Curriculum Vitae

Robert Helfert. Ph.D

Business Phone 217-545-0860
Business Fax 217-545-1793

Education

• Cal Poly State Univ., San Luis Obispo B.S. 1975 Biological Sciences
• Cal Poly State Univ., San Luis Obispo M.S. 1979 Biological Sciences
  
• University of California, Los Angeles C. Phil. 1986 Anatomy
  
• University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. 1987 Anatomy
  
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Postdoctoral 1989 Physiologic Acoustics
  

Professional Experience

• 1977-1979 Lecturer, Biological Sciences Dept., Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo
  
• 1980-1981 Teaching Associate, Department of Anatomy, University of California, Los Angeles
  
• 1980-1982 Leslie Scholar, Brain Research Institute, UCLA
  
• 1981-1986 Polysomnographer, Sleep Disorders Clinic, University of California, Los Angeles
  
• 1984-1986 NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship, Div. of Head and Neck Surgery, Dept. of Surgery, UCLA
  
• 1987-1989 Postdoctoral Fellow, Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  
• 1989-1990 Research Investigator, Department of Otolaryngology, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  
• 1991-1998 Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
  
• 1991-1998 Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
  
• 1993-1994 President, Sangamon County Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience
  
• 1995- Director, Research Imaging Facility, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
  
• 1996-1997 Advisory Panelist for Neurosciences, National Science Foundation
  
• 1999- Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
  
• 1999- Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL

Research Support

Ongoing Research Support

Coding in Auditory Neurons: Effects of Amino Acids
Don Caspary, Principal Investigator; Robert Helfert, Coinvestigator (10%)
NIH/NIDCD
7/1/02-6/30/07
To determine how inhibitory amino acids function within known brainstem auditory circuits to encode acoustic information, and the impact of aging on inhibitory amino acid neurotransmission in the auditory brainstem.

Pending Research Support

NIH R01 DC002396
Leonard Rybak, Principal Investigator; Robert Helfert, Coinvestigator
Endogenous Modulation of Cochlea Injury
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2009
These investigations will address four specific aims: 1A) to examine the characteristics of NADPH oxidase in cochlear tissues; 1B) to elucidate the mechanisms of activation of cochlear NADPH oxidase by cisplatin: 2) to examine the cytoprotective effect of adenosine A1 receptor activation in the cochlea; 3) to examine the mechanisms of protection against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity by the standardized extract of the natural product, Gingko biloba (Egb 761) and its components, the terpenes and flavanoids; 4) to elucidate the role of p53 activation by cisplatin in causing hair cell death using the p53 inhibitor pifithrin.

NIH R01 DC-02247
Antioxidants and Age-Related Synaptic Changes in the Auditory Brainstem
Robert Helfert, Principal Investigator
July 1, 2004-June 30, 2009
This project will address three specific aims: 1) Oxidative stress impairs dendritic growth. Cultured IC neurons will be utilized to determine if endogenously induced oxidative stress reduces dendritic growth, and whether the concurrent administration of AT protects IC neurons against this stress-induced impairment; 2) Dietary antioxidant supplementation prevents age-related dendritic loss in the IC. For this aim, biochemical and morphometric studies be conducted to determine if an AT-enriched diet administered to aging F344 rats: a. reduces lipid peroxidation in the IC, and b. halts or reduces the dendritic regression that occurs in the IC during aging; 3) Reduced peripheral input exacerbates dendritic regression in the aging IC. The design for this aim will be similar to that for Aim 2, except that one group of F344 rats will be deafened bilaterally via round window neomycin administrations. In this manner we can compare IC oxidative status, neural integrity, and dendritic loss with and without normal peripheral input. Auditory threshold status in all animals will be confirmed by recording auditory brainstem response thresholds.

