The primary interest of this laboratory is to understand the biologic factors that increase vulnerability to drug abuse and depression in vulnerable populations. Specifically, we are interested in mechanisms responsible for the developmental and gender differences in monoamine neurotransmitter systems. One important current focus is studying the mechanisms that mediate sex differences in behavioral responses to addictive drugs. The second is understanding the neural and endocrine changes during adolescence that influence sensitivity to drugs of abuse at this critical developmental stage. We use a multidisciplinary approach to these problems which includes studying behavioral responses, monitoring neurotransmitter release, tracing neural circuits with anatomical tools and studying mechanisms of steroid hormone action in the brain.

Walker, Q.D., Ray, R. and Kuhn, C.M. Sex differences in neurochemical effects of dopaminergic drugs in rat striatum. Neuropsychopharmacology 31:1193-1202. 2006

Schramm-Sapyta NL, Kingsley MA, Rezvani AH, Propst K, Swartzwelder HS, Kuhn CM. Early ethanol consumption predicts relapse-like behavior in adolescent male rats.  Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 May;32(5):754-62. Epub 2008 Mar 11.

Caster JM, Kuhn CM. Maturation of coordinated immediate early gene expression by cocaine during adolescence. Neuroscience. 2009 Apr 21;160(1):13-31. Epub 2009 Jan 7

Schramm-Sapyta NL, Walker QD, Caster JM, Levin ED, Kuhn, CM. Are adolescents more vulnerable to drug addiction than adults? Evidence from animal models. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009 Sep;206(1):1-21. Epub 2009 Jun 23.

Walker QD, Schramm-Sapyta NL, Caster JM, Waller ST, Brooks MP, Kuhn, CM. Novelty-induced locomotion is positively associated with cocaine ingestion in adolescent rats; anxiety is correlated in adults. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2009 Jan;91(3):398-408. Epub 2008 Aug 28