Mary Behan

 

 

Effects of Aging and Sex Hormones on the Neural Control of Breathing

E-mail: behanm@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu

Research Strengths: Development: Plasticity and Repair, Neural Circuits

I have two major research interests. The first is age and gender effects on exercise and hypoxia-induced plasticity. We believe that aging results in structural, functional and neurochemical alterations in the respiratory system that are gender specific. These alterations may lead to a variety of breathing disorders experienced by the elderly, including obstructive sleep apnea. We are particularly interested in the role of serotonin in this process.

The second area of research is the role of the subcortical visual system in sleep/wake behavior. The alerting effects of light, and the sleep-inducing effects of darkness during the subjective day are well recognized. Yet it is not clear which regions of the brain contribute to these behaviors. We are examining the neuronal circuitry involved in light-induced sleep-wake changes in rats. As the development of many of these pathways is light-dependent, we are also studying the influence of light- and dark-rearing on these brain regions, and on sleep-wake behaviors.

Lab Website:

http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/cbs/behan/lab.htm

Selected Publications:

• Seebart B.R., Stoffel, R. T. and M. Behan. 2007. Age-related Changes in the Serotonin 2A Receptor in the Hypoglossal Nucleus of Male and Female Rats. Resp. Phys. Neurobiol. 158: 14-21.
• Prichard, JR., Benca, R.M., and M.Behan. 2007. Light-dependent retinal innervation of the rat superior colliculus. Anat. Rec. 290: 341-348.
• Fleming, M.D., Benca, R.M. and M. Behan. 2006. Retinal projections to the subcortical visual system in congenic albino and pigmented rats. Neuroscience. 143: 895-904. [PDF]
• Zabka, A.G., Mitchell, G.S., and M. Behan. 2006. Conversion from testosterone to estradiol is required to modulates respiratory long-term facilitation in male rats. J. Physiol. 576: 903-912. [PDF]
• Behan, M., and C.F. Thomas. 2005. Sex hormone receptors are expressed in identified respiratory motoneurons in male and female rats. Neuroscience 130: 725-734. [PDF]
• Zabka, A.G., Mitchell, G.S. and M. Behan. 2005. Aging and gonadectomy have similar effects on hypoglossal long-term facilitation in male Fisher rats. J. Physiol. 563:557-568. [PDF]
• Prichard, J.R., Fahy, J.L., Obermeyer, W.H., Behan, M. and R.M. Benca. 2004. Sleep responses to light and dark are shaped by early experience. Behavioral Neuroscience 118:1262-1273.
• Zabka, A.G., Mitchell, G.S., Olson, E.B. Jr., and M. Behan. 2003. Chronic intermittent hypoxia enhances respiratory long term facilitation in geriatric female rats. J. Appl. Physiol. 95:2614-2623. [PDF]
• Behan, M., A.G. Zabka, C.F. Thomas, and G.S. Mitchell. 2003. Sex steroid hormones and the neural control of breathing. Res. Physiol. and Neurobiol. 136: 249-263. [PDF]
• Behan, M., A.G. Zabka, and G.S. Mitchell. 2002. Age and gender effects on serotonin-dependent plasticity in respiratory motor control. Res. Physiol. and Neurobiol. 131: 65-77.
• Prichard, J.R., R.T. Stoffel, D.L. Quimby, W.H. Obermeyer, R.M. Benca, and M. Behan. 2002. Profile of Fos immunoreactivity in rat subcortical visual shell at two circadian timepoints. Neuroscience114: 781-793. [PDF]
• Zabka, A.G., M. Behan, and G.S. Mitchell. 2001. Time dependent hypoxic respiratory responses in female rats are influenced by age and by the estrus cycle. J. Appl. Physiol. 91: 2831-2838. [PDF]