LABORATORY OF MOLECULAR & 
BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY
GRACE C.  ROSSI,  Ph.D.




Profile






Dr. Grace Rossi received her Ph.D. from the City University of New York (Biopsychology Program) in 1991 following her 
training in the NeuroPsychology Laboratory with Dr. Richard J. Bodnar.  Her research involved the exploration of 
synergistic interactions among various brainstem regions. Through detailed microinjection studies, she documented the 
presence of interactions among various brainstem regions responsible for marked potentiation of opioid analgesia. Studies 
included neuroanatomical surgery and cannulae placements and correlation of various regions with activity. She then 
completed a 3 year post-doctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, followed by a 
Research Associate position in the prestigious Sloan Kettering Institute. Current research involves the study of the 
functional role of opiate receptors through the use of anti-sense strategies which are based upon the molecular biology of 
cloned receptors.  The actions of these antisense approaches are determined in behavioral testing, followed by anatomical 
and morphological correlations. In 1999, she joined the faculties of the Psychology Department and the Psy D Subprogram of 
Long Island University at the C.W. Post Campus.  She continues as a Research Consultant and Scientist in the Neurology 
Department at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.






Research Interests






Dr. Rossi’s laboratory has several research interests involving the pain inhibitory system.  Her central focus is the 
pharmacological characterization of the endogenous pain system. Dr. Rossi continues to use the antisense technique in other 
ways, namely to study opiate tolerance, and synergistic interactions of pain-relieving medications.  In addition to these 
studies, Dr. Rossi continues to collaborate with individuals at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she performs 
various antisense preparations on the behavioral and pharmacological characterization of neurological symptoms associated 
with paraneoplastic syndrome.






Relevant Publications

 

