Department of Biology and Wildlife

University of Alaska Fairbanks

PO Box 75700

Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000

After completing undergraduate work, Micheal Harris received an M.S. (1992) and a Ph.D. in Zoology (1997) from the University of British Columbia, Canada. Following postdoctoral positions in Departments of Physiology at the University of Calgary and Dartmouth Medical School, he moved to the University of Alaska Fairbanks as an Assistant Professor in 2003.

(907) 474-7801

ffmbh@uaf.edu

Harris Homepage

 

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS OF THE HARRIS LABORATORY

Breathing is a quintessential neuroregulatory process; highly integrated, essential to human life, and involving complex neural modulation.  Recently, it has been proposed that processes regulating breathing are critically dependent on serotonergic neurons in the brainstem. Moreover, it has been proposed that defects in serotonergic mechanisms could disrupt the stability of breathing and/or breathing reflexes, and enhance vulnerability to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The primary focus of my research is to determine the necessity and sufficiency of serotonergic processes within the brainstem in controlling breathing, the functional consequences of brainstem serotonergic deficits, and the potential for such deficits to contribute to the pathophysiology such as SIDS. This work is directed at understanding the basic essential mechanisms of respiratory control, and will contribute to the development of diagnostic tests and therapeutics strategies to reduce the occurrence of SIDS. In addition, I am interested in the integration of sensory inputs in the control of breathing, the evolutionary origin of mechanisms controlling air breathing in vertebrates, the control of metabolism, and the evolution and physiological adaptations associated states of reduced metabolism such as mammalian heterothermy (hibernation and torpor). This research program promotes both a basic understanding of physiological and neurophysiological processes important to homeostatic regulation, as well as knowledge with direct and critical biomedical applications related to respiratory neuropathologies such as the sudden Infanct Death Syndrome.

        

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Respiratory Neurobiology:

  • Darnall RA, Harris MB, Gill WH, Hoffman JM, Brown JW, Niblock MM (2005) Inhibition of serotonergic neurons in the nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis fragments sleep and decreases REM in the piglet: Implications for the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. J. Neuroscience Sep7;25(36):8322-8332.
  • Harris MB, St-John WM (2005) Phasic pulmonary stretch receptor feedback modulates both eupnea and gasping in an in situ rat preparation. Am J Phyiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol Aug;289(2):R450-455. Epub 2005 April 14.
  • Rodman JR, Harris MB, St.-John WM (2005) Gap junction blockade does not alter eupnea and gasping in the juvenile rat. Respir Physiol Neurobiol Sep(10)epub).
  • St.-John WM, Rudkin AH, Harris MB, Leiter JC, Paton JFR (2005) Maintenance of eupnea and gasping following alterations in potassium concentration of perfusates of in situ rat preparation. J. Neurosci. Meth. 142(1):125-9.
  • Harris MB, St -John WM (2005) Phasic pulmonary stretch receptor feedback modulates both eupnea and gasping in an in situ rat preparation. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. (published online April 14, 2005, doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00750.2004).
  • Harris MB, St -John WM (2003) Tonic pulmonary stretch receptor feedback modulates both eupnea and gasping in an in situ rat preparation. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 285(1):R215-21.
  • Harris MB, Milsom WK (2003) Apneusis follows disruption of NMDA-type glutamate receptors in vagotomized ground squirrels. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 134(3):191-207.
  • Harris MB, Milsom WK (2001) The influence of NMDA receptor-mediated processes on breathing pattern in ground squirrels. Respir. Physiol.  125:181-197.

 

Mammalian Heterothermy:

  • Harris MB, Olson LE, Milsom WK (2004) The origin of mammalian heterothermy: a case for perpetual youth. In: Life in the Cold: Evolution, Mechanisms, Adaptation, and Application. Twelfth International Hibernation Symposium. BM Barnes and HV Carey (Eds.). Biological Papers of Alaska, number 27. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks , Alaska , USA . Pp 41-50.
  • Drew KL, Harris MB, LaManna JC, Smith MA, ZHU XW, Ma YL (2004) Hypoxia tolerance in mammalian heterotherms. J. Exp. Biol. 207 3155-3162.
  • Milsom WK, Zimmer MB, Harris MB (2001)Vagal control of cardiorespiratory function in hibernation. Exp Physiol. 86(6):791-6.
  • Zimmer MB, Harris MB, Milsom WK (2000) Control of cardiac and ventilation frequencies during hibernation in ground squirrels. In: Heldmaier G., Klaus, S., and Klingenspor, M. (eds) Life in the Cold.  Springer, New York. Pp.159-167.
  • Harris MB, Milsom WK (2000) Is hibernation facilitated by an inhibition of arousal? In: Heldmaier G., Klaus, S., and Klingenspor, M. (eds) Life in the Cold.  Springer, New York. Pp.241-250.

Comparative Respiratory Neurobiology

  • Taylor BE, Harris MB, Leiter JC, Gdovin MJ (2003) Ontogeny of central CO2 chemoreception: chemosensitivity in the ventral medulla of developing bullfrogs. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 285(6):R1461-72.
  • Taylor BE, Harris MB, Coates EL, Gdovin MJ, Leiter JC (2003) Central CO2 chemoreception in developing bullfrogs: anomalous response to acetazolamide. J Appl Physiol. 94(3):1204-12.
  • Taylor BE, Harris MB, Burk M, Smyth K, Lukowiak K, Remmers JE (2003) Nitric oxide mediates metabolism as well as respiratory and cardiac responses to hypoxia in the snail lymnaea stagnalis. J Exp Zoolog Part A Comp Exp Biol. 295(1):37-46.
  • Harris MB, Wilson RJ, Vasilakos K, Taylor BE, Remmers JE (2002) Central respiratory activity of the tadpole in vitro brain stem is modulated diversely by nitric oxide. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 283(2):R417-28.
  • Wilson RJ, Vasilakos K, Harris MB, Straus C, Remmers JE (2002) Evidence that ventilatory rhythmogenesis in the frog involves two distinct neuronal oscillators. J Physiol. (Lond) 540(Pt 2):557-70.
  • Harris MB, Milsom WK (2001) Vagal feedback is essential for breathing in ground squirrels.  Respir. Physiol. 125:199-212.
  • Harris MB, Milsom WK (2001) The influence of NMDA receptor-mediated processes on breathing pattern in ground squirrels. Respir. Physiol.  125:181-197.

Evolutionary Respiratory Neurobiology:

  • Perry SF, Wilson RJ, Straus C, Harris MB, Remmers JE (2001) Which came first, the lung or the breath? Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol.129(1):37-47.
  • Remmers JE, Torgerson C, Harris MB, Perry SF, Vasilakos K, Wilson RJ (2001) Evolution of central respiratory chemoreception: a new twist on an old story. Respir Physiol. 129(1-2):211-7.
  • Wilson RJA,

Evolutionary Respiratory Neurobiology:

  • Perry SF, Wilson RJ, Straus C, Harris MB, Remmers JE (2001) Which came first, the lung or the breath? Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol.129(1):37-47.
  • Remmers JE, Torgerson C, Harris MB, Perry SF, Vasilakos K, Wilson RJ (2001) Evolution of central respiratory chemoreception: a new twist on an old story. Respir Physiol. 129(1-2):211-7.
  • Wilson RJA, Harris MB, Remmers JE, Perry SF (2000) Evolution of air-breathing and central CO2/H+ sensitivity: New insights from an old fish. J. Exp. Biol. 203(22):3505-3512.