Suzanne Sollars

Teaching

Behavioral Neuroscience

Research

Sensory neurophysiology, gustatory system

Education

Ph.D., University of Washington, 1994, Major: Physiological Psychology, Minor: Developmental Psychology, Thesis Advisor: Ilene L. Bernstein, Ph.D.  Dissertation Title: The Role of the Chorda Tympani Nerve in the Sodium Chloride Aversion of Fischer 344 Rats.

B. A., University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 1987 Major: Psychology Minor: English

Federal Funding

Principal Investigator, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Plasticity in the Developing Taste System, #R01 DC04846, $925,000/5 yrs. Direct Costs, May 2001 to April 2006.

Principal Investigator, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Function and Organization of the Geniculate Ganglion, #R03 DC03500, $105,000/3 yrs. Direct Costs, May 1998 to April 2001.

Professional Experience

2002 - Present Director, Graduate Program in Psychobiology, University of Nebraska Omaha

2002 - Present Courtesy (Adjunct) Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Nebraska Omaha

1998 -2001 Research Assistant Professor, University of Virginia

Neurophysiological and neuroanatomical studies of the gustatory system using in vivo single-cell and whole-nerve preparations.

National Professional Service

Association for Chemoreception Sciences

2004 Chair, Chemosensory Enterprise and Mentorship Alliance
2004 Educational Outreach
2003 Organizer of Committee for Junior Investigators
2003 Program Committee
2002 Program Committee
1999 Program Committee

National Institutes of Health

2001 Grant Reviewer on Special Emphasis Panel, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Israel Science Foundation
2003 Grant Reviewer

Publications

Martin, L. J. & Sollars, S. I. (2017). Contributory role of sex differences in the variations of gustatory function. Invited Review, Special Edition, Journal of Neuroscience Research, 95, 594-603.

Omelian, J. M., Samson, K. A. & Sollars, S. I. (2016). Chronic oral capsaicin exposure during development leads to adult rats with reduced taste bud volumes. Chemosensory Perception, 9, 95 – 104. 

Omelian, J. M., Berry, M. J., Gomez, A. M., Apa, K. L. & Sollars, S. I. (2016). Developmental time course of peripheral cross-modal sensory interaction of the trigeminal and gustatory systems. Developmental Neurobiology, 76, 626–641.

Martin, L. J. & Sollars, S. I. (2015). Long-term alterations in peripheral taste responses to NaCl in adult rats following neonatal chorda tympani transection. Chemical Senses, 40: 97–108.

Sollars, S. I., Walker, B. R., Thaw, A. K. & Hill, D. L. (2006). Age-related decrease of the chorda tympani nerve terminal field in the nucleus of the solitary tract is prevented by dietary sodium restriction during development. Neuroscience, 137, 1229–1236.

Sollars, S. I. (2005). The tongue does not the taste system make. Invited news review, Physiology News (Journal of Physiology).

Sollars, S. I. (2005). Chorda tympani nerve transection at different developmental ages produces differential effects on taste bud volume and papillae morphology in the rat. Journal of Neurobiology, 64, 310–320.

Carr, V. McM, Sollars, S. I. & Farbman, A. I. (2005). Neuronal cell death and population dynamics in the developing rat geniculate ganglion. Neuroscience, 134, 1301–1308.

Sollars, S. I. & Hill, D. L. (2005). In vivo recordings from rat geniculate ganglia: taste response properties of individual greater superficial petrosal and chorda tympani neurons.  Journal of Physiology, 564.3, 877¬–893.

Farbman, A. I., Guagliardo, N., Sollars, S. I. & Hill, D. L. (2004). Each sensory nerve arising from the geniculate ganglion expresses a unique fingerprint of neurotrophin receptor genes. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 78: 659–667.

Hendricks, S. J., Sollars, S. I. & Hill, D. L. (2002). Injury-induced functional plasticity in the peripheral gustatory system. The Journal of Neuroscience, 22, 8607-8613.

