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Lydia L. DonCarlos, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology
and Anatomy
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B.A., Summa Cum Laude, Anthropology, 1977. University of Oklahoma.
M.A., Anthropology, 1979. University of Oklahoma.
Ph.D., Neurobiology, 1985. Kent State University.
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Rochester, 1986-1987.
National Institute on
Aging Fellowship.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Animal Behavior, Rutgers University, 1987-1990
National Research Service Award From NIMH.
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EMAIL |
Current Interests |
| Brain development, gonadal steroid hormone receptors, sexual
differentiation, reproduction, neuroprotection by gonadal steroids, non-classical
mechanisms of
steroid hormone action.
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Laboratory Focus |
- The main focus of our laboratory is to understand sexual differentiation of the brain as
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a model for how the external environment influences development of the nervous system.
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- In
mammals, induction of the masculine neuronal phenotype depends on the presence
- of
androgens, derived from the testes; in the absence of androgens, the phenotype of the
brain is essentially feminine. Androgens, estrogens, and other steroid hormones
- exert
effects through steroid-specific receptors; the expression of these receptors,
- which are
ligand-dependent transcription factions, is highly regulated. Many behaviors and
physiological functions such as reproduction, language, spatial learning and stress
responses, are sexually differentiated. Moreover, many mental and neurological
- disorders
are more prevalent in one gender than the other.
Histochemical, molecular, and behavioral experiments in our laboratory are
aimed at understanding the role of steroid receptors in modulating specific developmental
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processes such as neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth, selection of neurotransmitter
phenotype, and cell death and the impact of these alterations on functional sexual
differentiation. In addition, we are exploring the role of gonadal hormones in neuronal
survival following injury, and are investigating the impact of estrogen on mood
- disorders.
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- An understanding of the specific mechanisms through which gonadal steroids impact on
functional differentiation of the central nervous system may elucidate the etiology of
sexually differentiated psychological and neurological disturbances. Further, this
research may offer clues as to the relative contributions of environmental and biological
factors in the onset of gender-based differences in mental health and disease.
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Publications |
| Garcia-Ovejero, D., S. Veiga, L.M. Garcia-Segura, L.
L.
DonCarlos Glial
expression of estrogen and androgen receptors after rat
brain injury. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 450: 256-271, 2002.
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| Garcia-Segura, L.M., I.
Azcoitia, and L. L. DonCarlos Neurprotective effects of estrogen. Progress in Neurobiology, 63:
29-60, 2001. |
| McAbee, M., and L.
L. DonCarlos Ontogeny of region-specific sex differences in androgen receptor messenger RNA
expression in the rat forebrain. Endocrinology,
139: 1738-1745,
1998.
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| DonCarlos,
L. L., M. McAbee, D.S. Quinn, D. Stancik Effects of hormonal manipulations on estrogen receptor mRNA in the preoptic area of
male and female neonatal rats. Developmental Brain Research, 84:
253-260,
1995. |
| DonCarlos,
L. L., E. Monroy, and J.I. Morrell The distribution of estrogen receptor-immunoreactive cells in the forebrain of the female
guinea pig. J. Comp. Neurology. 305: 591-612, 1991. |
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