Maryam Bamshad

• Research
• Research Grants
• Publications
• Abstract
• Curriculum Vitae

Research

The focus of research in my laboratory is comparative studies of neural mechanisms underlying monogamous mating systems and paternal behavior. Paternal care has a significant impact on the health and survival of offspring in monogamous species, including humans. Although this behavior in males and females appears to be similar, the mechanisms that stimulate and maintainit are different between the sexes. Compared to maternal behavior, relatively little is know about the brain mechanisms that regulate paternal behavior. The animal models we use are small rodents commonly known as voles. Voles are excellent prototypes for comparative studies because they have species that are genetically similar, but remarkably different in their mating systems and parental behavior. For example, prairie voles have a monogamous mating system. The breeding pairs form life-long pair bonds, share a nest, and cooperate in parental care of young. In contrast, meadow voles have a promiscuous mating system. The breeding pairs do not form a bond and males are not parental.

To understand brain mechanisms that regulate monogamy and paternal care, we are looking at a neural circuit that utilizes vasopressin. Vasopressin, acting as a neurotransmitter in the brain, is shown to communicate information about pair bonding in monogamous species and paternal behavior. Previous studies have indicated that injection of vasopressin into the brain of the monogamous prairie voles stimulated behaviors associated with pair bonding. In addition, injection of vasopressin into specific sites within the brain induced paternal responsiveness in sexually inexperienced male prairie voles that are not normally paternal. Interestingly, the levels of vasopressin production and release within specific sites of the prairie-vole brain change significantly during the mating period, a time in which pair bonding occurs. These data suggest that vasopressin plays an important role in shaping monogamous relationships and paternal behavior. However, the mechanisms by which vasopressin affects these behavior remain unknown.

Ongoing experiments in my laboratory aim to identify the behavioral and physiological factors that stimulate changes in vasopressin production and release during parenthood. We attempt to understand whether vasopressin activity in the brain is directly related to paternal responsiveness or is involved in processing signals that stimulate paternal behavior. Our studies are taking a closer look at the activity of vasopressin in the brain to see if there are changes in production, release or sensitivity to vasopressin in response or as a result of behavioral changes. In addition, we are identifying parts of the neural circuit in which vasopressin acts to influence paternal behavior. We are taking a multidisciplinary approach by combining behavioral, physiological, neuroanatomical, and histochemical studies. We use a range of techniques including: behavioral anaylsis, neuroanatomy (traditional and viral tract tracing), histochemistry (immunocytochemistry, receptor autoradiography, and in situ hybridization), and computerized image analysis.

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Research Grants

2000
Role of central vasopressin in regulation of paternal behavior. Support for Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) from NIH, $553,305.00

1999
Graduate Research Technology Initiative, Lehman College. $61,635.00

1999
PSC-CUNY Research Award, "The role of vasopressin in regulation of monogamy. $6,000.00

1998
National Research Science Award from NIH, "Neural circuitry regulating photoperiod-induced obesity" (awarded, but not activated). $35,476.00

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Publications

*Bamshad, M. and Albers, H. E. (1996). The neural circuitry controlling vasopressin-stimulated scent marking in the Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). J. Comp. Neurol., 369: 252-263.

*Bamshad, M., Cooper, T. T., Karom, T. and Albers, H. E. (1996). Glutamate and vasopressin interact to control scent marking in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Brain Res., 731: 213-216.

*Bamshad, M., Karom, M., Pallier, P. and Albers, H. E. (1996). Role of the central amygdala in social communication in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Brain Res., 744: 15-22.

*Bamshad, M., Aoki, V. T., Adkison, G., Warren, W.S. and Bartness, T. J. (1998). Central nervous system origins of the sympathetic nervous system outflow to white adipose tissue. Am. J. Physiol., 275: R291-9

*Bamshad, M. and Bartness, T. J. (1998). CNS origins of the sympathetic nervous system outflow to brown adipose tissue in Siberian hamsters. Am. J. Physiol., In press.

*Albers, H. E. and Bamshad, M. (1999). Role of vasopressin and oxytocin in the control of social behavior in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Prog. Brain Res., 119: 395-408.

*Bartness, T. J. and Bamshad, M. (1999). Innervation of mammalian white adipose tissue: Implications for the regulation of total body fat. Am. J. Physiol., 275: R399-411.

*Bamshad, M., Price, K. M., Sisitzky, A.C. and Albers, H. E. (1999). MPOA-AH afferent projections involved in regulation of scent marking: A study using pseudorabies virus as a transneuronal retrograde tracer. In preparation.