Sollars, S. I., Smith, P. C. & Hill, D. L. (2002). Time course of morphological alterations of fungiform papillae and taste buds following chorda tympani transection in neonatal rats. Journal of Neurobiology, 51, 223¬–236.

Sollars, S. I. & Hill, D. L. (2000). Lack of functional and morphological susceptibility of the greater superficial petrosal nerve to developmental dietary sodium restriction.  Chemical Senses, 25, 719¬–727.

Sollars, S. I. & Bernstein, I. L. (2000). Neonatal chorda tympani transection permanently disrupts fungiform taste bud and papilla structure in the rat.  Physiology & Behavior, 69, 439–444.

Sollars, S. I. & Hill, D. L. (1998). Taste responses in the greater superficial petrosal nerve: substantial sodium salt and amiloride sensitivities demonstrated in two rat strains.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 112, 991–1000.

Sollars, S. I. & Bernstein, I. L. (1996). Neonatal chorda tympani transection alters adult preference for ammonium chloride in the rat.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 110, 551–558.

Sollars, S. I., Tracy, C. J. & Bernstein, I. L. (1996). Retention of conditioned taste aversion to NaCl after chorda tympani transection in Fischer 344 and Wistar rats.  Physiology & Behavior, 60, 65–69. 

Frankmann, S. P., Sollars, S. I. & Bernstein, I. L. (1996). Sodium appetite in the sham-drinking rat after chorda tympani nerve transection.  American Journal of Physiology, 271, R339–R345.

Schafe, G. E., Sollars, S. I. & Bernstein, I. L. (1995). The CS-US interval and taste aversion learning: a brief look.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 109, 799–802.

Sollars, S. I. & Bernstein, I. L. (1994). Amiloride sensitivity in the neonatal rat.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 108, 981–987.

Sollars, S. I. & Bernstein, I. L. (1994). Gustatory deafferentation and desalivation: effects on NaCl preference of Fischer 344 rats.  American Journal of Physiology, 266, R510–R517.

Sollars, S. I. & Bernstein, I. L. (1992). Sodium appetite after transection of the chorda tympani nerve in Wistar and Fischer 344 rats.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 106, 1023–1027. 

Sollars, S. I., Sollars, P. J. & Bernstein, I. L. (1991). Reversal of the sodium chloride aversion of Fischer 344 rats by chorda tympani nerve transection.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 105, 603–605. 

Sollars, S. I., Midkiff, E. E. & Bernstein, I. L. (1990). Genetic transmission of NaCl aversion in the Fischer 344 rat.  Chemical Senses, 15, 521–527.

Abstract Publications

Omelian, J. M. & Sollars, S. I. (November, 2016). Using assessment strategies to adapt a traditional neuroscience lecture to a hybrid format. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

Riquier, A. J. & Sollars, S. I. (November, 2016). Developmentally dependent microglia increase following chorda tympani transection in rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

Martin, L. J., Samson, K. K., Orand, A. H. & Sollars, S. I. (November, 2016). Transganglionic degeneration of the chorda tympani nerve terminal field following neonatal denervation. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts.

Riquier, A. J. & Sollars, S. I. (2016). Microglia response to chorda tympani transection in adult and juvenile rats. Chemical Senses, 41.

Martin, L. J., Samson, K. K., Orand, A. H. & Sollars, S. I. (2016). Chorda tympani terminal fields in adult rats are greatly diminished following neonatal chorda tympani transection. Chemical Senses, 41.

Martin, L. J. & Sollars, S. I. (2015). Sex differences in rat glossopharyngeal nerve responses. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 45.

Omelian, J. M. & Sollars, S. I. (2015) Active learning through the incorporation of research into an introductory course: strategies and challenges. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 45.

Omelian, J. M., Martin, L. J. & Sollars, S. I. (2014) Electrophysiological responses of the chorda tympani nerve following chronic capsaicin exposure in adult rats. Chemical Senses, 39.

