Bradley Walters
Ph.D. Candidate
Lehigh University

Department of Biological Sciences
111 Research Drive, B217
Bethlehem, PA 18015
bradwalters@lehigh.edu

Ph.D. Advisor:
Colin Saldanha, Ph.D.

Research

Several studies in multiple vertebrate model systems have demonstrated that neural injuries such as ischemia or trauma increase adult neurogenesis.  Similarly, estrogens have been shown to increase neural cell proliferation, plasticity, and recovery following stroke-like injuries.  Songbirds are an interesting model for neural injury since they demonstrate robust endogenous neurogenesis throughout life as well as dramatic increases in the production of the estrogen synthesizing enzyme, aromatase, directly around sites of brain damage.  Currently, I am interested in determining the neurogenic, post-injury effects of this locally upregulated aromatase as well as its interaction with several growth and trophic factors in the adult zebra finch brain.  

Publications

Saldanha, CJ, Duncan, K, Walters, BJ. (In Press). "Neuroprotective actions of brain aromatase." Front. Neuroendocrinol.

Walters, BJ, Saldanha, CJ. (2008). “Glial aromatization increases the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 in the injured zebra finch brain.” J. Neurochem 106(1): 216-23.

Wynne, RD, Walters, BJ, Bailey, DJ, Saldanha, CJ. (2008). “Inhibition of injury- induced glial aromatase reveals a wave of secondary degeneration in the songbird brain.” Glia. 56: 97-105.

Abstracts

Walters, BJ, Saldanha, CJ. (2009). "Injury and glial aromatase combine to upregulate bone morphogenetic protein 2 expression in the adult zebra finch brain." Lehigh University Biannual Academic Research Symposium, Lehigh University, April 16, 2009,  Bethelehm, PA.

Walters, BJ, Saldanha, CJ. (2009). "Expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 differs across sex and in response to aromatase inhibition in the injured zebra finch brain." National Graduate Student Symposium, St. Jude Children?s Research Hospital, April 1-3, 2009, Memphis, TN.

Wynne, RD, Walters, BJ, Lovell, PV, Saldanha, CJ. (2007). “Shared sequences of the aromatase transcript in neurons and glia of the zebra finch brain.” Society for Neuroscience 37th Annual Meeting, November 2-7, 2007. San Diego, CA

Wynne, RD, Walters, BJ, Saldanha, CJ. (2006). “Inhibition of glial aromatase reveals the characteristic wave of secondary degeneration following mechanical injury in the zebra finch.”  Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Tenth Annual Meeting, June 17-20, 2006.  The University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Saldanha, CJ, Walters, BJ, Wynne, RW. (2006). “Injury induced glial aromatase: a robust endogenous inhibitor of apoptotic degeneration in the passerine brain.” Society for Neuroscience 36th Annual Meeting, October 14-18, 2006. Atlanta, GA.