Colleen Hegg
Associate Professor Michigan State University
- East Lansing MI
Colleen Hegg is a neurotoxicologist, and interim associate dean of research and graduate studies for the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Biography
She is currently investigating whether endogenous ATP, released by noxious stimulation due to airborne pollutants or toxicants, acts as a neurotrophic factor in the peripheral olfactory system. The olfactory system has not been extensively studied from a toxicological perspective and Hegg is poised to initiate studies on the effects of environmental toxicants, including components of cigarette smoke and other airborne toxicants, on olfaction, glial-like sustentacular cell function, toxicity and neuroregeneration. She also has a long-standing interest in the cellular mechanisms of toxicity, particularly, but not exclusively, in the nervous system.
In addition to her active research and primary administrative duties, Hegg is a member of the College’s Diversity and Inclusivity Committee and the Dean’s Advisory Council. She is co-champion of our Strategic Planning Goal 2.3, which aims to strengthen the research infrastructure and resources and is the College’s mentoring liaison to the MSU Graduate School. She is a member of the College Advisory Committee.
Industry Expertise
Areas of Expertise
Education
University of Wisconsin
Ph.D.
Environmental Toxicology
1996
Kalamazoo College
B.A.
Chemistry
1990
Journal Articles
Constitutive and evoked release of ATP in adult mouse olfactory epithelium
Open Life SciencesSébastien Hayoz , Cuihong Jia and Colleen Cosgrove Hegg
2024-01-16
In adult olfactory epithelium (OE), ATP plays a role in constant cell turnover and post-injury neuroregeneration. We previously demonstrated that constitutive and ATP-evoked ATP release are present in neonatal mouse OE and underlie continuous cell turn-over and post-injury neuroregeneration, and that activation of purinergic P2X7 receptors is involved in the evoked release. We hypothesized that both releases are present in adult mouse OE. To study the putative contribution of olfactory sensory neurons to ATP release, we used olfactory sensory neuronal-like OP6 cells derived from the embryonic olfactory placode cells.
Cannabinoid receptor signaling induces proliferation but not neurogenesis in the mouse olfactory epithelium
NeurogenesisChelsea R Hutch, Colleen C Hegg
2016-01-21
The olfactory epithelium actively generates neurons through adulthood, and this neurogenesis is tightly regulated by multiple factors that are not fully defined. Here, we examined the role of cannabinoids in the regulation of neurogenesis in the mouse olfactory epithelium.
Effect of IP3R3 and NPY on age-related declines in olfactory stem cell proliferation
Neurobiology of AgingCuihong Jia, Colleen C. Hegg
2015-02-01
Losing the sense of smell because of aging compromises health and quality of life. In the mouse olfactory epithelium, aging reduces the capacity for tissue homeostasis and regeneration. The microvillous cell subtype that expresses both inositol trisphosphate receptor type 3 (IP3R3) and the neuroproliferative factor neuropeptide Y (NPY) is critical for regulation of homeostasis, yet its role in aging is undefined. We hypothesized that an age-related decline in IP3R3 expression and NPY signaling underlie age-related homeostatic changes and olfactory dysfunction.