NIH/NIA
Does Growth Hormone Accelerate Aging? A Search for Mechanisms
Andrzej Bartke, Principal Investigator; Robert Helfert, Coinvestigator
July 1, 2004-June 30, 2009
This project will address four specific aims: 1. To determine whether alterations in gene expression in growth hormone transgenic (GH-Tg) mice are opposite to those induced by caloric restriction (CR), an intervention known to slow aging and prolong life; 2. To characterize premature decline of cognitive function in GH-Tg mice and to determine whether it is associated with early onset and/or faster progression of age-related morphological changes in the central nervous system; 3. To determine whether insulin resistance is responsible for accelerated aging and shortened life span of GH-Tg mice; 4. To determine whether elevation of plasma corticosterone levels in GH-Tg mice contribute to the acceleration of aging and shortening of life span in these animals.

Selected Recent Bibliography

Helfert, R.H., and I.R. Schwartz (1986) Morphological evidence for the existence of multiple neuronal
classes in the cat lateral superior olivary nucleus. J. Comp. Neurol. 244:533-549.
Ryan, A.F., I.R. Schwartz, R.H. Helfert, E. Keithley, and Z.-X. Wang (1987) Selective retrograde labeling
of lateral olivocochlear neurons in the brainstem based on preferential uptake of 3H-D-aspartic acid. J.
Comp. Neurol. 225:606-616.
Helfert, R.H., and I.R. Schwartz (1987) Morphological features of five neuronal classes in the gerbil lateral
superior olive. Am. J. Anat. 179:55-69.
Helfert, R.H., I.R. Schwartz, and A.F. Ryan (1988) Ultrastructural characterization of gerbil olivocochlear
efferent neurons labeled retrogradely by 3H-D-aspartic acid and/or horseradish peroxidase from the
cochlea. J. Neurosci. 8:3111-3123.
Helfert, R.H., J.M. Bonneau, R.J. Wenthold, and R.A. Altschuler (1989) GABA and glycine
immunoreactivity in the guinea pig superior olivary complex. Brain Res. 501:269-286.
Juiz, J.M., R.H. Helfert, R.J. Wenthold, A.L. De Blas, and R.A. Altschuler (1989). Immunocytochemical
localization of the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor in the guinea pig cochlear nucleus: Evidence for
receptor heterogeneity. Brain Res. 504:173-179.
Helfert, R.H., C.R. Snead, and R.A. Altschuler (1991) The ascending auditory pathways. From R.A.
Altschuler, R.P. Bobbin, D.W. Hoffman, and B.M. Clopton (eds.) Neurobiology of Hearing: The Auditory System. New York, Raven Press, pp. 1-21.
Shore, S.E., R.H. Helfert, S.C. Bledsoe, Jr., R.A. Altschuler, and D.A. Godfrey (1991) Descending projections to the dorsal and ventral divisions of the cochlear nucleus in guinea pig. Hearing Res. 52:255-268.
Helfert, R.H., J.M. Juiz, S.C. Bledsoe, Jr., R.J. Wenthold, and R.A. Altschuler (1992) Patterns of glutamate, glycine and GABA immunolabeling in four synaptic terminal classes in the superior olivary complex of guinea pig. J. Comp. Neurol. 323:305-325.
Shore, S.E., D. A. Godfrey, R.H. Helfert, R.A. Altschuler, and S.C. Bledsoe, Jr. (1992) Crossed projections between the cochlear nuclei in guinea pig. Hear. Res. 62:16-26.
Caspary, D.M., P.S. Palombi, P.M. Backoff, R.H. Helfert, and P.G. Finlayson (1993) Glycine and GABA inputs control discharge rate with the excitatory response area of primarylike and phase-locked AVCN neurons. M.A. Merchan, J.M. Juiz, and D.A. Godfrey (eds.) The Mammalian Cochlear Nuclei: Organization and Function, Plenum, New York, 239-252.
Juiz, J.M., R.A. Albin, R.H. Helfert, and R.A. Altschuler (1994) GABAA and GABAB binding sites in the cochlear nucleus of the guinea pig. Brain Res. 639: 193-201.
