Glucocorticoids differentially regulate alternative splicing of the Slo potassium channel in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in vitro: Two faces of stress? 2001
- Species differences in the regulation of chromaffin cell BK channels by glucocorticoids 2001
- Alternative splicing of the Slo Potassium Channel in Adrenal Chromaffin Cells Changes During the Stress Hyporesponsive Period of Development. 641. 2000
- Hypophysectomy alters BK potassium channel function and decreases repetitive firing in adrenal chromaffin cells. 1941. 2000
- Cows and rats: Adrenal chromaffin BK properties differ dramatically. 191. 1999
- Cows, rats, and baboons: Big differences in ‘Slo’ K+ channel splicing in adrenal chromaffin cells. 348. 1999
- Glucocorticoids regulate alternative splicing of the Slo BK potassium channel gene in bovine chromaffin cell in vitro. 1456. 1999
- Tuning the “Fight or Flight” Mechanism: Stress hormones and BK channel expression in adrenal chromaffin cells 1999
- The pituitary stress axis regulates alternative splicing of the Slo BK-type K channel gene in rat adrenal medulla. 309. 1997
- “Strex-61” splice variant of Slo BK potassium channel can show inactivation, slow deactivation, and a negative G-V shift. 1477. 1997
- Development of a competitive RT-PCR method for quantification of Slo and PNMT mRNA in adrenal tissue. 402. 1996
- Measurement of “Slo” BK potassium channel expression in rat adrenal glands by quantitative RT-PCR 1996
- Molecular analysis of BK channels in adrenal chromaffin and PC12 cells. 722. 1994
- The human “BK” calcium-activated K channel gene and cDNA’s from arterial smooth muscle 1994
- Mslo, a complex mouse gene encoding high conductance calcium-activated K+channels. 1061. 1993
- A Shaw subfamily K+ channel expressed in human heart. 776. 1990
- Activation of Ca2+currents by voltage-clamp command pulses in the shape of action potentials. 955. 1990
- Voltage-dependent ion channels and neuronal development 1990
- Calcium currents in developing mouse spinal neurons. 824. 1989
- In vivo development of potassium currents in embryonic chick limb motoneurons. 1020. 1989
- Developmental changes in Ca++currents from identified chick motoneurons 1988
- Developmental changes in whole cell Na+ and K+currents from identified chick motoneurons 1988
- In vivo electrical differentiation of embryonic chick motoneurons. 1040. 1988
- Serotonin inhibition of growth cone motility is blocked by acetylcholine. 1117. 1986
- A novel role for serotonin and other neurotransmitters: the control of neurite outgrowth. 761. 1985
- Dopamine: an additional regulator of neurite outgrowth in Helisoma. 761. 1985
- The specificity of epithelial requirements for osteogenesis in the cranio-facial region 1981
- Empower Your Students: Bring a State of the Planet Course to Your School. 2009
Teaching
teaching overview
- BioNB 321 State of the Planet; Interdisciplinary course co-directed with Tom Eisner and Mary Lou Zeeman, with the goal of instigating dialog on the welfare of human and other species on the planet in relation to the changing global environment.
- BioNB 4130 Molecules of Social Behavior and Emotion: Focus is on neurtransmitters, modulators, hormones, and receptor systems mediating emotion, motivation, and social behaviors in vertebrate animals.
- BioNB 4200 Neurobiology, Behavior, and the Environment: This is a seminar course exploring the myriad interactions between the human psyche and the environment, emphasizing causes and consequences of environmental degradation, and means for bring behavioral change to bear on the ongoing crisis.
- BioNB 4250 Molecular Neurophysiology: Fundamentals of electrical signaling in the nervous system and other tissues, focus on ion channel diversity and rapid signal integration mechanisms BioNB 4130 Molecules of Social Behavior and Emotion: Focus on Neurotransmitters, modulators, hormones, and respective receptor systems mediating emotion, motivation, and social behaviors in vertebrate animals BioNB 4200 Neurobiology, Behavior, and the Environment: This is an interdisciplanary seminar course designed to explore the interactions between the human psyche and the environment, particularly as it pertains to environmental degradation, and to solutions to the ongoing crisis.
- BioNB 4250 Molecular Neurophysiology: focus is on ion channels mediating electrical signaling in the nervous system and other cells, rapid signal processing, ion channel structure and function, and regulation
teaching activities
Service
service to the profession
- National Institutes of Health Outside reviewer - 2008
reviewer or editor for
Background
education and training
- Ph.D. in Biology, University of Iowa 1987
- University of Washington 1981
- B.A. in Biology, University of Maine 1978
awards and honors
- Outstanding Educator/Most Influential Professor, 2007
- Outstanding Educator/Most Influential Professor, 2000
- Fellowship of the Lilly Endowment for Science Teaching, 1995
- NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship Competitive Renewal, 1990
- NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1988
- BA with Highest Distinction, 1978
- Salutatorian, 1974
Other
college
- CALS
research keyword
- Cellular and molecular neurobiology
- Neurobiology
- Neuroendocrinology