Dr. de Groat is interested in the autonomic nervous system and the neural regulation of pelvic visceral functions. Current studies focus on the reflex control of the urogenital tract and the mechanisms underlying transmission at central and peripheral autonomic synapses. These experiments are designed to examine (1) the neurotransmitters in the reflex pathways, (2) neuroplasticity during postnatal development or following neural injury, (3) the neural pathways responsible for the detection of visceral pain, and (4) the actions of drugs used to treat urogenital dysfunction. Experiments are conducted on a variety of preparations ranging from intact animals to isolated tissues, like spinal cord slices and dissociated neurons.

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Important Publications

Tai C, M Chen, B Shen, J Wang, H Liu, JR Roppolo and WC de Groat.  Plasticity of urinary bladder reflexes evoked by stimulation of pudendal afferent nerves after chronic spinal cord injury in cats.  Exp Neurol 228:109-117, 2011.

Zhang X, SL Daugherty and WC de Groat.  Activation of CaMKII and ERK1/2 contributes to the time-dependent potentiation of Ca2+ response elicited by repeated application of capsaicin in rat DRG neurons.  Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 300:R644-654, 2011.

Tai C, B Shen, M Chen, J Wang, JR Roppolo and WC de Groat.  Prolonged poststimulation inhibition of bladder activity induced by tibial nerve stimulation in cats.  Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 300:F385-392, 2011.

Yu Y and WC de Groat.  Effects of stimulation of muscarinic receptors on bladder afferent nerves in the in vitro bladder-pelvic afferent nerve preparation of the rat.  Brain Res 1361:43-53, 2010.

Thor KB and WC de Groat.  Neural control of the female urethral and anal rhabdosphincters and pelvic floor muscles.  Am J Physiol Regul Intergr Comp Physiol 299:R416-438, 2010.

Sculptoreanu A, FA Kullmann, DE Artim, FA Bazley, F Schopfer, S Woodcock, BA Freeman and WC de Groat.  Nitro-oleic acid inhibits firing and activates TRVP1- and TRPA1-mediated inward currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons from adult male rats.  J Pharmacol Exp Ther 333:883-895, 2010.

Cheng CL and WC de Groat.  The role of 5HT1A receptors in the control of lower urinary tract functions in anesthetized rats.  Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 289:F771-F778, 2010.