Assistant Professor
Office: Wegner G7
E-Mail:
czajak@vetmed.wsu.edu
Phone: (509) 335-7645
Czaja Lab
Homepage
Veterinary Gross Anatomy VM 512
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or
reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all
that is left is a compromise." ...Robert Fritz
Imagine a future where neurosurgeons could implant new neurons into
damaged areas of the brain or replace neurons lost to aging, or even
enhance areas of the normal brain. I let this future begin today by
investigating the biology of postnatal neurogenesis in vitro and in
animal models utilizing technologies in cell biology, molecular biology
and histology.
Some spontaneous generation of new neurons occurs in the adult mammalian
nervous system. However, the addition of new neurons and replacement of
damaged neurons is very limited. Therefore, identification of neuronal
populations that can be stimulated to proliferate and differentiate into
viable neurons is one of the major challenges for developing therapeutic
strategies to repair neurological damage. Recently, we discovered that
neurons of the viscerosensory nodose ganglia in adult rats proliferate,
following systemic treatment with capsaicin, the active component of
chili peppers. These data suggest that the nodose ganglia, and perhaps
other primary afferent ganglia, may provide a model system for examining
neurogenesis in the adult animal, and perhaps it could provide a source
of neurons or precursors for autologous treatment of neurological
injuries.
However, the demonstration of adult neurogenesis in rat nodose ganglion
raises many more questions than answers. Where did these new neurons
originate and what happens to them? Do these new neurons cumulatively
add to the population of older cells, or do they replace older neurons
with no net increase in cell number? How many of these neurons extend
axons, receive synaptic input, and produce action potentials? It is
essential to address these critical questions before detailed
exploration of the mechanisms that underlie cellular proliferation in
the adult nodose ganglion, and examination of the therapeutic potential
of proliferating sensory neurons can begin.
Biographical Information
Krzysztof Czaja, Research Assistant Professor in VCAPP, received his
D.V.M. in 1993 from the Veterinary Medicine College, Academy of
Agriculture and Technology, Olsztyn, Poland. He received his Ph.D. in
Neuroanatomy from the University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
in 1997. From 1997-2007 he did postdoctoral work at the University of
Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland; the Institute for Plastination,
Heidelberg, Germany and United States Department of Agriculture, Animal
Physiology Research Unit, Athens, GA, USA. In 2007, he was appointed to
the faculty at the Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. Dr.
Czaja has been invited to give numerous presentations and symposia. He
joined the Department of VCAPP and the Neuroscience Graduate Faculty in
July of 2007.
Selected Publications (most recent at top)
Geuna S, Raimondo S, Ronchi G, Di SF, Tos P,
Czaja K,
Fornaro M (2009) Chapter 3 histology of the peripheral nerve and changes
occurring during nerve regeneration. Int Rev Neurobiol 87:27-46
Czaja K, Burns GA, Ritter RC (2008) Capsaicin-induced neuronal
death and proliferation of the primary sensory neurons located in the
nodose ganglia of adult rats. Neuroscience 154: 621-630.
Czaja K, Barb CR, Kraeling RR (2007) Hypothalamic neurons
innervating fat tissue in the pig express leptin receptor
immunoreactivity. Neurosci Lett 425:6-11
Czaja K (2006) Transsynaptic connections between the
hypothalamus and adipose tissue: relationship to reproduction. Soc
Reprod Fertil Suppl 62:45-53
Czaja K, Ritter RC, Burns GA (2006) N-methyl-D-aspartate
receptor subunit phenotypes of vagal afferent neurons in nodose ganglia
of the rat. J Comp Neurol 496:877-885
Czaja K, Ritter RC, Burns GA (2006) Vagal afferent neurons
projecting to the stomach and small intestine exhibit multiple
N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit phenotypes. Brain Res
Barb CR, Hausman GJ,
Czaja K (2005) Leptin: A metabolic
signal affecting central regulation of reproduction in the pig. Domest
Anim Endocrinol 29:186-192
Czaja K, Kaleczyc J, Sienkiewicz W, Lakomy M (2005) The
influence of experimental ileitis on the neuropeptide coding of enteric
neurons in the pig. Pol J Vet Sci 8:155-163
Sienkiewicz W, Kaleczyc J,
Czaja K, Lakomy M (2004)
Adrenergic, nitrergic and peptidergic innervation of the urethral muscle
in the boar. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 42:89-94
Czaja K, Kraeling RR, Barb CR (2003) Are hypothalamic neurons
transsynaptically connected to porcine adipose tissue? Biochem Biophys
Res Commun 311:482-485
Czaja K, Lakomy M, Kaleczyc J, Barb CR, Rampacek GB, Kraeling
RR (2002) Leptin receptors, NPY, and tyrosine hydroxylase in autonomic
neurons supplying fat depots in a pig. Biochem Biophys Res Commun
293:1138-1144
Czaja K, Lakomy M, Sienkiewicz W, Kaleczyc J, Pidsudko Z, Barb
CR, Rampacek GB, Kraeling RR (2002) Distribution of neurons containing
leptin receptors in the hypothalamus of the pig. Biochem Biophys Res
Commun 298:333-337
Czaja K, Kraeling R, Klimczuk M, Franke-Radowiecka A,
Sienkiewicz W, Lakomy M (2002) Distribution of ganglionic sympathetic
neurons supplying the subcutaneous, perirenal and mesentery fat tissue
depots in the pig. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars ) 62:227-234
Czaja K (2000) Distribution of primary afferent neurons
innervating the porcine oviduct and their immunohistochemical
characterization. Cells Tissues Organs 166:275-282
