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During development, testosterone exerts permanent effects that alter
the sensitivity of the brain and spinal cord to steroids in adulthood. These
changes in sensitivity are expressed in adults as differences in sociosexual
behaviors such as scent marking and copulatory behavior. My research examines
the developmental effects of testosterone on neuroanatomy and behavior. Two
areas in the central nervous system, the sexually dimorphic area (SDA) in the
gerbil hypothalamus and the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) in
area X of gerbil lumbosacaral spinal cord, are of particular interest. The SDA
plays an important role in the control of male copulatory and marking
behaviors, while the SNB is an essential element in the control of penile
movement and erection. Molecular, behavioral, and immunological approaches are
used to determine how these neuroanatomical structures are modified during
development to produce the normal adult complement of male copulatory
behaviors.
Current studies include
studies are examining the normal ontogeny of the SDA and SNB, and the role of
perinatal gonadal steroids on their development. Additional studies include
determining the behavioral effects of perinatal steroid treatment, mapping
neurotransmitters in the SDA and SNB using immunohistochemical and in situ
hybridization, and determining the neuroanatomical projections and connections
of the SDA and SNB.
Biographical Information
Catherine Ulibarri,
Associate Professor, received both her B.S. in Biological Sciences and her
Ph.D. in Psychobiology from University of California, Irvine. Her postdoctoral
study was conducted in the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of the Brain
Research Institute at the UCLA School of Medicine under the guidance of Dr.
Paul E. Micevych. She joined VCAPP in 1990.
Selected Publications
Prasad, B.M., C.
Ulibarri and B.A. Sorg. 1998. Stress-induced cross-sensitization to
cocaine: Effects of adrenalectomy and corticosterone after short- and
long-term withdrawal. Psychopharm. 125: 265-273.
Fraley, G.S., and C. Ulibarri. 2002. Development of androgen receptor
and p75NTR mRNAs and peptides in the lumbar spinal cord of the gerbil. Dev.
Brain Res. 2 (Vol. 137): 101-114.
Fraley, G.S., and C. Ulibarri. 2002. Long-term castration affects
motoneuron size, but not number, in the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus
in the adult male Mongolian gerbil. Brain Res. 953: 265-271.
Prichett, L.C., C. Ulibarri, M.C. Roberts, R.K. Schneider, and D.C.
Sellon. 2002. Identification of potential physiological and behavioral
indicators of post-operative pain in horses after exploratory celiotomy for
colic. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 80: 31-43, 2002.
Prichett, L.C., C. Ulibarri, M.C. Roberts, R.K. Schneider, and D.C.
Sellon. 2002. Identification of potential physiological and behavioral
indictors of post-operative pain in horses after exploratory celiotomy for
colic. App. An. Behav. Sci. 80: 31-43.
Fraley, G.S., and C. Ulibarri. 2002. Development of androgen receptor
and p75NTR mRNAs and peptides in the lumbar spinal cord of the gerbil. Dev.
Brain Res. 137: 101-114.
Fraley, G.S., and C. Ulibarri. 2002. Long-term castration effects
motoneuron size, but not number, in the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus
in the adult male Mongolian gerbil. Brain Res. 953: 265-271.
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