Martin, L. J. & Sollars, S. I. (2014). Neonatal chorda tympani transection reduces adult glossopharyngeal nerve responses to NaCl in rats. Chemical Senses, 39.

Martin, L. J. & Sollars, S. I. (2013). Functional profile of the adult glossopharyngeal nerve following neonatal chorda tympani transection in rats. Chemical Senses, 38.

Omelian, J. M. & Sollars, S. I. (2013). Long-term acclimation to capsaicin affects taste bud volume and consumption in rats. Chemical Senses, 38.

Todd, L. J., Omelian, J. M. & Sollars, S. I. (2012). Oral exposure to capsaicin leads to a transient reduction in taste bud volume in Sprague-Dawley rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 37.

Davis, J. M. & Sollars, S. I. (2012). Capsaicin given orally in moderate doses does not produce edema in rat tongue tissue. Chemical Senses, 37.

Samson, K. K., & Sollars, S. I. (2010). Orally administered capsaicin reduces taste bud volumes in rats treated as adults, but not those treated as neonates. Chemical Senses, 35.

Samson, K. K. & Sollars, S. I.  (2009). The effects of orally administered capsaicin on rat taste bud volume and papillae morphology throughout development. Chemical Senses, 34.

Samson, K. & Sollars, S. (2007). Effects of early chorda tympani transection on the adult rat geniculate ganglion. Chemical Senses, 32.

Gomez, A. M. & Sollars, S. I. (2006). Developmental effects of lingual nerve transection on taste bud volumes in rat. Chemical Senses, 31.

Gomez, A. M. & Sollars, S. I. (2005). Developmental susceptibility of fungiform papillae following lingual nerve transection in rats. Chemical Senses, 30. 

Lane, A. H. & Sollars, S. I. (2005). Development of gustatory nerve terminal field volumes following neonatal chorda tympani nerve transection. Chemical Senses, 30.

Carr, V. McM, Sollars, S. & Farbman, A. I. (2005). Neuronal death in the developing rat geniculate ganglion. Chemical Senses, 30.

Lane, A. H., Szlachetka, A. M. & Sollars, S. I. (2004).  Greater superficial petrosal and glossopharyngeal terminal field following neonatal chorda tympani transection.  Society for Neurosciences Abstracts, 30.

Carr, V. M., Sollars, S. I., & Farbman, A. I. (2004). Neuronal cell death in the rat geniculate ganglion during development. Chemical Senses, 29.

Sollars, S. I. (2003).  Age-related differences in the susceptibility of fungiform papillae to chorda tympani nerve transection. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 29.

Sollars, S. I. & Engelhardt, P. E. (2003).  Golgi analysis of neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract of neonatal chorda tympani transected rats.  Chemical Senses, 28, A10.

Farbman, A. I., Sollars, S. I., Guagliardo, N. & Hill, D. L. (2003).  Each sensory nerve arising from the geniculate ganglion (GG) expresses a unique fingerprint of neurotrophin receptor genes. Chemical Senses, 28, A94.

Hill, D. L., Sollars, S. I., & May, O. L. (2003).  Plasticity in the developing central gustatory brainstem. Chemical Senses, 28, 81.

Hill, D. L., Sollars, S. I., & May, O. L. (2002). Development and plasticity of the gustatory terminal fields in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract.  Japanese Association for Study of Taste and Smell Annual Conference, JASTS, 9.

Farbman, A. I., Sollars, S. I., Guagliardo, N. & Hill, D. L. (2002).  Chorda tympani (CT) neurons express neurotrophin receptor genes different from greater superficial petrosal (GSP) neurons. Chemical Senses, 27, A96.

Sollars, S. I. & Hill, D. L. (2001). Neurophysiological taste responses of single geniculate ganglion cells recorded in vivo in the rat.  Chemical Senses, 26, 1084.