Ella Nikulina, PhD

Research Associate Professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences - The University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix in partnership with Arizona State University

UA Office Phone: (602) 827-2168
ASU Office Phone: (480) 727-9413
Office: Building ABC1, Room 420
Email: nikulina@email.arizona.edu

Education:

PhD; Moscow State Universisty; 1980

Research Interests:

My research interest is to study of neural circuitry involved in long-term consequences of social stress; particular to examine brain opioid, neurotrophins and dopamine systems. Using the model of social defeat stress, we study the mechanisms by which repeated stress exposures influence the sensitization to drugs of abuse. Techniques used include studying immediate gene expression, local drug infusion into brain regions, and behavioral testing to identify a long-term plastic changes in neurocircuitry underlying the cross-sensitization to psychostimulants.

PubMed Link:

Search PubMed for a complete listing of Dr. Nikulina's publications

Selected Publications:

  1. E.M. Nikulina, I. Arrillaga-Romany, K. A. Miczek, R. P. Hammer, Jr. Long-lasting alteration in mesocorticolimbic structures after repeated social defeat stress in rats: time course of mu-opioid receptor mRNA and FosB/deltaFosB immunoreactivity. European Journal of Neuroscience, 2008, 27: 2272-2284
  2. E. M. Nikulina, K. A. Miczek, R. P. Hammer, Jr. Prolonged effect of repeated social defeat stress on mRNA expression and function of mu-opioid receptors in ventral tegmental area of rats. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2005, 30: 1096-11003.
  3. H.E. Covington III, T. Kikusui, J. Goodhue, E. M. Nikulina, R. P. Hammer Jr., K. A. Miczek. Brief social-defeat stress: persistent changes in cocaine taking during binges and zif268 mRNA expression in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2005, 30: 310-321
  4. K.A.Miczek, H.Covington III, E.M. Nikulina, R. P. Hammer Jr. Aggression and defeat: Persistent effects on cocaine self-administration and gene expression in peptidergic and aminergic mesocorticolimbic circuits. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2004, 27: 787-802
  5. E.M. Nikulina, H.E. Covington III, L. Ganschow, R. P. Hammer, Jr , K.A. Miczek . Long-term behavioral and neuronal cross-sensitization to amphetamine induced by repeated brief social defeat stress: Fos in the ventral tegmental area and amygdala. Neuroscience 2004, v. 123 (4): 857-865.
  6. E.M. Nikulina, R.P Hammer, Jr., K.A.Miczek and R.M. Kream. Social defeat stress increases expression of m-opioid receptor mRNA in rat ventral tegmental area. NeuroReport, 1999, 10(14): 3015-3019.
  7. E.M. Nikulina, J.E. Marchand, R.M. Kream and K.A.Miczek. Behavioral sensitization to cocaine after a brief social stress is accompanied by changes in Fos expression in the murine brainstem. Brain Research, 1998, 810:200-210.
  8. E.M. Nikulina, Skrinskaya J.A., Avgustinovich D.F., Popova N.K. Dopaminergic brain system in the quaking mutant mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 1995, v.50: 333-337.
  9. Rodgers J., Nikulina E.M., Cole J.C. Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor ligands modulate the behaviour of mice in the elevated plus-maze. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 1994, v. 49: 985-995
  10. E.M.Nikulina, Klimek V. Strain differences in clonidine induced aggressiveness in mice and its interaction with the dopamine system. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 1993, 44: 821 825.