In the News

LSU VETERINARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCES TEACHING AWARDS

OGUNDELE RECEIVES GRANT TO STUDY THE BRAIN’S NEURAL CIRCUITS, DECISION-MAKING, AND POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

Education

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Louisiana State University

PhD, University of Ilorin (Nigeria), College of Health Sciences, 2012

MSc, University of Ilorin (Nigeria), College of Health Sciences, 2009

BS, University of Ilorin (Nigeria), College of Health Sciences, 2005

Research Interest

The brain contains many neurons that are interconnected by synapses. In the cognitive centers, synchronous excitation of neurons produces action potential spikes and bursts that temporally encode information at the network level. My laboratory investigates synaptic mechanisms that govern network excitability and rate coding in the cognitive centers. Also, we explore the anatomical distribution of midbrain presynaptic terminals in the cognitive centers (hippocampus/cortex). We use in vivo electrophysiology to assess their role in learning/memory and other complex behaviors. 
 
We study small conductance (SK2) channel gating of synaptic kinases as a novel mechanism for neural excitability regulation. We use molecular biology, imaging, and protein analysis methods to dissect the mechanism of activity coupling between SK2 and dendritic spine translocation of CaM kinases (CaMKIIα) in the hippocampus. Using high impedance neural probes, we assess firing and burst rates by sampling extracellular action potentials in the hippocampus of WT and transgenic mice with specific mutations related to SK2 or CaMKIIα function. By combining in vivo recording with pharmacology and optogenetics, we assess activity coupling between SK2 potentiation and dendritic spine enrichment of T286 pCaMKIIα during hippocampal network stimulation. 
 
At the neural circuit level, we are interested in the function of midbrain dopamine and glutamate presynaptic terminals in the hippocampus. We use neuroanatomical (retrograde/anterograde) tracing methods to map these terminals in the layers of the hippocampus. We also combine high-throughput silicon probe recording with optogenetics (AAV/Cre-lox) to test functional connections between midbrain dopamine or glutamate neuron groups and hippocampal neurons. By combining anatomical and electrophysiological tracing methods, we assess the physiological basis of the anatomical maps in putative (CA1) pyramidal firing rate and putative unit synchrony. Combining optogenetics with neural recording is noteworthy as it permits the modulation of neuronal activity in awake mice undertaking a quantifiable cognitive test. We are interested in behavioral tests that can assess spatial learning and reward motivation in learning.

Teaching Interest

Gross Anatomy (VMED 5123, VMED 5124, and VMED 51215), Histology (VMED 5132), Neuroanatomy (VMED 5171 Lab), Cell Biology, Genetics, and Developmental Anatomy. I am the current coordinator of the spring semester comparative anatomy course (VMED 5125).

Clinical interest

Collaborate with clinicians for the demonstration of clinical concepts and methods in 1st Year Comparative Anatomy course (VMED 5125).  

Awards & Honors

2021 Dean's Merit Honor Roll

2021 Distinguished Teacher of the Year (Class of 2024)

2020 Innovation in Teaching Award

2020 Dean's Merit Honor Roll

2020 Distinguished Teacher of the Year (Class of 2023)

2020 Zoetis Teacher of the Year Award

2019 Dean's Merit Honor Roll

2018 Dean's Merit Honor Roll

2015 IBRO-ISN Postdoctoral Fellowship

2014 IBRO-ARC Short Stay Grant

2014 IBRO-Canadian School on Synaptic Plasticity

2013 Disease Model Mechanism Fellowship

2013 ISN-CAEN 1B Research Fellowship

2010 Carnegie/Zeiss Fellowship

2010 Doctoral Fellowship

Publications

Adeyelu T, Shrestha A, Adeniyi PA, Lee CC, Ogundele OM (2021).  CA1 Spike Timing is Impaired in the 129S Inbred Strain During Cognitive Tasks.  Neuroscience. 2021 Nov 17:S0306-4522(21)00580-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.11.021. PMID: 34800576.

Sultana R, Brooks CB, Shrestha A, Ogundele OM, Lee CC (2021).  Perineuronal Nets in the Prefrontal Cortex of a Schizophrenia Mouse Model: Assessment of Neuroanatomical, Electrophysiological, and Behavioral Contributions.  Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Oct 15;22(20):11140. doi: 10.3390/ijms222011140. PMID: 34681799.

Adeniyi PA, Shrestha A, Ogundele OM. Distribution of VTA Glutamate and Dopamine Terminals, and their Significance in CA1 Neural Network Activity.  Neuroscience. 2020 Oct 15;446:171-198. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.06.045. Epub 2020 Jul 9. PMID: 32652172

Shrestha A, Sultana R, Adeniyi PA, Lee CC, Ogundele OM. Positive Modulation of SK Channel Impedes Neuron-Specific Cytoskeletal Organization and Maturation. Dev Neurosci. 2020 Jun 24;1-13. doi: 10.1159/000507989. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32580196.  

Sultana R, Shrestha A, Lee CC, Ogundele OM. Disc1 Carrier Mice Exhibit Alterations in Neural pIGF-1Rβ and Related Kinase Expression. Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:94. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00094. eCollection 2020. PubMed PMID: 32431597; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7214624.  

Shrestha A, Adeniyi PA, Ogundele OM. Combined In Vivo Anatomical and Functional Tracing of Ventral Tegmental Area Glutamate Terminals in the Hippocampus.  J Vis Exp. 2020 Sep 9;(163). doi: 10.3791/61282. PMID: 32986031  

Shrestha A, Sultana R, Lee CC, Ogundele OM. SK Channel Modulates Synaptic Plasticity by Tuning CaMKIIα/β Dynamics. Front Synaptic Neurosci. 2019;11:18. doi: 10.3389/fnsyn.2019.00018. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31736736; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6834780.  

Sultana R, Gandhi T, Davila AM, Lee CC, Ogundele OM. Upregulated SK2 Expression and Impaired CaMKII Phosphorylation Are Shared Synaptic Defects Between 16p11.2del and 129S:Δdisc1 Mutant Mice. ASN Neuro. 2018 December; 10 (1759091418817641). PMCID: PMC6295693.

Ogundele OM, Lee CC, Francis J. Age-dependent alterations to paraventricular nucleus insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor as a possible link between sympathoexcitation and inflammation. J Neurochem. 2016 Dec;139(5):706-721. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13842. Epub 2016 Oct 19. PubMed PMID: 27626839; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5590639.  

Ogundele OM, Ebenezer PJ, Lee CC, Francis J. Stress-altered synaptic plasticity and DAMP signaling in the hippocampus-PFC axis; elucidating the significance of IGF-1/IGF-1R/CaMKIIα expression in neural changes associated with a prolonged exposure therapy. Neuroscience. 2017 Jun 14;353:147-165. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.04.008. Epub 2017 Apr 27. PubMed PMID: 28438613; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5578405.  

Grants

Targeting Nigrostriatal SK Channel to Regulate Thalamocortical Synchrony in Motor Function, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, $9,600.00

Attenuating Mechanical Lung Damage in the Progression of Sepsis; a Novel Neural Approach, NIH/NIGMS, $30,000.00

Neural plasticity in a disc1 model of schizophrenia, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, $5,000.00

IGF-1R dysregulation in autism, LSU SVM, $8,000.00

Effect of Vitamin D3 receptor stimulation on dopamine metabolism and calcium toxicity in 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned nigrostriatal system, National Research Fund (NRF) Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), $53,957.00