Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Sex hormone influences on brain and behavior across lifespan
Neuroplasticity cell signaling pathways in healthy and disease states
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Area of Expertise
The Cunningham lab is focused on the neurobiology of steroid hormones, neuropeptides, and oxidative stress mediated mechanisms in order to examine sex differences in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). We are one of the first laboratories to examine how oxidative stress alters the functional outcomes of steroid hormones, such as androgens and estrogens. We found that androgens has both neuroprotective qualities and neurotoxic properties. Androgens can decrease oxidative stress if present prior to a stress. In contrast, once oxidative stress reaches a threshold, androgens can exacerbate oxidative stress generation and neuronal vulnerability (e.g., inflammation, memory impairments, and motor dysfunction). We were the first to discover the presence of a neuronal androgen receptor splice variant (AR45) complexed to NADPH oxidase (NOX), which is localized to lipid rafts in the plasma membrane and mediates androgen induced oxidative stress signaling pathways in the central nervous system. Our overall research goal has been centered on identification and knowledge of pathways modulated by sex chromosome or steroid hormones that can lead to improved health outcomes by providing a foundation for targeted therapeutic strategies and interventions.
Techniques
in vitro cell culture (neurons, astrocytes), western blots, subcellular fractionation (membranes, lipid rafts in membranes, cytosol, nucleus), rtPCR, microscopy (immunohistochemistry, live cell imaging), colorimetric assays, ELISAs, multiplex ELISAs (e.g., inflammation, hormones, etc in plasma/serum and tissue), Alzet pump (subcutaneous, ventricle, brain region), telemetry implantation, microdissection of discrete brain regions, estrous cycle determination, animal surgeries (gonadectomies, stereotaxic surgeries, telemetry), rat behaviors (e.g., memory, motor, vocalizations, social, anxiety, compulsivity, reproductive, preference).
Education/Academic qualification
BS in Psychology, Truman State University
Postdoctoral Training in Pharmacology, UT Health Science Center San Antonio
PhD in Neurobiology, University of Texas at San Antonio
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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The Impact of Sex and Hippocam
Cunningham, R. (PI) & Farmer, G. (CoI)
15/08/24 → 30/04/29
Project: Research
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The Intimate Interplay Between
Karamichos, D. (PI), Cunningham, R. (CoI) & Nandy, R. (CoI)
1/09/23 → 31/01/27
Project: Research
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UNTHSC Team Science - The impact of gestational PCB exposure on maternal and fetal pathophysiology
Cunningham, R. (CoPI), Bunnell, B. (CoPI), Allen, M. (CoPI) & Roberts, A. P. (CoPI)
UNT Health Science Center Division of Research and Innovation
1/08/23 → …
Project: Research
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Maternal vascular responses to extracellular mitochondrial DNA during pregnancy
Cunningham, R. (PI)
1/07/22 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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Gestational hypoxia in late pregnancy differentially programs subcortical brain maturation in male and female rat offspring
Wilson, E. N., Mabry, S., Bradshaw, J. L., Gardner, J. J., Rybalchenko, N., Engelland, R., Fadeyibi, O., Osikoya, O., Cushen, S. C., Goulopoulou, S. & Cunningham, R. L., Dec 2022, In: Biology of Sex Differences. 13, 1, 54.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Ocular Inflammation and Oxidative Stress as a Result of Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia: A Rat Model of Sleep Apnea
Donkor, N., Gardner, J. J., Bradshaw, J. L., Cunningham, R. L. & Inman, D. M., Jul 2024, In: Antioxidants. 13, 7, 878.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The Role of Lipid Rafts and Membrane Androgen Receptors in Androgen's Neurotoxic Effects
Fadeyibi, O., Rybalchenko, N., Mabry, S., Nguyen, D. H. & Cunningham, R. L., 1 May 2022, In: Journal of the Endocrine Society. 6, 5, bvac030.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Prepubertal social subjugation and anabolic androgenic steroid-induced aggression in male rats
Cunningham, R. L. & McGinnis, M. Y., Aug 2008, In: Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 20, 8, p. 997-1005 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Sex differences in sleep apnea and comorbid neurodegenerative diseases
Snyder, B. & Cunningham, R. L., May 2018, In: Steroids. 133, p. 28-33 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review