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Faculty Detail    
Name JOHN JOSEPH HABLITZ
  
Campus Address SHEL 1014 Zip 2182
Phone  (205) 934-0742
E-mail  jhablitz@uab.edu
Other websites
     


Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type Department Division Rank
Primary  Neurobiology  Neurobiology Professor Emeritus
Center  Epilepsy Center  Epilepsy Center Professor Emeritus

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology 
Cellular and Molecular Biology Program 
Integrative Biomedical Sciences 
Medical Scientist Training Program 
Neuroscience 
Neuroscience Graduate Program 
Neurosciences 
Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine 

Biographical Sketch 
John Hablitz received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Houston in 1972. Following an Associate Professor position at Baylor College of Medicine, he joined UAB in 1989. He is presently Professor of Neurobiology.

Society Memberships
Organization Name Position Held Org Link
American Epilepsy Society  Member  www.aesnet.org 
Society for Neuroscience  Member  www.sfn.org 
 



Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Cellular Mechanisms of Neurotransmission
Description
Dr. Hablitz is using studies on synaptic transmission to further understand basic biophysical properties of mammalian central neurons, as well as to explore the pathophysiology of experimental epilepsy. Electrophysiological techniques, including whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from visually identified neurons, are used in brain slice preparations. The goal of these studies is to determine the types of synaptic interactions present among pyramidal cells and interneurons in neocortex and how these patterns change during development. Additional studies involve the use of optical imaging techniques. These studies examine the role of presynaptic receptors in regulating glutamate and GABA release from individual synaptic boutons in normal neocortex and an animal model of cortical dysplasia.

Selected Publications 
Publication PUBMEDID
Dougherty, S.E., Hollimon, J.J., McMeekin LJ, Bohannon AS, West AB, Lesort M, Hablitz JJ, Cowell RM. Hyperactivity and cortical disinhibition in mice with restricted expression of mutant huntingtin to parvalbumin-positive cells. Neurobiol Dis. 2014;62:160-171  24121117 
Dougherty, S.E., Bartley, A.F., Lucas, E.K., Hablitz, J.J., Dobrunz, L.E Cowell, R. M. Mice lacking the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1alpha exhibit alterations in inhibitory synaptic transmission in the motor cortex. Neuroscience 2014,271C:137-148.   24769433 
Parrish, R.R., Albertson, A., Buckingham, S.C., Hablitz, J.J., Mascia, K.L., Haselden, W. and Lubin, F. Status epilepticus triggers early and late alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and NMDA glutamate receptor grin2b DNA methylation levels in the hippocampus. Neuroscience 2013;248:602-619   23811393 
Calfa, G., Hablitz, J.J. and Pozzo-Miller, L. Network hyperexcitability in hippocampal slices from mecp2 mutant mice revealed by voltage-sensitive dye imaging. J Neurophysiol. 2011, 105:1768-84.   21307327 
Albertson, A., Yang, J. and Hablitz, J.J. Decreased hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) in layer 5 pyramidal neurons enhances excitability in focal cortical dysplasia. J Neurophysiol. 2011, 106:2189-2200.   21307327 
Mathew, S.S., Pozzo-Miller, L. and Hablitz, J.J. Kainate modulates presynaptic GABA release from two vesicle pools. J. Neurosci. 2008, 28:725-731  18199771 
Campbell, S.L., Mathew, S.S., Hablitz, J.J. Pre- and postsynaptic effects of kainate on layer II/III pyramidal cells in rat neocortex. Neuropharmacology, 2007, 53: 37-47.  17543353  
Bandyopadhyay, S., Sutor, B. and Hablitz, J.J. Endogenous acetylcholine enhances synchronized interneuron activity in rat neocortex. J Neurophysiol, 2006; 95: 1908-1916  16338999 
Wu, JP and Hablitz, JJ.Cooperative activation of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors enhances a hyperpolarization-activated inward current in layer I interneurons.
J Neurosci. 2005, 25:6322-8 		 16000622  
Keros, S and Hablitz, JJ. Subtype-specific GABA transporter antagonists synergistically modulate phasic and tonic GABAA conductances in rat neocortex. J Neurophysiol. 2005, 94:2073-85.  15987761 
Albertson, A., Williams. S.B. and Hablitz, J.J. Regulation of epileptiform discharges in rat neocortex by HCN channels. J. Neurophysiol. 2013, 110:1733-1743  23864381 
Gonzalez-Islas C and Hablitz, JJ. Dopamine enhances EPSCs in layer II/III pyramidal neurons in rat prefrontal cortex. J. Neurosci. 2003, 23: 867-875.  12574415 
DeFazio, R.A., Keros, S., Quick, M.W. and Hablitz, J.J. Potassium-coupled chloride cotransport controls intracellular chloride in rat neocortical pyramidal neurons. J. Neurosci. 2000 20:8068-8076.  11050128  
Zhou, F.M. and Hablitz, J.J. Dopamine modulation of membrane and synaptic properties of interneurons in rat cerebral cortex . J. Neurophysiol. 1999, 81: 967-976.  10085325