ORTIZ LAB

Behavioral Neuroscience Lab

Our lab uses the socially monogamous prairie vole to better understand how social behavior is passed on from generation to generation (transgenerational effects). We can investigate the neurobiological basis of social behavior involved in sensory-social integration.

our goals

The overarching goal of our research is to examine mechanisms (oxytocin, vasopressin, and estrogen receptors) involved in brain regions that regulate social behavior. By integrating microfluidics (brain-on-chip) technology, we can focus on molecular components, cellular networks, and neural circuits.

PRARIE VOLES ARE SOCIALLY MONGAMOUS

What is social monogamy?

Pair Bond Formation

Prairie voles form social bonds with a familiar 'partner'

Selective Aggression

Prairie voles display selective aggression towards a novel 'stranger'.

Bi-Parental Care

Both dam and sire care equally towards pups (even if they aren't related to the pup)

kansas vs. Illinois praire vole populations

Although prairie vole populations from Kansas and Illinois are classified as socially monogamous, there are significant differences in behavior and neuroanatomy based on geographical origin (where they are from). We can leverage these differences to examine how environment impacts social behavior.

microfluidics

[ mahy-kroh-floo-id-iks ]

noun

the science of the behavior of fluids at very small volumes or flowing in very small channels typically measured in tens of micrometers, as in microminiaturized devices: used in many technologies, including those involved in DNA analysis, immunoassays, chemical synthesis, and optics.

e keep a slice of brain tissue alive and examine activity via ex vivo calcium imaging

with a 3D-printed microfluidic device.

Current Research Projects

Oxytocin (OT) signaling in the endopiriform nucleus (EPN)

The EPN is a region not well studied, that contributes to sensory social integration. The disruption of the processes responsible for integrating and processing social stimuli is involved in various behavioral disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. OT has been shown to play a role in sensory-social integration. The EPN is rich in OT receptors and we wish to examine a dose-dependent function of OT within the EPN, with and without the function of oxytocin receptor. We can do this by chemically silencing OT receptor function, while administering OT..and observe brain slice activation.

Drug-Interaction Dynamics

With our brain-on-a-chip technology, we can examine how practically any substance activates (or silences) any brain region. We are interested in measuring the brain activity of a region responsible for reward, the nucleus accumbens (Nac). We wish to examine how the nonapeptide, dopamine, changes NAc activity over time. We have the power to keep the brain alive in our chip for over 10+ hours (for now) and can see if there is a phasic-shift in the regulation of dopamine receptors.

Nature vs. Nurture

We have an animal model that shows differences in social behavior based on parental population. We have crossbred KS and IL voles and noticed that hybrid offspring follow a specific pattern of social behavior (for example, male hybrids with a less social mom and a more social dad follow the mom's behavior/neural patterning). We can harness this information and use it to examine the role of nature and nurture in regions critical for social behavior.