Victor Chaban, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Charles Drew University
Keck Hall Annex Room 4
1731 East 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059

Phone: (323) 563-3672 (office)
              (323) 563-5841 (lab)
Fax: (323) 563-5858
vchaban@cdrewu.edu

Research Interests

The primary focus of my research program is to elucidate the nociceptive pathways modulated by steroid hormones in nervous tissue. While a central site of this modulation is widely accepted we study how sex steroids act on primary nociceptors and modulate the response to pro- and anti-nociceptive signals, depending upon the nature of the signals interacting at the level
of sensory neurons. Nociceptive systems are implicated in the etiology of functional disorders such as non- cardiac chest pain, interstitial cystitis, fibromyalgia, acute or chronic abdominal pain associated with functional bowel disorders, chronic pelvic pain. Incidence of episodic or persistent visceral pain associated with functional disorders is much higher in women than men, therefore, we study a novel concept that suggests sex steroids may play a role in modulating peripheral cross-sensitization between different visceral organs. Our studies may provide important information about the actions of sex steroids on primary sensory neurons or a better understanding of gender differences observed in the clinical presentation of functional pain-associated disorders. Designing new gender-specific therapies will have a major impact on health-related quality of life significantly reducing therapeutic interventions.

Chaban V. 2008. Estrogen modulation of visceral nociception. In: "Neuroactive Steroids in Brain Function, Behavior and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Novel Strategies for Research and Treatment" M. Ritsner and A. Weizman (eds.), Springer
(in press).


Chaban V., Christensen A., Wakamatsu M., McDonald M., Rapkin A., McDonald J., Micevych P. 2007. The same DRG neurons innervate uterus and colon in the rat. Neuroreport 18(3):209-12. [Abstract]


Micevych P., Chaban V., Ogi J., Dewing, P., Lu, J.K., Sinchak K. 2007. Estradiol stimulates progesterone synthesis in hypothalamic astrocyte cultures. Endocrinology 148(2):782-789. [Abstract]


Gschossmann JM, Chaban VV , McRoberts JA, Raybould HE, Young SH, Ennes HS, Lembo T, Mayer EA. 2000. Mechanical activation of dorsal root ganglion cells in vitro: comparison with capsaicin and modulation by kappa-opioids. Brain Research. 856(1-2): 101-10. [abstract]


Chaban VV , McRoberts JA , Ennes HS , Mayer EA. 2001. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors enhance mechanosensitive Ca(2+) influx in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons. Brain Res. 903(1-2):74-85. [abstract]


Micevych P, Chaban V , Quesada A, Sinchak K. 2002. Oestrogen modulates cholecystokinin: opioid interactions in the nervous system. Pharmacol Toxicol. 91(6):387-97. [abstract]


Chaban VV , Mayer EA, Ennes HS, Micevych PE. 2003. Estradiol inhibits atp-induced intracellular calcium concentration increase in dorsal root ganglia neurons. Neuroscience. 2003;118(4):941-8. [abstract]


Chaban VV , Lakher AJ, Micevych P. 2004. A membrane estrogen receptor mediates intracellular calcium release in astrocytes. Endocrinology. 145(8):3788-95. [abstract]


Chaban VV , Li J , Ennes HS , Nie J , Mayer EA , McRoberts JA . 2004. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors enhance mechanical responses and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons through protein kinase C. Neuroscience. 128(2):347-57. [abstract]


Chaban VV and Micevych PE. 2005. Estrogen receptor-alpha mediates estradiol attenuation of ATP-induced Ca(2+) signaling in mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons. J Neurosci Res . 81(1):31-7. [abstract]

Last updated 11/27/07