Contact Information

(267) 519-4836

Bruce Bryant

Senior Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Sensory Biology; Boston University

Research Summary

Chemical irritants, both noxious (e.g., tear gas or hot pepper) and mild (e.g., menthol or carbonation), act on pain as well as thermal and tactile receptors. I use fluorescence imaging of intracellular calcium in conjunction with cytochemical labeling techniques to characterize the transduction processes and coding mechanisms involved in chemical irritation and modulation of thermal and tactile sensitivities. While these studies focus mostly on the role of neuronal responses, there is growing evidence that non-neuronal cells of the skin and mucous membranes play an active role in sensation. We are also currently performing parallel physiological and psychophysical experiments to directly relate physiological mechanisms to sensation. In addition to contributing to our basic understanding of sensory physiology and interactions between different sensory-active chemical stimuli, knowledge of these mechanisms has applications ranging from foods and beverages to pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Keywords

irritation, somatosensation, chemesthesis, trigeminal, fluorescence calcium imaging, neurophysiology, transduction, inflammation, paresthesia, BMS

Recent Publications

Borgmann-Winter, K., Rawson, N. E., Wang, H.-Y., Wang, H., MacDonald, M. L., Ozdener, M. H. et al. (2009). Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics. Neuroscience, 158, 642-653.

Bryant, B. P. (2005). Mechanisms of somatosensory neuronal sensitivity to alkaline pH. Chemical Senses, 30 Suppl 1, i196-i197.

Inoue, T. & Bryant, B. P. (2005). Multiple types of sensory neurons respond to irritating volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Calcium fluorimetry of trigeminal ganglion neurons. Pain, 117, 193-203.

Epple, G. A., Bryant, B. P., Mezine, I., & Lewis, S. (2004). Zanthoxylum piperitum (DC), a potential feeding deterrent for mammals: studies with Microtus ochrogaster (Wagner). Pest Management Science, 60, 624-630.