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Luis Polo-Parada, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology
 Office Location: 302 Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center
Office Phone: 573-884-4599
PoloparadaL@missouri.edu

Research Interests

The development of the electrical activity of the different regions of the heart, the use of nanotechnology in Medicine (Nanomedicine) and life sciences applications.

Research Description

The heart is the first organ to form during embryogenesis, and its function is critical for the proper development and survival of the embryo. Although some information on ion-transport genes and their protein products in normal and diseased myocardial tissue is available, little is known about the role of cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins during cardiac development or in healthy and diseased adult hearts. Polo-Parada's interest is to elucidate the role of the ECM in the ionic-transport proteins and molecular basis of cardiac regional electrical specialization during development and in the adult heart.

Nanotechnology is fast becoming one of the major areas of research in medicine and life science in general.  Its appeal lies in the long dreamt of ability to investigate and manipulate matter at the level of individual atoms and molecules. Nanomedicine is the medical use of molecular-sized particles to deliver drugs, heat, light or other substances to specific cells in the human body. Engineering particles to be used in this way allows detection and/or treatment of diseases or injuries within the targeted cells, thereby minimizing the damage to healthy cells in the body. My main interest is in the development of nano drug delivery system, nanomaterials for imaging and diagnosis, bio/nano-sensor and nanomaterials for cell/tissue and organ manipulation.

Professional Background

  • BS in physics and Mathematics, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico.
  • MS in physiology and neurobiology, University of Connecticut.
  • PhD in neurosciences,  Case Western Reserve University.
  • Received a National Scientist Development Award from the American Heart Association.
  • Member of the Society for Neuroscience, Biophysical Society and American Heart Association.

Selected Publications

  • Polo-Parada, L,  Zhang X, and Modgi A. (2009). Cardiac Cushions Modualte Action Potential Phenotype During Heart Development. Developmental Dynamics. In Press.
  • Sen A, Barizuddin S, Hossain, M, Polo-Parada L, Gillis KD, Gangopadhyay S. (2009). Prefeential cell atachment to nitrogen-doped diamon-like carbon (DLC:N) for the measurement of quantal exocytosis. Biomaterials. In Press.
  • Hata K, Polo-Parada L, Landmesser LT (2007) . Selective targeting of different cell adhesion molecule isoforms during motoneuron myotube synapse formation in culture and the switch from an immature to mature form of synaptic vesicle cycling. J Neurosci; 27(52):14481-14493
  • Chen Y, Sharp AH, Hata K, Yunker AM, Polo-Parada L, Landmesser LT, McEnery MW (2007). Site-directed antibodies to low-voltage-activated calcium channel CaV3.3 (alpha1I) subunit also target neural cell adhesion molecule-180. Neuroscience 145(3):981-996.
  • Polo-Parada L, Chan S-A, Smith C. (2006). An activity-dependent increased role for L-type calcium channels in exocytosis is regulated by adrenergic signaling in chromaffin cells. Neuroscience 43(2):445-459.
  • Javsek M. Jaworski,A., Polo-Parada, L, Kim N. Fan J., Landmesser, LT., Burden SJ. (2006) . CD24 is expressed by myofiber synaptic nuclei and regulates synaptic transmission. Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA, 103(16);6374-6379.
  • Polo-Parada, L. Plattner F. Bose, C. Landmesser LT. (2005) . NCAM acting via a conserved C-terminal domain and requiring MLCK activity is essential for effective transmission with repetitive stimulation. Neuron 46(6);917-931.
  • Chan, S-A., Polo-Parada, L., Landmesser, L. T. and Smith, C. (2005) . Adrenal Chromaffin cells exhibit altered granule size and recruitment competence in KCAM knockout mice. J Neurophysiol 94(2);1037-1047.
  • Chan, S-A, Polo-Parada, L., Smith C. (2005) . Action potential stimulation reveals and increased role for P/Q-calcium channel-dependent exocytosis in mouse adrenal tissue slices. Arch Biochem Biophys, 435(1);65-73.
  • Polo-Parada, L. Bose, C. Plattner, F. and Landmesser L. T. (2004) . Distinct roles of different NCAM isoforms in synaptic maturation reveled by analysis of NCAM 180kDa isoform deficient mice. J Neurosci; 24(8);1852-1864.
  • Polo-Parada, L. Bose, C. and Landmesser L. T. (2001) . Alterations in Transmission, Vesicle Dynamics, and Transmitter Release Machinery at NCAM-Deficient Neuromuscular Junctions. Neuron 32(5); 815-828.
  • Rafuse, V. F., Polo-Parada, L. and Landmesser, L. T. (2000) . Structural and functional alterations of neuromuscular junctions in CNAM deficient mouse. J. Neurosci. 20(17); 6529-6539.
  • Polo-Parada L. and Pilar, G. (1999). k and m opioid reverse the somatostatin inhibition of Ca2+ currents and dorsal root ganglion neurons. J. Neurosci. 19(13):5213-5227.
  • Gray, D.B., Polo-Parada, L., Pilar, G., Eang, P., Metzger, R. R., Klann, E. and Meriney, S. D. (1999) . A nitric oxide/cGMP-dependent protein kinase pathway alters transmitter release and inhibition by somatostatin at a site downstream of calcium entry. J. Neurochem. 72(5):1981-90.
  • Alanis, J., Arguello, C and Polo L. (1997) .  Effects of heparin on the electrophysiological and mechanical properties of chick embryo hearts. J. Cell and Mol Card.29(9):2503-11.
  • Polo-Parada, L. and Korn, S.J. (1997) . Block of N-type calcium channels in chick sensory neurons by external sodium. J. Gen. Phy. 109(6):693-702.

Published by Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, 134 Research Park Dr., Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: 573-882-7588 | Fax: 573-884-4232 | Email: dalton@missouri.edu
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