Our principal objective is to understand the mechanism in which the Thyroid Hormones (THs) act in the nervous system. In this research we found several important and novel features: a) THs acutely modulates ion channels in the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of vertebrates, b) THs act acutely on the pre- and post-synaptic regions, c) T3 enhances the spontaneous quantal release of ACh. This pre-synaptic effect is inhibited by reverse T3 (rT3), d) The decay time of miniature end-plate currents (MEPCs) are acutely increased by T3 and diminished in rT3 and e) T3 produces dramatic behavioral changes in free running animals.

In addition, three important collaborations are being carried out by our group. With the Dr. José Lasalde's group (Rio Piedras Campus, UPR) the nicotinic Acetylcholine receptor is analyzed from several point of view including mutations producing the Slow Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome. In the second relevant collaboration we are analyzing the relationship between thyrotropin (TSH) and menopause in Puerto Rico. This last project is in collaboration with Dr. Josefina Romaguera, Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz and Dr Erick Suárez from the Medical Sciences Campus UPR. The third relevant collaborations is with Dr. Warren Burggren, from the North Texas University. In collaboration with Dr. Burggren, we are analyzing the basic mechanism in which THs act altering the behavioral phenotyping of mice.