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Dive into the research topics where Olga D. Taraschenko is active.

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Featured researches published by Olga D. Taraschenko.


Neuropharmacology | 2007

Morphine-induced changes in acetylcholine release in the interpeduncular nucleus and relationship to changes in motor behavior in rats

Olga D. Taraschenko; Heather Y. Rubbinaccio; Joseph M. Shulan; Stanley D. Glick; Isabelle M. Maisonneuve

Owing to multiple anatomical connections and functional interactions between the habenulo-interpeduncular and the mesolimbic pathways, it has been proposed that these systems could together mediate the reinforcing properties of addictive drugs. 18-Methoxycoronaridine, an agent that reduces morphine self-administration and attenuates dopamine sensitization in the nucleus accumbens in response to repeated morphine, has been shown to produce these effects by acting in the medial habenula and interpeduncular nucleus. Acetylcholine, one of the predominant neurotransmitters in the interpeduncular nucleus, may be a major determinant of these interactions. To determine if and how morphine acts in the interpeduncular nucleus, the effects of acute and repeated administration of morphine on extracellular acetylcholine levels in this brain area were assessed. In addition, the motor behavior of rats receiving repeated morphine administration was monitored during microdialysis sessions. Acutely, morphine produced a biphasic effect on extracellular acetylcholine levels in the interpeduncular nucleus such that low and high doses of morphine (i.e., 5 and 20mg/kg i.p.) significantly increased and decreased acetylcholine levels, respectively. Repeated administration of the same doses of morphine resulted in tolerance to the inhibitory but not to the stimulatory effects; tolerance was accompanied by sensitization to morphine-induced changes in locomotor activity and stereotypic behavior. The latter results suggest that tolerance to morphines effect on the cholinergic habenulo-interpeduncular pathway is related to its sensitizing effects on the mesostriatal dopaminergic pathways.


Physiology & Behavior | 2011

Sex differences in high fat-induced obesity in rats: Effects of 18-methoxycoronaridine.

Olga D. Taraschenko; Isabelle M. Maisonneuve; Stanley D. Glick

Evidence suggests that the development of diet-induced obesity in males and females might be mediated by distinct mechanisms, warranting different treatment approaches. In previous studies from this laboratory, a high sucrose diet induced excessive weight gain in female but not in male Sprague-Dawley rats, while weight gain in both sexes was similarly attenuated by the administration of a selective antagonist of α3β4 nicotinic receptors, 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC). In the present study, assessment of high-fat induced weight gain, consummatory behavior and biochemical markers of obesity was conducted in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and the effects of 18-MC treatment were compared in the two sexes. Male rats consuming a high-fat (HF) diet developed excessive weight gain and fat deposition compared to same same-sex controls fed with a low-fat (LF) diet. The development of obesity in these rats was attenuated by repeated administration of 18-MC (20mg/kg, i.p.), which significantly reduced their food intake without altering water intake. In contrast, female rats consuming a HF diet did not become obese and did not respond to 18-MC treatment. These results show that males and females are differentially responsive to HF-induced obesity; the 18-MC data suggest that α3β4 nicotinic receptors may participate in maintaining obesity, possibly becoming a new and important target for anti-obesity agents.


Neuroscience Letters | 2008

Effects of nicotine, methamphetamine and cocaine on extracellular levels of acetylcholine in the interpeduncular nucleus of rats

Rifat J. Hussain; Olga D. Taraschenko; Stanley D. Glick

There is increasing evidence that the cholinergic habenulo-interpeduncular pathway and the dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway may jointly mediate the reinforcing properties of addictive drugs. However, the effects of addictive drug on the functioning of the habenulo-interpeduncular pathway have not been well-characterized. Thus, several drugs of abuse (i.e., nicotine, cocaine, amphetamine) have been shown to alter the morphology of the habenulo-interpeduncular pathway, causing selective degeneration of the cholinergic neurons in this area. On the other hand, morphine was shown to alter the neurochemistry of the habenulo-interpeduncular pathway, inducing biphasic changes in acetylcholine release in the interpeduncular nucleus. In order to determine the effects of cocaine, amphetamine and nicotine on cholinergic neurotransmission in the habenulo-interpeduncular pathway, levels of acetylcholine were assessed during microdialysis in freely moving rats. Nicotine (0.1 and 0.4 mg/kg s.c.) produced a dose-dependent decrease in extracellular levels of acetylcholine, while methamphetamine (1 and 4 mg/kg i.p.) produced an increase in acetylcholine release in the interpeduncular nucleus. Cocaine (5 and 20 mg/kg i.p.) produced a biphasic effect on extracellular acetylcholine release, i.e., a low dose enhanced the release of acetylcholine and a high dose decreased its release. These results suggest that the habenulo-intepeduncular pathway may be a common target for drugs of abuse and, by modulating the mesolimbic pathway, may mediate unique aspects of the rewarding effects of different drugs.


