Thomas Lentz, MD

Lentz first studied primitive nervous systems of lower invertebrates, such as hydra. He investigated the development of the neuromuscular junction of vertebrates employing electron microscopy and cytochemistry. A procedure was developed for the high-resolution localization of acetylcholine receptors by means of horseradish peroxidase-labeled a-bungarotoxin. This technique was applied to the study of localization of receptors at the mature and developing neuromuscular junction and central synapses. He performed research on the trophic regulation of growth, regeneration, and differentiation by the nervous system. Other research involved investigation of functional domains on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of the electric organ, muscle, and central nervous system. This work led to the identification of the a-bungarotoxin-binding and nicotine-binding site on the receptor and identification of amino acid residues critical to binding. He studied whether the acetylcholine receptor serves as a host cell receptor for the highly neurotropic rabies virus. Agents were identified that might act as anti-viral agents by blocking the virus-receptor interaction. He last investigated the entry and transport of rabies virus in neurons. His research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and resulted in over 200 scientific publications.