Dr Jenny Hiscock

Dr Jennifer Hiscock joined the University in 2005 as an academic. Her background is in biological research of nervous system development, and in biomedical research of animal models of epilepsy.

Post-doctoral studies in epilepsy were undertaken in the School of Medicine at Flinders University of South Australia with NH&MRC funding from 1993-99.

Extensive experience has been gained with immunohistochemical techniques in nervous system tissue, and in the use of confocal microscopy (high resolution fluorescent microscopy) of a variety of tissues as a project consultant.

My teaching interests and experience extend from Problem based learning approaches (undergraduate and post-graduate Medical Courses at Adelaide and Flinders University) to conventional Lecture/tutorial/practical courses (Flinders University and UNISA), as well as Externally delivered on-line courses (Nursing courses, UNISA).

BSc

BSc Honours

PhD

• Research interests encompass aspects of structure and function of the central nervous system. In collaboration with colleagues within the Sansom Institute, ongoing studies investigate aspects of the blood brain barrier important for drug entry and other body organs for drug clearance (collaboration with Andrew Davey), and past studies have looked at the maturation of the barrier during early brain development (collaboration with Janna Morrison). The significance of these studies relate to how inflammation can influence drug penetration into the brain and drug clearance from the body. New studies begun in 2008 (in collaboration with Dr Beverly Muhlhausler) investigated behavioural, and brain structural changes associated with eating a ‘junk’ food diet in rats.
• Beverly Mulhauser (Peter Doherty Research Fellow, PMB) PHARMACY HONOURS PROJECT 2008 Is Junk Food Addictive? The effect of high-fat feeding on the central Reward Circuitry Dr Beverly Muhlhausler (Beverly.Muhlhausler@unisa.edu.au) Dr Jenny Hiscock (Jennifer.Hiscock@unisa.edu.au) Eating a high-fat diet activates the reward circuitry in the brain in the same way as recreational drugs like cocaine. In experimental models, rats fed on a high-fat diet rapidly develop an addiction to high-fat foods, and show withdrawal symptoms when these foods are removed. It has been suggested that extended periods of high-fat feeding can lead to changes in the structure and function of the reward circuitry which lead to an increased desire to consume highly palatable foods. The nature of these changes is not known. This project will use immunohistological techniques to characterise the reward circuitry in the rat brain, and will use a rodent model to determine the effect of a high fat diet on the reward circuitry. Techniques will include tissue preparation, histology and immunohistochemisty. There will also be the opportunity to be involved in the in vivo rodent experiments.
• Andrew Davey (PMB) and PhD student Siriluk Jaisue Effect of systemic inflammation on localisation and expression of P-glycoprotein and Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides in kidney, liver, gut and the blood-brain barrier. Significance – Inflammation is known to affect penetration of drugs into the brain, and drug clearance at important body organs such as liver, kidney, and gut. This study will investigate changes in expression of molecules important in these processes in these body organs during acute inflammation.