Physiology & Behavior | 2011

Resistance of male Sprague–Dawley rats to sucrose-induced obesity: Effects of 18-methoxycoronaridine

Olga D. Taraschenko; Isabelle M. Maisonneuve; Stanley D. Glick

Evidence suggests that the development of obesity in males and females might be mediated by distinct mechanisms, warranting different treatment approaches. In previous studies from this laboratory, a high sucrose diet induced excessive weight gain in female Sprague-Dawley rats and administration of a selective antagonist of α3β4 nicotinic receptors, 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), prevented this form of obesity. In the present study similar parameters were studied in male rats by using an identical experimental protocol. The effects of repeated administration of 18-MC on body weight gain, deposition of fat, consummatory behavior and biochemical markers of obesity in male rats were also assessed. In contrast to females, males consuming ad libitum quantities of sucrose solution (30%) in combination with normal chow did not become obese; they did not gain excessive weight nor show excessive fat deposition. Repeated administration of 18-MC (20mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated weight gain in both sucrose-consuming and control animals without altering food or fluid intake. The present results indicate that males and females are differentially responsive to high carbohydrate-diet obesity. Such gender disparities could be secondary to sex-specific alterations in cholinergic mechanisms of feeding and body weight regulation.


Pediatric Neurology | 2014

Neurotoxin-Induced Paralysis: A Case of Tick Paralysis in a 2-Year-Old Child

Olga D. Taraschenko; Karen M. Powers

BACKGROUND Tick paralysis is an arthropod-transmitted disease causing potentially lethal progressive ascending weakness. The presenting symptoms of tick paralysis overlap those of acute inflammatory diseases of the peripheral nervous system and spinal cord; thus, the condition is often misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary treatments and prolonged hospitalization. PATIENT A 2-year-old girl residing in northern New York and having no history of travel to areas endemic to ticks presented with rapidly progressing ascending paralysis, hyporeflexia, and intact sensory examination. Investigation included blood and serum toxicology screens, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and brain imaging. With all tests negative, the childs condition was initially mistaken for botulism; however, an engorged tick was later found attached to the head skin. Following tick removal, the patients weakness promptly improved with no additional interventions. CONCLUSION Our patient illustrates the importance of thorough skin examination in all cases of acute progressive weakness and the necessity to include tick paralysis in the differential diagnosis of paralysis, even in nonendemic areas.


Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation | 2014

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with atrial fibrillation and hearing loss

Olga D. Taraschenko; Earl A. Zimmerman; Marjorie E. Bunch; Mary Ann McKee

A 65-year-old man presented with left-sided weakness and right gaze deviation. He complained of left-sided chest pain, headache, lightheadedness, and diplopia. Five weeks prior to presentation he had a brief febrile illness with cough, vomiting, diarrhea, episodes of unresponsiveness, confusion, progressive hearing loss, and weight loss of 30 lb. Six days prior to presentation he had a syncopal event at home and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. His rhythm converted to sinus spontaneously, and the echocardiogram was normal. MRI of the brain was normal. Two days after discharge he returned to the Veterans Administration hospital with fever, chills, dizziness, worsening confusion, and staring episodes. Examination revealed orthostatic hypotension and mild difficulty with concentration but no focal neurologic deficits. Correction of hyponatremia (serum sodium of 127 mEq/L) cleared the confusion and he was discharged home.


Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior | 2010

18-Methoxycoronaridine, a potential anti-obesity agent, does not produce a conditioned taste aversion in rats.

Olga D. Taraschenko; Isabelle M. Maisonneuve; Stanley D. Glick

18-Methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), a selective antagonist of alpha3beta4 nicotinic receptors, has been shown to reduce the self-administration of several drugs of abuse. Recently, this agent has also been shown to attenuate sucrose reward, decrease sucrose intake and prevent the development of sucrose-induced obesity in rats. The present experiments were designed to determine whether the latter effect was due to an 18-MC-induced conditioned taste aversion to sucrose. Both 18-MC (20mg/ kg, i.p.) and control agent, lithium chloride (100mg/kg, i.p.), reduced sucrose intake 24h after association with sucrose; however, only lithium chloride reduced sucrose intake 72h later. Consistent with previous data, 18-MC appears to have proactive effect for 24h and it does not induce a conditioned taste aversion.


Pediatric Neurology | 2015

Early Wallerian Degeneration in a Neonate With Middle Carotid Artery Stroke

Olga D. Taraschenko; Charles Nichter; John Pugh

A 23-day-old girl with a history of transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, and placement of right modified Blalock-Taussig shunt complicated by thrombosis at age 9 days of life presented with episodes of upper extremity extension and gasping respirations concerning for seizure. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an extensive, acute right middle carotid artery territory stroke with occlusion of the right proximal middle carotid artery. There was also a small left frontal stroke. Diffusion restriction abnormalities with simultaneous presence of hyperintensity on T2 sequences in the corticospinal tract consistent with early Wallerian degeneration were observed (Figure).1


Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases | 2014

Lateral Medullary Stroke in Patient with Granulomatous Polyangiitis

Olga D. Taraschenko; Colum Amory; Jonathan Waldman; Era Hanspal; Gary L. Bernardini

Granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA), also known as Wegener granulomatosis, is a systemic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis that infrequently affects the central nervous system. We report a 41-year-old man with lateral medullary infarction who developed rapidly progressive renal failure. He was diagnosed with GPA based on positive serum c-ANCA and antiproteinase 3 antibodies and demonstration of pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis on kidney biopsy. He was treated with Coumadin, pulse steroids, cyclophosphamide, and plasmapheresis. He had resolution of his neurologic deficits and improvement in renal function. This case report highlights the importance to consider GPA vasculitis in the differential diagnosis of stroke in patients with development of acute kidney injury.


European Journal of Pharmacology | 2005

Is antagonism of α3β4 nicotinic receptors a strategy to reduce morphine dependence

Olga D. Taraschenko; Vishal Panchal; Isabelle M. Maisonneuve; Stanley D. Glick

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Colum Amory

Albany Medical College

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Era Hanspal

Albany Medical College

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