Rowan-Virtua SOM and Virtua Health College of Medicine and Life Sciences of Rowan University | United States
Dr. Paola Leone is a neuroscientist and cell biologist whose work focuses on pediatric white matter diseases, mechanisms of myelination, and gene/cell‐based therapies to repair white matter pathology. After completing a doctoral degree in Neuroscience at the University of Padua (Italy), she undertook a post‑doctoral fellowship in Behavioral Neurobiology at Concordia University, Montreal, where early work included studies on dopamine receptors and opioid interaction in reward pathways. Over subsequent decades, her research has expanded to include using viral vector models, evaluating gene expression in glial and neuronal interactions, and metabolic demands in neurological disease models such as Alzheimer’s and leukodystrophies. According to institutional metrics, her department (Cell Biology at Rowan University) shows ~6,735 citations and an h‑index of 44 across roughly 176 articles (plus reviews and other contributions). Roan University These figures reflect both leadership in publications and influence in the neuroscience/cell biology community. Her scholarly contributions have significantly advanced understanding of neuron‑glia energetics, genetic regulation of myelination, and translational strategies for repair in white matter disease.
Featured Publications:
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“Blockade of D1 receptors by SCH 23390 antagonizes morphine- and amphetamine-induced place preference conditioning”
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“5HT3 receptor antagonists block morphine and nicotine- but not amphetamine-induced reward”
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“SCH 23390 blocks drug-conditioned place preference and place-aversion: anhedonia (lack of reward) or apathy (lack of motivation) after dopamine-receptor blockade?”
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“Morphine-dopamine interaction: ventral tegmental morphine increases nucleus accumbens dopamine release as measured by in vivo microdialysis”
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“Intrahippocampal injection of a HSV-1 vector expressing GluR6 induces spontaneous limbic seizures and CA1 and CA3 hyperexcitability”
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“Differential involvement of ventral tegmental Mu, Delta and Kappa opioid receptors in modulation of basal mesolimbic dopamine release: In vivo microdialysis studies”
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“Ventral mesencephalic & opioid are involved in modulation of basal mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission: an anatomical localization study”
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“Striatal tissue preparation facilitates early sampling in microdialysis and reveals an index of neuronal damage”
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“Mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission is increased by administration of µ-opioid receptor antagonists”
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“Direct measurement of extracellular lactate in the human hippocampus during spontaneous seizures”