http://www.d.umn.edu/external-affairs/experts/Klein,Amanda.htmlhttps://sites.google.com/a/d.umn.edu/klein_lab/home

Research on neural mechanisms of pain and itch primarily using primary afferent recordings. Awarded a T32 fellowship (T32 NS070201) to work in the laboratory of Dr. Matthias Ringkamp.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a diverse family of cation permeable channels found in many different mammalian tissues. A subset of these channels are unique because they respond to changes in temperature and chemical agonists. My studies intend to explore the neural mechanisms of temperature/pain modulation through activation of warm and cold responsive TRP channels, TRPV3, TRPM8, and TRPA1. We wish to explore the TRP channel activation at the primary cellular and secondary spinal levels, and the corresponding behavioral manifestation. The overarching hypothesis is that the perceptions of temperature and heat/cold pain are determined at the peripheral and/or spinal levels.

Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 112: Neuroscience. Upper division elective for majors. Guest lecturer and grade keeper.

Hibernation and traumatic blood loss are both characterized by significant decreases in blood pressure, respiration, and metabolism. Deep hibernators such as ground squirrels, are able to somehow withstand these large decreases in cellular activity and are able to resume normally activity levels within minutes of awakening from torpor. A potential danger hibernators face during the hibernation season is reperfusion injury. Reperfusion injury occurs when oxygenated blood contacts tissues that have been subjected to reduced blood flow for a period of time resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Protection from ROS in hibernators is thought to occur by various mechanisms: hypothermia, antioxidants, as well as metabolic suppression. Our goal is to develop a therapy, derived from hibernation strategies, that will enable a non-hibernating mammal to survive lethal hemorrhagic shock. Our results show that a solution based on the biochemical adaptations seen during hibernation is successful at lengthening survival from profound blood loss and improving quality of life.Funding for this research is through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)