This mentored scientist development award proposes a program of research and training to extend the candidate's ethological perspective to incorporate molecular and neural aspects of behavioral regulation. This program will (1) strengthen and deepen the candidate's neuropharmacological and neuroanatomical skills gained at the Division of Developmental Psychobiology of Columbia University, (2) provide training in neuroendocrinological and molecular biological concepts and techniques in collaboration with specialized laboratories at Columbia University, Rockefeller University and CUNY, (3) apply these skills to investigate the development of behavioral regulation in the infant animal. The specific research aim of the proposed study is to investigate the molecular and neural substrates that underlies behavioral and endocrine stress responses, and the contribution of these substrates to developmental changes during early ontogeny in the rat. This will be done by (1) determining how different stressors that are ecologically relevant at different times during development induce defensive immobility and endocrine activation, (2) examining how early experience such as a different social environment modifies these stress responses, (3) assessing the role of corticotropin-releasing factor in limbic and brainstem areas in these stress responses and their developmental changes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01MH001975-02
Application #
6391640
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-1 (03))
Program Officer
Goldschmidts, Walter L
Project Start
2000-09-01
Project End
2005-06-30
Budget Start
2001-07-01
Budget End
2002-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$123,903
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
167204994
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Chen, Sean W C; Shemyakin, Alexei; Wiedenmayer, Christoph P (2006) The role of the amygdala and olfaction in unconditioned fear in developing rats. J Neurosci 26:233-40
Wiedenmayer, Christoph P; Magarinos, Ana M; McEwen, Bruce S et al. (2005) Age-specific threats induce CRF expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and hippocampus of young rats. Horm Behav 47:139-50
Wiedenmayer, Christoph P (2004) Adaptations or pathologies? Long-term changes in brain and behavior after a single exposure to severe threat. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 28:1-12
Wiedenmayer, Christoph P; Lyo, Donggon; Barr, Gordon A (2003) Rat pups reduce ultrasonic vocalization after exposure to an adult male rat. Dev Psychobiol 42:386-91
Wiedenmayer, Christoph P; Magarinos, Ana M; McEwen, Bruce S et al. (2003) Mother lowers glucocorticoid levels of preweaning rats after acute threat. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1008:304-7
Wiedenmayer, C P; Noailles, P A H; Angulo, J A et al. (2002) Stress-induced preproenkephalin mRNA expression in the amygdala changes during early ontogeny in the rat. Neuroscience 114:7-11
Wiedenmayer, C P; Barr, G A (2001) Developmental changes in responsivity to threat are stimulus-specific in rats. Dev Psychobiol 39:1-7
Wiedenmayer, C P; Barr, G A (2001) Developmental changes in c-fos expression to an age-specific social stressor in infant rats. Behav Brain Res 126:147-57