Institute Report Volume XLIV, Number III, November 2015 the Puzzle of Parkinson’S Biology Head, Cadets Explore Causes and Cures for This Neurological Condition
Virginia Military Institute Institute Report Volume XLIV, Number III, November 2015 The Puzzle of Parkinson’s Biology Head, Cadets Explore Causes and Cures for this Neurological Condition By Mary Price Research currently underway in the VMI biology department could someday yield promising treatments for Parkinson’s disease, a neurological condition that causes a deterioration in motor skills and affects 7 million people worldwide. Earlier this year, Col. James “Jim” Turner ’65, head of the biology department, began studying the relationship between the hormone estrogen and nitric oxide, a gas that drives blood vessels to expand. Turner used zebrafish as his study subjects, as the fish reproduce rapidly in a laborato- ry setting. In his early research, Turner found that fish deprived of estrogen developed arrhythmias and other heart problems, a finding that came as no surprise as sci- entists have known for decades that high levels of estrogen protect pre-menopausal women from heart attacks. Connor Culley ’16 (left) and Derek Emerson ’16 transfer zebrafish to a test solution.– VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin. The research into fish, estrogen, and nitric oxide was still ongoing when Turner See Parkinson’s, page 2 Chief of Staff, Combat Veteran Reflects on 27-Year Army Career By Sherri Tombarge On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Col. Jamie Inman ’86 won’t be leading an of service in the Army. That career began soon after gradua- honors forum as he does most Wednesdays this semester. Instead tion, when Inman, as a lieutenant in the artillery, worked with he’ll be observing Veterans Day and Founders Day with the rest Pershing nuclear missiles in Germany.
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