Titles and Education

1. Professor of Small Animal Surgery and Associate Dean for Research
2. BS 1976, University of Illinois
3. DVM 1978, University of Illinois
4. Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery 1978-79, University of California
5. Residency in Small Animal Surgery 1979-82, University of Georgia
6. MS 1982, University of Georgia
7. Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons 1985

Research

Inflammation of the bladder due to non-infectious causes, and mechanisms that modulate pain sensation and bladder healing.  The laboratory's primary research emphasis is the causes and pathogenesis of non-infectious cystitis and and the effects of infectious cystitis on the afferent nervous system. Current research is focused specifically on the role of microRNA-29 in regulation of lower urinary tract fibrosis. The overarching goal is determination of how fibrosis of the lower urinary tract affects function.

Responsibilities

Currently serving as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Training.  In this capacity, assisting faculty with establishment and development of their programs of research, directing summer research program for veterinary students, and co-directing an NIH/NIDDK K12 program to support progression of investigators from postdoctoral training to successful indepence as an investigator.

Clinical Interests

Graduate Training

Graduate students who recently completed PhDs and the titles of their dissertations include Jian Teng (2006), "The Effects of Steroid Hormones on Urothelial Cell Proliferation", Simon Guerios (2007), "Visceral Inflammation and Somatic Pain Sensation", Fabiola Merriam (2009), "Role of Cannabinoids in Bladder Pain and Inflammation", and Sara Colopy (2012) "Ontogeny of Bladder Healing".

Recent Publications

1. Jones MR, Wang Z-Y, Bjorling DE. Intrathecal cannabinoid-1 receptor agonist prevents referred hyperalgesia in acute acrolein-induced cystitis in rats. Am J Clin Exp Urol 2015;3:28-35. PMCID: PMC4446380.
2. Bjorling DE, Wang Z-Y, Vezina CM, Ricke WA, Keil KP, Yu W, Guo L, Zeidel ML, Hill WG. Evaluation of voiding assays in mice: Impact of genetic Strains and gender. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2015;308:F1369-F1378. PMCID: PMC4469884.
3. Wang Z-Y, Wang P, Hillard CJ, Bjorling DE. Attenuation of cystitis and pain sensation in mice lacking fatty acid amide hydrolase. J Mol Neurosci 2015;55:968-976. PMC4355044.
4. Wang Z-Y, Wang P, Bjorling DE. Activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 inhibits bladder activity induced by nerve growth factor. Neurosci Lett 2015;589:19-24. PMC4339033.
5. Wang ZY, McDowell T, Wang P, Alvarez R, Gomez T, Bjorling DE. Activation of CB1 inhibits NGF-induced sensitization of TRPV1 in adult mouse afferent neurons. Neuroscience 2014;277:679-689. PMCID: PMC4339033.

6.  

   Bjorling DE, Wang ZY. Potential of endocannabinoids to control bladder pain. Front Syst Neurosci 2018;12:17. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2018.00017. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5962905.

7. Macoska JA, Wang Z-Y, Virta J, Zacharias N, Bjorling DE. Therapeutic inhibition of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis prevents peri-urethral collagen accumulation and lower urinary tract dysfunction in vivo. Prostate 2019; DOI: 10.1002/pros.23781, PMID 30811623, PMCID in process.