Nakayama, M., R.H. Helfert, H.R. Konrad, and D.M. Caspary (1994) Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of age-related changes in the rat vestibular epithelium. Otolaryngol.-Head and Neck Surg. 111:799-806.
Caspary, D. M., J.C. Milbrandt, and R.H. Helfert (1995) Central auditory aging: GABA changes in the inferior colliculus. Exp. Gerontol. 30:349-360.
Lesperance, M.M., R.H. Helfert, and R.A. Altschuler (1995) Deafness-induced cell size changes in rostral AVCN of the guinea pig. Hear Res 86:77-81.
Naritoku, D.K., W.J. Terry, and R.H. Helfert (1995) Regional induction of fos immunoreactivity in the brain by anticonvulsant stimulation of the vagus nerve. Epilepsy Res. 22:53-62.
Juiz JM., M.L. Campos, R.H. Helfert, and R.A. Altschuler (1996) Silver intensification of immunocolloidal gold applied to the study of the neuronal distribution of GABA and glycine. J. Brain Res. 37: 1, 51-56.
Juiz J.M., R.H. Helfert, J.M. Bonneau, M.L. Campos, and R.A. Altschuler (1996) Distribution of glycine and GABA immunoreactivities in the cochlear nucleus: quantitative patterns of putative inhibitory inputs on three cell types. J. Brain Res. 37:561-574.
Juiz J.M., R.H. Helfert, J.M. Bonneau, R.J. Wenthold, and R.A. Altschuler (1996) Three classes of inhibitory amino acid terminals in the cochlear nucleus of the guinea pig, J. Comp. Neurol. 373:11-26.
Helfert, R.H., and A. Aschoff (1997) Superior olive and nuclei of the lateral lemniscus. From G. Ehret and R. Romand (eds.) The Central Auditory System, Oxford, New York, pp.193-258.
Krenning, J., Hughes, L.F., Caspary, D.M., Helfert, R.H. (1997) Age-related glycine receptor subunit changes in the cochlear nucleus of Fischer-344 rats. Laryngoscope 108:26-31.
Caspary, D. M., R.H. Helfert, and P.S. Palombi (1997) The role of GABA in shaping frequency response properties in the chinchilla inferior colliculus. In J. Syka (ed.) Acoustical Signal Processing in the Central Auditory System, Plenum, New York, pp. 227-238.
Helfert, R.H., T.J. Sommer, J. Meeks, P. Hofstetter, and L.F. Hughes (1999) Age-related presynaptic changes in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus of Fischer-344 rats. J. Comp. Neurol., 406:285-298.
Nakayama, M., D.M. Caspary, H.R. Konrad, J.C. Milbrandt, and R.H. Helfert (1999) Age-related changes in [3H]-strychnine binding in the vestibular nuclei of Fischer-344 rats. Hear. Res. 127:103-107.
Konrad HR, Girardi MA, R.H. Helfert (1999) Balance and Aging. Laryngoscope 109: 1454-1460.
Mei, Y., Gawai, K.R., Nie, Z., Ramkumar, V. Helfert, R.H. (1999) Age-related reductions in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the rat inferior colliculus. Hear. Res. 135:169-180
Somani S.M., Husain K, Asha A., and Helfert R.H. (2000) Interactive and delayed effects of pyridostigmine and physical stress on biochemical and histological changes in peripheral tissues of mice. J. Applied Toxicol, 20:327-334
Sato T, Wilson TS, Hughes LF, Konrad HR, Nakayama M, and R.H. Helfert (2001) Age-related changes in levels of tyrosine kinase B receptor and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 in the rat inferior colliclus: implications for neural senescence. Neuroscience 103: 695-702.
R.H. Helfert , Glatz, FR III, Wilson TS, Ramkumar V, and Hughes LF (2002) Hsp70 expression in the inferior colliculus of Fischer-344 rats: effects of age and noise exposure. Hear. Res. 170: 155-165.
Helfert, R,H,, Krenning, J,, Wilson, T.S., and Hughes, L. (2003) Age-related changes in the presynaptic organization of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus in Fischer-344 rats. Hear. Res, 183, 18-28.