Faculty of Arts & Science
Neuroscience / CCBN

The research of Gerlinde Metz investigates the mechanisms of functional recovery and compensation in models for human neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. One of the current approaches focuses on elaborating the role of physiological and environmental aspects in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease, a disorder of the central nervous system mainly affecting motor function. The factors and mechanisms that lead to onset and progression of the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are still not clearly understood. A part of Gerlinde Metz’s research is to investigate some of these factors by using detailed behavioural analysis in rodent models, and also to evaluate the benefit of potential therapeutic interventions.

Gerlinde Metz is a scholar of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

Metzler MJ, Metz GA (2010) Analyzing the barriers and supports of knowledge translation using the PEO model. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy 77(3): 151-158.

Merrett DL, Kirkland SW, Metz GA (2010) Synergistic effects of age and stress in a rodent model of stroke. Behavioural Brain Research, 214(1): 55-59.

Knieling M, Metz GA, Antonow-Schlorke I, Witte OW (2009) Enriched environment promotes efficiency of compensatory movements after cerebral ischemia in rats. Neuroscience 163(3): 759-769.

Zucchi FCR, Kirkland SW, Jadavji NM, van Waes LT, Klein A, Supina RD, Metz GA (2009) Predictable stress versus unpredictable stress: a comparison in a rodent model of stroke. Behavioural Brain Research 205(1): 67-75.

Shriner AM, Drever FR, Metz GA (2009) The development of skilled walking in the rat. Behavioural Brain Research 205(2): 426-435.

Klein A, Metz GA, Papazoglou A, Nikkhah G (2007) Differential effects on forelimb grasping behaviour induced by fetal dopaminergic grafts in hemiparkinsonian rats. Neurobiology of Disease 27(1): 24-35.

Faraji J, Metz GA (2007) Sequential bilateral striatal lesions have additive effects on single skilled limb use in rats. Behavioural Brain Research, 177(2): 195-204.Jadavji

NM, Foroud A, Whishaw IQ, Metz GA (2006) Silencing Huntington's chorea: is RNA interference a potential cure? Impulse 3: 1-13

Field EF, Metz GA, Pellis SM, Whishaw IQ. Sexually dimorphic postural adjustments during vertical behaviour are altered in a unilateral 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease. Behav Brain Res. 2006 Nov 1;174(1):39-48. Epub 2006 Aug 22.

Jadavji NM, Kolb B, Metz GA. Enriched environment improves motor function in intact and unilateral dopamine-depleted rats. Neuroscience. 2006 Jul 21;140(4):1127-38. Epub 2006 May 6.

Reinhart CJ, McIntyre DC, Metz GA, Pellis SM. Play fighting between kindling-prone (FAST) and kindling-resistant (SLOW) rats. J Comp Psychol. 2006 Feb;120(1):19-30.

Farr TD, Liu L, Colwell KL, Whishaw IQ, Metz GA. Bilateral alteration in stepping pattern after unilateral motor cortex injury: a new test strategy for analysis of skilled limb movements in neurological mouse models. J Neurosci Methods. 2006 May 15;153(1):104-13. Epub 2005 Nov 22.

Metz GA, Jadavji NM, Smith LK. Modulation of motor function by stress: a novel concept of the effects of stress and corticosterone on behavior.
Eur J Neurosci. 2005 Sep;22(5):1190-200.

Metz GA, Tse A, Ballermann M, Smith LK, Fouad K. The unilateral 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease revisited: an electromyographic and behavioural analysis.
Eur J Neurosci. 2005 Aug;22(3):735-44.

Smith LK, Metz GA. Dietary restriction alters fine motor function in rats.
Physiol Behav. 2005 Aug 7;85(5):581-92.

Metz GA, Antonow-Schlorke I, Witte OW. Motor improvements after focal cortical ischemia in adult rats are mediated by compensatory mechanisms. Behav Brain Res. 2005 Jul 1;162(1):71-82. Epub 2005 Mar 28.

Metz GA, Schwab ME. Behavioral characterization in a comprehensive mouse test battery reveals motor and sensory impairments in growth-associated protein-43 null mutant mice. Neuroscience. 2004;129(3):563-74.

Riek-Burchardt M, Henrich-Noack P, Metz GA, Reymann KG (2004) Detection of chronic sensorimotor impairments in the ladder rung walking task in rats with endothelin-1-induced mild focal ischemia. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 137(2): 227-233.

Metz GA, Piecharka DM, Kleim JA, Whishaw IQ (2004) The topographic representation of movement to microstimulation of motor cortex is similar in control rats and rats depleted of dopamine (DA) by nigrostriatal bundle 6-hydroxydopamine. Brain Research, 1026(1):126-135.

Whishaw IQ, Li K, Whishaw PA, Gorny B, Metz GA (2003) Rotorod assessment reveals distinct forelimb and hind limb stepping impairments in dopamine-depleted rats: Use of the rotorod as a method for the qualitative analysis of skilled walking. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 126(1): 13-23.

Metz GA, Gonzalez CL, Piecharka DM, Whishaw IQ (2003) Acute alcohol administration improves skilled reaching success but not posture in intact but not 6-OHDA dopamine depleted rats: A subsystems analysis with relations to the anxiolytic effects of alcohol. Behavioral Brain Research, 142(1-2): 167-174.

Metz GA, Suchowersky O, Whishaw IQ (2003) Skilled Reaching: A useful tool to investigate animal models of human neurodegenerative disease. In: Neurobehavioral Methods and Effects in Occupational and Environmental Health (Lucchini R, Alessio L,eds). Proceedings of the National Institutes of Safety and Prevention, 95-101.