Dr. Ralph Storts

Professor

Office: 209 VMA
email: rstorts@cvm.tamu.edu
Phone: (979) 845-5075
Fax: (979)
Web: http://vtpb-www.cvm.tamu.edu/people/storts.html

Research Interests

Comparative neuropathology with particular interest in demyelinating diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems,diseases of the nervous system related to aging, neurodegenerative diseases of the nervous system, pathology of the eye and lysosomal storage diseases of the central nervous system.

My most significant research activity during the past five years has centered on three investigations involving: 1) determining the central nervous system (CNS) lesions of ceroid-lipofuscinosis in the Rambouillet sheep in hopes of elucidating the mechanism by which lesions progress in this system, 2) determining the CNS lesions of bovine immunodeficiency viral infection in the cow, also in hopes of elucidating the mechanism by which lesions develop in this system, and 3) study of Theiler’s murine viral encephalomyelitis viral infection in the mouse as model for the study of human multiple sclerosis. The focus of the ceroid-lipofuscinosis investigation was to gain insight into the pathogenesis of the disease process (which affects humans as well as animals) as it involves the CNS by determining the sequence of lesion development in the CNS. The phase of the investigation, which has followed a completed and published study of the clinical phase of the disease, is in progress. The focus of the investigation involving bovine immunodeficiency infection in the cow was on the development of lesions that develop in the CNS, and like that of the ceroid-lipofuscinosis investigation just cited, to explore the possible pathogenesis of lesion development in this tissue. This study of the CNS aspect of the disease is a companion investigation of the disease with two other studies involving the clinical aspects of the disease, plus one concerning how the virus affects the lymphoid tissue and immunologic response in infected animals. The third research investigation involves determining the mechanism of the demyelination that occurs in some types of mice infected with Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus with the purpose of determining the pathogenesis of the demyelinating process that occurs in multiple sclerosis in the human. Results have indicated that stress in infected mice can significantly affect the severity of lesion development in the CNS (as is also known to occur in humans with MS). Also, one type of interferon (interferon Tau) has been shown to have promise in treatment of murine disease. It is hoped that this metabolite may have similar effects in the humans with MS.

Education

 DVM, Ohio State University, 1957
Ph.D., Ohio State University, 1966

Recent Publications

Snider, T. G.; Hoyt, P. G.; Jenny, B. F.; Coats, K. St.-Cyr; Luther D. G.; Storts, R. W.; Battles, J. K.; Gonda, M. A. Natural and experimental bovine immunodeficiency virus infection in cattle. Vet. Clin. North. America: Food Animal Practice, 13 (1997):151-176.

Snider, T. G.; Hoyt, P. G; Coats, K. S.; Graves, K. F.; Cooper, C. R.; Storts, R. W.; Luther D. G.; Jenny, B. F.; and Goad, M. E. Bovine Immunodeficiency virus syndrome: I. Clinical, serological, and molecular observations. Submitted to Journal of Comparative Pathology, 1999

Snider, T. G.; Coats, K. S.; Storts, R. W.; Graves, K. F.; Cooper, C. R.; Hoyt, P. G; Luther D. G.; Jenny, B. F.; and Goad, M. E. Bovine Immunodeficiency virus syndrome: II. Lymphoid tissue lesions. Submitted to Journal of Comparative Pathology, 1999

Storts, R. W.; Snider, T. G.; Coats, K. S.; Graves, K. F.; Cooper, C. R.; Hoyt, P. G; Luther D. G.; Jenny, B. F.; and Goad, M. E. Bovine Immunodeficiency virus syndrome: III. Central nervous system lesions. Submitted to Journal of Comparative Pathology, 1999

Traweek, K., Sieve, A., Storts, R., Small, A., Garza, M., and Welsh, C.J.R. Therapeutic effects of interferon-tau treatment in Theiler’s virus-induced demyelination in SJL/j mice J. Neuro Virol., 6, (2000):454.

Campbell, T., Meagher, M.W., Sieve, A., Scott, B., Storts, R., Welsh, C.J.R. The effects of restraint stress on the neuropathogenesis of Theiler’s virus-induced demyelination. I. Acute Disease. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 15(2000):235-254.

Barnhart, K., Wojcieszyn, J. and Storts, R. Immunohistochemical staining patterns of canine meningiomas and correlation with published immunophenotypes. J. Vet. Path. In press, 2002.

Coates, J.R., O’Brien, D.P., Kline, K.L., Storts, R.W., Johnson, G.C., Shelton, G.D., Patterson, E.E., and Abbott, L.C. Neonatal cerebellar ataxia in Coton de Tulear Dogs. J. Vet. Int. Med., Submitted 2002.

Leskovar, A., Coates, J.R., Russell, K.E., Walker, M.A., Storts, R.W. Case report – Surgical removal of an intramedullary spinal cord foreign body. J. Am. An. Hosp. Assoc., Submitted 2002.

Grants in past 5 years

1990-2000 Principal Investigator: “Pathogenesis of ceroid-lipofuscinosis in the Rambouillet sheep” support by departmental and private funds, and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, $2,500.

1994-1995 Co-Investigator with L. C. Skow (principal investigator) , Dept of Veterinary Anatomy and Public Health) and Dan Waldron and Carl Menzies, TAES, San Angelo. “Genetic Mapping and Pathology of Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis in Sheep”- Research and Graduate Studies Interdisciplinary Research Initiatives Program, funded for $25,000.

1999-2001 Co-Investigator with Drs. Louise Abbott (VAPH & PI), Jane Welsh (VAPH &VPB), Joan Coates (VSAMS), Curtis Dewey (VSAMS), and George Stoica (VPB) in a peer reviewed CVM Signature Programs Enhancement Initiative established by the College of Veterinary Medicine. college Components of personal contribution as a comparative neuropathologist included the following: (1) establishment of a college neuroscience program; (2) establishment of an interdepartmental neurology/neurosurgery residency program (3) establishment of a college neuroscience core facility; (4) establishment of college program for neurodegenerative disease research; (5) characterization of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of demyelination following infection of mice with Theiler's virus; (6) characterization of the neuropathogenesis of canine degenerative myelopathy; and (7) characterization of the pathogenesis of canine granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis: evaluation of clinical, pathologic and etiologic aspects of the disease to improve diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. I will personally contribute as a comparative neuropathologist to components 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8. Funding was approved for $100,000.

1999-2002 Co-Investigator with Drs. Jane Welsh (VAPH & VPB and PI), Mary Meagher (Psychology & Co-PI), Julian Leibowitz (Human Pathology and Laboratory Medicine),Thomas Welsh (Animal Science), and Sandie Sephton. “The Effect of Stress on the Neuropathogenesis of Theiler’s Virus Infection”. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Funding approved for $312,997.