1. Neilan, C.L., King M.A., Rossi, G., Ansonoff, M., Pintar, J.E., Schiller, P.W., and Pasternak, G.W. Differential 
	sensitivities of mouse strains to morphine and [Dmt1]DALDA analgesia.  Brain Research, submitted 7/02. 
2. Silva, R.M., Grossman, H.C., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., Bodnar, R.J. Pharmacological characterization of 
	B-endorphin and Dynorphin A1-17 -induced feeding using G-protein alpha subunit antisense probes in rats. Peptides, 
	(2002) 23(6):1101-6.
3. Rossi, G.C., Pellegrino, M., Shane, R., Abbadie, C.A., Dustman J., Jimenez, C. Bodnar, R.J., Pasternak, G.W., 
	Allen, R.G.  Characterization of rat prepro Orphanin/nociceptin (154-181): Nociceptive processing in supraspinal 
	sites. Journal of Pharmacol and Exper Ther , (2002) 300(1): 257-64.
4. Shane R., Lazar, D.A., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J. Analgesia elicited by OFQ/Nociceptin and 
	its fragments from the amygdala in rats.  Brain Research, (2001) 907 (1-2):109-16. 
5. Silva, R.M., Grossman, H.C., Hadjimarkou, M.M., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., Bodnar, R.J. Dynorphin A1-17 
	induced feeding: Pharmacological characterization using selective opioid antagonists and antisense probes in rats. 
	Journal of Pharmacol and Exper Ther , (2002) 301: 513-518.
6. Silva, R.M., Hadjimarkou, M.M., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J.  Beta-Endorphin-induced feeding: 
	Pharmacological characterization using selective opioid antagonists and antisense probes in rats Journal of 
	Pharmacol and Exper Ther , (2001) 297(2): 590-596.
7. Mathis, J.P, Rossi, G.C., Pellegrino, M., Jimenez, C., Pasternak, G.W.,and Allen, R.G. Carboxyl terminal peptides 
	derived from prepro-orphaninFQ/nociceptin (ppOFQ/N) are produced in the hypothalamus and possess analgesic bio-
	activities. Brain Research, (2001) 895(1-2): 89-94. 
8. Silva, R.M., Rossi, G.C., Mathis, J.P., Standifer, K.M., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J.  Morphine and morphine-
	6$-glucuronide-induced feeding are differentially reduced by G-protein "-subunit antisense probes in rats.  Brain 
	Research, (2000) 876(1-2): 62-75.
9. Letchworth S.L., Mathis, J.M., Rossi, G.C., Bodnar, R.J., and Pasternak, G.W.  Autoradiographic localization of 
	125I[Tyr14]OFQ and 125I[Tyr10]OFQ(1-11) binding sites in rat brain.  J. Comparative Neurology, (2000) 423(2): 
	319-29.
10. Stein, J.A., Znamensky, V., Baumer, F., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J.  Mercaptoacetate induces 
	feeding through central opioid-mediated mechanisms in rats. Brain Research, (2000), 864(2): 240-251.
11. Pan, Y-X., Xu, J., Bolan, E.A., Chang, A., Marhurter, L., Rossi, G.C., and Pasternak, G.W.  Isolation and 
	expression of a novel alternatively spliced mu opioid receptor isoform, MOR-1F. FEBS Lett, (2000) 466(2-3):337-40. 
12. Pan, Y.X., Xu, J., Bolan E.A., Abbadie, C., Chang, A., Zuckerman, A., Rossi, G.C. and Pasternak, G.W.  
	Identification and characterization of three new alternatively spliced µ-opioid receptor isoforms.  Molecular 
	Pharmacology, 56, (1999) 396-403.
13. Rossi, G.C., Mathis, J.P., and Pasternak, G.W. Analgesic activity of orphanin FQ2, murine prepro-orphanin FQ 
	141-157 in mice.  Neuroreport (1998) 9(6):1165-8.
14. Pasternak, K., Rossi, G.C., Zuckerman, A., and Pasternak, G.W.  Antisense mapping KOR-1: Evidence for kappa 
	analgesic mechanisms.  Brain Research, (1999) 826,(2): 289-292.
 15. Leventhal, L., Silva, R.M., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J. Morphine-6-B-Glucuronide- induced 
	hyperphagia: characterization of opioid action by selective antagonists and antisense mapping in rats. Journal of 
	Pharmacol and Exper Ther , (1998) 287(2):538-544. 
16. Mathis, J.P., Goldberg, I.E., Rossi, G.C., Leventhal, L., and Pasternak, G.W.  Antinociceptive analogs of 
	orphanin FQ/nociceptin(1-11).Life Sciences, (1998) 63(11): PL161-166.
17. Goldberg, I.E., Rossi, G.C., Letchworth, S.R., Mathis, J.P., Ryan-Moro, J., Leventhal, L., Su, W., Emmel, D., 
	Bolan, E.A. and Pasternak, G.W.  Pharmacological characterization of endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 in mouse 
	brain.  Journal of Pharmacol and Exper Ther , (1998)286(2):1007-1013.
18. Chang, A., Emmel, D.W., Rossi, G. and Pasternak, G.W.  Methadone analgesia in morphine-insensitive CXBK mice.  
	Eur. J. Pharmacol, (1998) 351(2): 189-191.
19. Krzanowska, E., Rossi, G., Pasternak, G.W. and Bodnar, R.J.  Potency ratios of morphine-6$-glucuronide 
	analgesia elicited from the periaqueductal gray, locus coeruleus or rostral ventromedial medulla of rats.  Brain 
	Research, (1998) 799(2): 329-333.
20. Leventhal, L., Mathis, J.P., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J.  Orphan opioid receptor antisense 
