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Jean Hardwick, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Biology Department, Ithaca College
Ph.D., University of Vermont

Office: Room 168 Center for Natural Sciences
Lab: Room 169 Center for Natural Sciences
Phone: (607) 274-3213
Curriculum Vitae
Email: jhardwick@ithaca.edu - Send a message to Dr. Jean Hardwick

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2001 Lab Photo:  Gertie's Revenge

Shown in this photo are the Spring '01 lab members:  Melanie Powers '01, Jean Hardwick,
Jamie Fountain '02, and Greg Jelson '02.  Gertie (the lab mascot) is "holding the switch".

Research Interests

My research focuses on neuronal regulation of cardiac function. Specifically, I am interested in how neurotransmitters (chemicals released by nerve cells to communicate with one another) can modulate the activity of neurons located within the heart which in turn regulate heart rate and the strength of heart contractions. To investigate these questions, I make use of several different neurobiological techniques, including immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology, and biochemical techniques. Currently, I'm investigating two specific questions.

The first question is how the nervous system and the immune system interact in the control of cardiac function. For example, an allergic reaction involving the heart (cardiac anaphylaxis) appears to directly affect the activity of neurons located within the heart itself. In order to better understand the specific mechanisms and consequences of this phenomenon, I examine the localization of specific neurotransmitters and immune cells known to be involved in this reaction using immunohistochemical techniques. I can also measure the changes in electrical activity of individual neurons in response to different inflammatory agents using electrophysiological techniques:

                Immunohistochemical labeling of parasympathetic neurons and mast cells of the guinea pig heart. Neurons
                (stained green) located in the heart were labeled with an antibody to a cytoskeletal protein, MAP-2. Mast cells
                (red) were labeled with an antibody to histamine. This image shows that many mast cells can be found in close
                proximity to neurons involved in the regulation of heart rate.

                Action potentials recorded from a parasympathetic neuron. An intracellular electrode was used to record the
                electrical  activity from a single neuron in the resting state and in the presence of the inflammatory agent, histamine.
                Histamine  application produced a depolarization (A) and an increase in the number of action potentials produced
                by this cell (B) without changing the characteristics of an individual action potential (C).
 

The other question I'm studying in how neuropeptides (small chains of amino acids synthesized and released by nerve cells) can regulate cardiac function. Several different neuropeptides have been localized in nerve fibers innervating cardiac tissue and the neurons located within the heart. One hypothesis is that these neuropeptides are involved in local, reflex control of cardiac function. For these studies, I use the two different amphibians, the mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) and the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), as model systems. This amphibian has been used extensively to study neuronal control and integration in the regulation of cardiac function. Again, I employ the techniques of immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology to answer specific questions.
 

Bekke Mapes ('03) and Martha Morin ('03) use the new microscope facility in the lab as part of their summer research projects.  Bekke and Martha worked for 10 weeks during the summer of 2002.  The image on the right is from a slide prepared by Bekke of neurons regulating the heart of the axolotl (an amphibian - see below).  The cells were labeled with an antibody to a specific neuropeptide (PACAP) found in these cells.  The brown stain shows the location of the PACAP and green stain is a general histochemical stain for all cells.

Students in my lab have presented their research at several local and national conferences.

Linda Schoenfeld ('99) - slide presentation at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference (ECSC) in April
    of 1998; poster presentation at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Los Angeles, CA in November
    of 1998; slide presentation at the National Council for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in April of
    1999.  Linda received her masters degree in Neuroscience at Case Western Reserve University in
    Cleveland, OH and is currently teaching High School science in Cleveland.
Seth DePuy ('99) - slide presentation at the Eastern Colleges Science Conference in April of 1999.  Seth
    is currently a graduate student in pharmacology at the University of Virginia.
Melanie Powers ('01) - slide presentation at the Binghamton Science Conference in Binghamton, NY in
    October of 2000; slide presentation at NCUR in Missoula, MT in April of 2000;  poster presentation at
    the Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans, LA in November of 2000.  Melanie is
    currently a graduate student in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Florida (Gainesville).
Kristen Sager ('02) - poster presentation at ECSC in April of 2000,  poster presentation at the
    conference of Honors programs in Washington D.C. in fall of 2000, oral presentation at the Rochester
    Academy of Sciences in the fall of 2001, and an oral presentation at NCUR in Widewater, WI in the
    spring of 2002.  Kristen is currently a graduate student in the PhD program in Neuroscience at Emory
    University in Atlanta GA.
Kim Stallone ('02) - oral presentation at ECSC in Niagara Falls in the spring of 2002.  Kim will begin
    medical school at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse NY.
Jeremy Dobson ('03) - oral presentation at ECSC in Niagara Falls in the spring of 2002.  Jeremy is
    currently working with animals in preparations for applying to veterinary school.
 

Jelson, G.S., DeMasi, G.M., Sager, K.L. and Hardwick, J.C. (2003).  Modulation of guinea pig intrinsic cardiac neurons by prostaglandins.  American Journal of Physiology 285: R682-R689.

Powers, M.J., Peterson, B.A., and Hardwick, J.C. (2001).  Regulation of parasympathetic neurons by mast cells and histamine in the guinea pig heart. Autonomic Neuroscience, 87:  37-45.

Parsons, R.L., Rossignol, T.M., Calupca, M.A., Hardwick, J.C., and Braas, K.M (2001).  PACAP peptides modulate guinea pig cardiac neuron membrane excitability and neuropeptide expression.  Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 921:  202-210.

Schoenfeld, L.K., Souder, J.A., and Hardwick, J.C. (2000).  Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide innervation of the mudpuppy cardiac ganglion.  Brain Research 882: 180-190.

Calupca, M.A., Hendricks, G.M., Hardwick, J.C., and Parsons, R.L (1999).  Role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the Ca2+-induced decline of transmitter release at K+-depolarized motor neuron terminals Journal of Neurophysiology, 18:  498-506.

Braas, K.M., May, V., Harakall, S.A., Hardwick, J.C. and Parsons, R.L. (1998). PACAP modulates parasympathetic neuron excitability in guinea pig cardiac ganglia.  Journal of Neuroscience, 18: 9766-9779.

Hardwick, J.C., Mawe, G.M., and Parsons, R.L. (1997). Tachykinin-induced activation of non- specific cation conductance via NK3 neurokinin receptors in guinea-pig intracardiac neurones. Journal of Physiology, 504: 65-74.

Hardwick, J.C. and Parsons, R.L. (1996). Activation of the protein phosphatase calcineurin during carbachol exposure decreases the extent of recovery from end-plate desensitization. Journal of Neurophysiology, 76: 3609-3616.

Hardwick, J.C., Mawe, G.M, and Parsons, R.L. (1995). Evidence of afferent fiber innervation of parasympathetic neurons of the guinea-pig cardiac ganglion. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System, 53, 166-174.

• Animal Physiology
• Neurobiology

For Bekke Mapes' birthday, Lauren Monroe ('05) created this masterpiece cake - Gertie was
happy to pose for her culinary twin.  She looked great - and was delicious!!

Last modified: January 13, 2004