*Bamshad, M., Mickley, N. C., Casano, A.A. and Albers, H. E. (1999). Origins of CNS neuronal cell groups innervating the scent gland in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). In preparation.

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Abstract

1. Bamshad, M., M.A. Novak, and G.J. De Vries (1990). Changes in vasopressin pathways of prairie vole males related to reproduction. Society for Neuroscience, 16:922.

2.Bamshad, M., M.A. Novak, and G.J. De Vries (1992). Species and sex differences in vasopressin pathways of voles that show different patterns of parental care. Society for Neuroscience,18:357.

3.Wang, Z.X., C.F. Ferris, M. Bamshad, and G.J. De Vries (1993). Role of septal vasopressin innervation in paternal behavior in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Society for Neuroscience, 19:1452.

4.Bamshad, M., H. E. Albers (1994). Induction of Fos immunoreactivity (IR) in vasopressin (AVP) stimulated flank marking. Society for Neuroscience, 20:381.

5.Cooper, T.T., M. Bamshad, H.E. Albers (1994). Microinjection of NMDA glutamate antagonist into the Syrian hamster hypothalamus inhibits vasopressin induced flank marking. Society for Neuroscience, 20:381.

6.Bamshad, M., and H.E. Albers (1995). Ibotenic lesions of central amygdala inhibits vasopressin-induced flank marking. Society for Neuroscience, 21:1695.

7.Cooper, T.T., M. Bamshad, H.E. Albers (1995). Flank marking stimulated by vasopressin (AVP) injected into the medial preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus (MPOA-AH) is inhibited by AVP and NMDA antagonists injected into the periaqueductal gray. Society for Neuroscience, 21:1696.

8.Bamshad, M., and H.E. Albers (1996). Hypothalamic and limbic projections to the MPOA-AH are involved in regulation of vasopressin-induced scent marking in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Society for Neuroscience, 22:2069.

9.Albers, H.E., M. Bamshad, T.T. Cooper, A.C. Harmon, K.L. Huhman, D.C. Whitman (1996). Regulation of social behavior by vasopressin and oxytocin. Program for the Conference of Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology.

10.Bamshad, M., V.T. Aoki, and T.J. Bartness (1997). Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow from the CNS to brown adipose tissue (BAT): A retrograde study using the transneuronal pseudorabies virus (PRV). Society for Neuroscience, 23: 515.

11.Bamshad, M., V.T. Aoki, and T.J. Bartness (1997). Comparison of CNS origins of sympathetic nervous system outflow to brown and white adipose tissues: A transneuronal retrograde study using pseudorabies virus. North American Association for the Study of Obesiy. Obesity Res., 5 (Suppl. 1): 45S.

12.Bamshad, M., V.T. Aoki, W.S. Warren, M.G. Adkison, T.J. Bartness (1998). Suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons may control daily rythems of lipid metabolism and thermogenesis: A neuroanatomical study. International Congress on Obesity.

13.Bamshad, M., K.M. Price, A.C. Sisitzky, and H.E. Albers (1998). Neural circuitry of vasopressin-induced scent marking in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus): A study using pseudorabies virus as a transneuronal retrograde tracer. Society for Behavioral Neuroscience.

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Curriculum Vitae

Education:
*1986
BS in Zoology, cum laude, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
*1989
MS in Zoology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
*1993
Ph.D. in Biology, Dissertation Focus: Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts

Experience:
*1998 to Present
Lecturer, Lehman College, CUNY, New York
*1996 to 1998
Postdoctoral Fellow, with Dr. Timothy J. Bartness, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
*1993 to 1996
Postdoctoral Fellow, with Dr. H. Elliott Albers Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
*1989-1993
Ph.D. Student University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Awards:
*1998
National Research Science Award from NIH
"Neural circuitry regulating photoperiod-induced obesity" (awarded, but not activated). $35,476.00
*1999
PSC-CUNY Research Award
"The role of vasopressin in regulation of monogamy. $6,000.00
*1999
Graduate Research Technology Initiative, Lehman College. $61,635.00
*2000
Role of central vasopressin in regulation of paternal behavior. Support for Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) from NIH, $553,305.00

Membership:
*Animal Behavior Society, 1989 -1995.
*Society for Neuroscience, 1990 - Present.
*Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, 1997 - Present.
*North American Association for the Study of Obesity, 1997 - Present.

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