	probes block orphanin FQ-induced hyperphagia. Eur. J. Pharmacol, (1998) 349(1): R1-R3.
21. Rossi, G.C., Perlmutter, M., Leventhal, L., Talatti, A., and Pasternak, G.W.  Orphanin FQ/Nociception analgesia 
	in the rat.  Brain Research, (1998) 792(2): 327-330.
22. Burdick, K., Yu, W.-Z., Ragnauth, A., Moroz, M., Pan, Y.-X., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W. and Bodnar, R.J.  
	Antisense mapping of opioid receptor clones: effects upon 2-deoxy-D-glucose-induced hyperphagia.  Brain Research, 
	(1998) 794(2): 359-363.
23. Leventhal, L., Stevens, L.B., Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J. Antisense mapping of the MOR-1 
	opioid receptor clone: Modulation of hyperphagia induced by [D-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAMGO)  Journal 
	of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, (1997) 282(3): 1402-1407.
24. Rossi, G.C., Leventhal, L., Bolan, E., and Pasternak, G.W.  Pharmacological characterization of orphanin 
	FQ/nociceptin and its fragments. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, (1997) 282(2):858-865.
25. Brown, G.P., Yang, K., King, M.A., Rossi, G.C., Leventhal, L., Chang, A., and Pasternak, G.W. 3-
	Methoxynaltrexone, a selective heroin antagonist: evidence for a unique heroin/morphine-6B-glucuronide opioid 
	receptor.  FEBS Letters, (1997) 412: 35-38.
26. Rossi, G.C. and Pasternak, G.W.  Establishing the molecular biology of opioid behavior through antisense 
	approaches. Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides and Antisense RNA: Novel Pharmacolgical and Therapeutic Agents, B. 
	Weiss, ed., CRC Press, New York, pp. 115-130 (1997). 
27. Rossi, G.C., Su, W., Leventhal, L., Su, H., and Pasternak, G.W.  Antisense mapping DOR-1: Evidence for delta 
	receptor subtypes.  Brain Research, (1997) 753(1) 176-179. 
28. Rossi, G.C., Leventhal, L., Pan, Y.-X., Cole, J., Su, W., Bodnar, R.J., and Pasternak, G.W.  Antisense mapping 
	MOR-1 in the rat: Distinguishing between morphine and morphine-6b-glucuronide antinociception.  Journal of 
	Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, (1996) 281(1): 109-114.
29. King, M.A., Rossi, G.C., Chang, A.H., Williams, L., and Pasternak, G.W.  Spinal analgesic activity of orphanin 
	FQ/nociceptin and its fragments. Neurosc. Lett. (1997) 223(2):113-116. 
30. Rossi, G.C., Brown, G.P., Leventhal, L., and Pasternak, G.W.  Novel receptor mechanisms for heroin and morphine-
	6$-glucuronide analgesia. Neurosc. Lett. (1996) 216(1)1-4.
31. Rossi, G.C., Leventhal, L., and Pasternak, G.W. Naloxone-sensitive orphanin FQ-induced analgesia in mice, Eur. 
	J. Pharmacol, (1996) 311(2-3): R7-R8.
32. Standifer, K.M., Rossi, G.C., and Pasternak, G.W.  Differential blockade of opioid analgesia by antisense 
	oligodeoxynucleotides directed against various G-protein a subunits.  Molecular Pharmacology, (1996) 50(2): 293-298.
33. Leventhal, L., Cole, J.L., Rossi, G.C., Pan, Y-X., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J.  Antisense 
	oligodeoxynucleotides against the MOR-1 clone alter weight and ingestive responses in rats.  Brain Research, (1996) 
	719(1-2): 78-84.
34. Brooks, A.I., Standifer, K.M., Rossi, G.C., Mathis, J.P., and Pasternak, G.W.  Characterizing k3 opioid receptors 
	with a selective monoclonal antibody.   Synapse, (1996) 22(3): 247-252.
35. Rossi, G.C., Standifer, K.M., and Pasternak, G.W. Differential blockade of morphine and morphine-6-$ glucuronide 
	analgesia by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against MOR-1 and G-proteins in rats.  Neuroscience Letters, (1995) 
	198(2) 99-102.
36. Rossi, G.C., Pan, Y-X., Brown, G.P., and Pasternak, G.W.  Antisense mapping the MOR-1 opioid receptor: Evidence 
	for alternative splicing and a novel morphine-6-$-glucuronide receptor. FEBS Lett., (1995) 369(2-3): 192-196.
37. Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J.  Mu and delta opioid synergy between the periaqueductal gray and 
	the rostroventral medulla.  Brain Research, (1994) 665(1): 85-93.
38. Pan, Y-X., Cheng, J., Xu, J., Rossi, G., Jacobson, E., Ryan-Moro, J., Brooks, A.I., Dean, G.E., Standifer, K.M., 
	and Pasternak, G.W. Cloning and functional characterization through antisense mapping of a kappa3-related opioid 
	receptor. Molecular Pharmacology, 47, (1995) 1180-1188.
39. Rossi, G.C., Pasternak, G.W., and Bodnar, R.J.  Synergistic brainstem interactions for morphine analgesia. Brain 
	Research, (1993) 624(1-2)171-180.
40. Rossi, G.C., Pan, Y.X., Cheng, J., and Pasternak, G.W.  Blockade of morphine analgesia by an antisense 
	oligodeoxynucleotide against the mu receptor.  Life Science, 54  (1994) PL375-379.
41. Kiefel, J.M., Rossi, G.C., and Bodnar, R.J.  Medullary mu and delta opioid receptors modulate mesencephalic 
	morphine analgesia in rats. Brain Research, (1993) 624(1-2):151-161.