Intrinsic and synaptic mechanisms mediating the neuronal effects of toluene

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Solvents like toluene are widely abused by Canadian children and adolescents to achieve a euphoric state; toluene is also a toxic compound present in specific Canadian workplaces associated with the lumber, printing or painting industries. The behavioural changes and ultimately the long-term addiction that follows self-administration of these chemicals are likely related to acute and chronic modifications of brain function. The exact mechanisms by which toluene modifies brain function are incompletely understood, although one hypothesis is that these chemicals acutely and chronically modify the electrical (ion channels and action potentials) and chemical (neurotransmitters and synapses) signals that specific types of brain cells in specific regions of the brain use to transmit and store information. The research program of Dr. McKay is dedicated to addressing this hypothesis. Dr. McKay is interested in identifying the ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors that mediate the effects of the abused solvent toluene in neurons of the brain essential for specific types of learning. Given that toluene is often abused by very young children, Dr. McKay is further interested in assessing the potential differential vulnerability of young brains compared to mature brains to the long-term effects of toluene. The research program will provide highly qualified personnel the opportunity to use state-of-the-art electrophysiology and imaging tools to integrate across multiple levels of discourse from single ion channels to neurons to networks of neurons and ultimately to behaviour, thereby providing them with the specificity and breadth of knowledge and skills to prepare them for careers in academia, industry and government in Canada and elsewhere. The research will pursue novel hypothesis-driven studies and answer questions that will interest many scientists who study how abused drugs / chemicals change brain function, and may one day be helpful for the numerous Canadians who very early in their lives begin to abuse chemicals like toluene or are exposed to toluene in their workplaces.