Caroline Cobine, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, w88 online game and Cell Biology
Caroline Cobine

Summary

I first came to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine as an undergraduate student from Queen's University Belfast participating in the International Undergraduate Research Program. During that year I worked with Dr. Kathleen Keef and developed an interest in smooth muscle physiology. After completion of my Bachelors of Science degree at Queen's I returned to Reno and ultimately received my Ph.D. from the Cellular and w88 online game Pharmacology and Physiology (CMPP) Graduate Program at UNR under the supervision of Dr. Keef.

My research is focused on the mechanisms underlying the contractile activities of visceral smooth muscles (particularly gastrointestinal). Much of my work has been centered on the role of interstitial cells (w88 online game Cajal, ICC; PDGFRα +cells) w88 online game internal anal sphincter (IAS). The IAS is responsible for 70% of resting anal pressure and therefore plays a pivotal role w88 online game maintenance of fecal continence. Despite the importance of this muscle, it is the least studied region of the gastrointestinal tract (only 0.5% of published papers).

Of particular interest is the role of ICC and PDGFRα +w88 online game in tone generation and in mediating neural responses. To this end many of our studies utilize transgenic mouse models expressing GFP and the genetically encoded Ca 2+indicator GCaMP in specific cell populations (i.e., smooth muscle w88 online game, ICC, PDGFRα +cells). Methodologies used include: calcium imaging with spinning disc confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, histology, isometric tension recording, patch clamp recording, microelectrode recording, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, PCR, western blot.Most recently our studies have revealed that two distinct populations of intramuscular ICC are present within the IAS. One exhibits calcium transients that occur at a similar frequency to electrical slow waves suggesting that these cells are responsible for pacemaker activity. A second population of ICC appear to mediate neural responses. The mechanisms underlying these responses are a subject of further research. My teaching responsibilities include teaching Abdominal, Pelvic and Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Endocrine Physiology to first year medical and physician's assistant program students and Endocrine Physiology to graduate students within the Molecular w88 online game (CMPP) program.

Selected Publications

Published Papers:

  1. w88 online game, KD and Cobine, CA. Control of motility w88 online game internal anal sphincter. J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2019 Apr 30;25(2):189-204. Review
  2. Cobine, CA, McKechnie, M, Brookfield, RJ, Hannigan, KI and Keef, KD. Comparison of inhibitory neuromuscular transmission w88 online game Cynomolgus monkey IAS and rectum: special emphasis on differences in purinergic transmission. J Physiol. 2018 Nov 15;596(22):5319-5341.
  3. Rembetski, BE, Cobine, CA and Drumm, BT. Laboratory practical to study the differential innervation pathways of urinary tract w88 online game. Adv Physiol Educ. 2018 Jun 1;42(2):295-304.
  4. Baker, SA, Drumm, BT, Cobine, CA, w88 online game, KD and Sanders, KM. Inhibitory Neural Regulation of the Ca 2+ Transients in Intramuscular Interstitial Cells of Cajal w88 online game Small Intestine. Front Physiol. 2018 Apr 9;9:328.
  5. Drumm, BT, Rembetski, BE, Cobine, CA, Baker, SA, Sergeant, GP, Hollywood, MA, Thornbury, w88 online game and Sanders, KM. Ca2+ signalling in mouse urethral smooth muscle in situ: Role of Ca2+ stores and Ca2+ influx mechanisms. J Physiol. 2018 Apr 15;596(8):1433-1466
  6. Cobine, CA, Hannah, EE, Zhu, MH, Lyle, HE, Rock, JR, Sanders, KM, Ward, SM, and Keef, KD. ANO1 in intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal plays a key role w88 online game generation of slow waves and tone w88 online game internal anal sphincter. J Physiol. 2017 Mar 15;595(6):2021-2041. Editor's Choice.
  7. Cobine, CA, Sotherton, AG, Peri, LE, Sanders, KM, Ward, SM and Keef, KD. (2014) Nitrergic neuromuscular transmission w88 online game mouse internal anal sphincter is accomplished by multiple pathways and post-junctional effector cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2014 Dec 1;307(11):G1057-72.
  8. w88 online game, KD, Saxton, SN, McDowall, RA, Kaminski, RE, Duffy, AM, Cobine, CA. (2013) Functional role of vasoactive intestinal peptide in inhibitory motor innervation w88 online game mouse internal anal sphincter. J Physiol. 2013 Mar 15;591(Pt 6):1489-506.
  9. Cobine, CA, Hennig, GW, Kurahashi, M, Sanders, KM, Ward, SM, Keef, KD. (2011) Relationship between interstitial cells of Cajal, fibroblast-like cells and inhibitory motor nerves w88 online game internal anal sphincter. Cell Tissue Res 2011 Apr;344(1):17-30
  10. Cobine, CA, Hennig, GW, Bayguinov, YR, Hatton, WJ, Ward, SM, Keef, KD. (2010) Interstitial Cells of Cajal w88 online game Cynomolgus monkey rectoanal region and their relationship to sympathetic and nitrergic nerves. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 298:G643-656, 2010.
  11. Cobine, CA, Fong, M, Hamilton, R, Keef, KD. (2007) Species dependent differences w88 online game actions of sympathetic nerves and noradrenaline w88 online game internal anal sphincter. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2007 Nov;19(11):937-5.
  12. w88 online game, K, Cobine, C. (2008) Author reply to "Sympathetic (adrenergic) innervation modulates but does not generate basal tone w88 online game internal anal sphincter smooth muscle". Gastroenterology 2008 Jun;134(7):2181-2.
  13. Cobine, CA, Callaghan, BP, w88 online game, KD. (2007) Role of L-type calcium channels and PKC in active tone development in rabbit coronary artery. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007 Jun;292(6):H3079-88.
  14. Duffy, AM, Cobine, CA, Keef, KD. (2012) Changes in neuromuscular transmission w88 online game W/W v mouse w88 online game. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012 Jan;24(1):e41-55.
  15. Hall, KA, Ward, SM, Cobine, CA and Keef, KD. (2014) Spatial organization and coordination of slow waves w88 online game mouse anorectum. J Physiol. 2014 Sep 1;592(Pt 17):3813-29.

Book Chapter:

  1. w88 online game, K and Cobine, C. Generation of tone by gastrointestinal sphincters. In w88 online game Spontaneous Activity. Eds. Hashitani and Lang, Springer 2019. Adv Exp Med Biol.2019;1124:47-74.