RESEARCH INTERESTS
Sleep and Sleep Disorders
Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders
Neuropharmacology

My research interests include the pharmacology of sleep and sleep disorders, and the central mechanisms of sleep apnea (cessation of respiration). Sleep apnea syndrome affects at least 3%-5% of the adult human population in the US, and in animal models we and others have shown that adult laboratory rats also exhibit apneas during all stages of sleep. It is now well established that the prevalence of sleep-related apnea is dramatically elevated in the elderly human population, ranging from 28%-67%. We are studying this phenomenon using laboratory rats of all ages in an animal model for sleep apnea. Our studies will provide new data about the mechanisms underlying sleep-related apnea. Since there is no FDA-approved pharmacological treatment for sleep apnea syndrome to date, our research may also suggest avenues for the development of a pharmacological therapeutic approach to sleep-related apneas.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

1980-Present Professor of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

2000-Present Professor of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

Carley DW, Trbovic SM, Bozanich A, Radulovacki M. Cardiopulmonary control in sleeping Sprague-Dawley rats treated with hydralazine. J Appl Physiol 1997;83:1954-1960.

Carley DW, Radulovacki M. Role of peripheral serotonin in the regulation of
central sleep apneas in rats. Chest 1999;115:1397-1401.

Carley DW, Berecek K, Videnovic A, Radulovacki M. Sleep disordered
respiration in phenotypically normotensive, genetically hypertensive rats.
Am J Resp Crit Care Med 2000;162:1474-1479.

Carley DW, Pavlovic S, Janelidze M, Radulovacki M. Functional role for
cannabinoids in respiratory stability during sleep. SLEEP 2002;25:391-398.

Saponjic J, Radulovacki M, Carley DW. Respiratory pattern modulation by the
pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2003;138:223-237.

Radulovacki M, Pavlovic S, Saponjic J, Carley DW. Modulation of reflex and
sleep related apnea by pedunculopontine tegmental and intertrigeminal neurons.
Resp Physiol Neurobiol 2004;143:293-306.

Saponjic J, Cvorovic J, Radulovacki M, Carley DW. Serotonin and noradrenaline modulate respiratory pattern disturbances evoked by glutamate injection into pedunculopontine tegmentum of anesthetized rats. SLEEP 2005;28:560-570.

Radulovacki M. Adenosine sleep theory: how I postulated it. Neurol Res 2005;27:137-138.

Saponjic J, Radulovacki M, Carley DW. Modulation of respiratory pattern and upper airway muscle activity by the pedunculopontine tegmentum: role of NMDA receptors. Sleep and Breathing 2006;10:195-202.

Radulovacki M, Stoiljkovic M, Saponjic J, Carley DW. Effects of intertrigeminal region NMDA and non-NMDA receptors on respiratory responses in rats. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2007;156:40-46.

Carley DW, Olopade CO, Ruigt GS, Radulovacki M. Efficacy of mirtazapine in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. SLEEP 2007;30:35-41.

Isenovic ER, Radulovacki M, Carley DW. Impact of intertrigeminal region AMPA receptor blockade on respiratory responses in rats. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2007;158:39-44.