Areas of Interest
In my laboratory, we use behavioral neuroscience methods, and a
systems approach, to investigate the involvement of particular
brain regions and neurotransmitters in animal models of
psychiatric disorders. We study behaviors that model information
processing deficits, such as those seen in patients with
schizophrenia, and fear-related behaviors, such as those seen in
post-traumatic stress disorder.
Rodent models are commonly used to study the neurobiology of
specific aspects of psychiatric disorders. These models allow us
to investigate the potential roles of particular brain systems
in such disorders, as well as the interaction among systems. One
of my major interests is the effects of stress, and the
neuropeptides that are released during stress, on behaviors that
are endophenotypes of characteristics of psychiatric disorders.
The neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is
released during stress, and is thought to be involved in
depression and anxiety. We have found that central
administration of this peptide neurotransmitter to rats
diminishes a form of information processing called prepulse
inhibition (PPI). PPI is the decrease in the startle response
that results from brief presentation of a non-startling
stimulus. PPI is diminished in patients with schizophrenia and
post-traumatic stress disorder. One goal of our research is to
study how, and in which parts of the brain, CRF acts to diminish
PPI. One possibility we are examining is whether the effect of
CRF on PPI is due to a CRF-induced release of the monoamine
neurotransmitters. We are also examining the interaction between
CRF and the monoamines on other behavioral endophenotypes that
model complex disorders. Additionally, we have found that a
particular inbred rat strain shows very low levels of PPI,
suggesting that this rat strain is a potential genetic model for
the types of information processing deficits seen in some
psychiatric disorders. Therefore, a second goal is to further
characterize the nature of the PPI deficit in this rat strain,
and to examine whether this strain displays other phenotypes
informative for the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders.
Selected Publications
Conti, L.H. Central administration of low-dose corticotropin-releasing
factor (CRF) decreases prepulse inhibition of the acoustic
startle response in Brown Norway but not in Wistar-Kyoto rats:
Lack of effect of peripheral CRF administration. (submitted)
Conti, L.H., Costill, J.E., Newcomb, J.D., Jaworski, R.L.
Induction of brain Fos by contexts following differential
conditioning with restraint stress: Additional effect of the
stressor. (submitted)
Conti, L.H., Jirout, M., Schork, N.J., Breen, L., Vanella,
J.J., Printz, M. P. (2004) Identification of quantitative trait
loci for anxiety-like and locomotion phenotypes in rat
recombinant inbred strains. Behavior Genetics, 34: 93-103.
Conti, L.H., Printz, M.P. (2003) Rat strain-dependent effects
of repeated stress on the acoustic startle response. Behavioral
Brain Research, 144: 11-18.
Palmer, A.A., Breen, L.L., Flodman, P., Conti, L.H., Spence,
M.A., Printz, M.P. (2003) Identification of quantitative trait
loci for prepulse inhibition in rats. Psychopharmacology, 165:
270-279.
Conti, L.H., Murry, J.D., Ruiz, M.A., Printz, M.P. (2002)
Effects of corticotropin-releasing factor on prepulse inhibition
of the acoustic startle response in two rat strains.
Psychopharmacology, 161: 296-303.
Conti, L.H., Palmer, A.A., Vanella, J.J., Printz, M.P. (2001)
Latent inhibition and conditioning in rat strains which show
differential prepulse inhibition. Behavior Genetics, 31:
325-333. |
