Ruth I. Wood
Professor of Cell and Neurobiology
Research Topics
- Sex: androgen control of male sexual behavior
- Drugs: abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids
- Mood: anxiety and depression in Parkinson's Disease
Research Overview
My research investigates neural circuits for behavior, including social behavior, affective behavior, and reinforcing behavior. In particular, we are interested in how gonadal steroid hormones act in the brain, both during development and in the adult, to effect sex differences and modify behavior.One line of research investigates the neurobiology of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse. AAS are drugs of abuse, but the potential for dependence and addiction remains unclear. Recently studies from our laboratory have shown that male and female rodents will voluntarily self-administer testosterone and other AAS. Furthermore, we have observed fatal androgen overdose during self-administration. This suggests that AAS are potentially addictive, independent of their effects on muscle mass or athletic performance. We are currently exploring how AAS increase aggression ('roid rage) and sexual behavior.
In collaboration with Drs. Jakowec and Petzinger, my laboratory investigates affective behavior (mood) in an animal model of Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease preferentially affects men, and is not limited to motor dysfunction. Patients develop anxiety and depression. We investigate these behaviors in mice with experimental lesions of the substantia nigra, and test exercise as a remedy.
Contact Information
- E-mail:
- riw@usc.edu
- Mailing Address:
- Keck School of Medicine of USC
Department of Cell and Neurobiology
1333 San Pablo St., BMT 401
Los Angeles, CA 90033 - Office Location:
- BMT 408a
- Office Phone:
- (323) 442-1980
- Lab Location:
- BMT 408
- Lab Phone:
- (323) 442-2094
- Fax:
- (323) 442-3466
Education
- BS 1986 Animal Science- University of California, Davis
- PhD 1991 Physiology- University of Michigan
- Post-doc 1991-1994 Anatomy & Cell Biology- University of Michigan
Research Images
Selected Publications
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Gorton LM, Vuckovic MG, Vertelkina N,Petzinger GM, Jakowec MW, Wood RI (2010) Exercise effects on motor and affective behavior andcatecholamine neurochemistry in the MPTP-lesioned mouse. Behav Brain Res 213: 253-262.
Antzoulatos E, Jakowec MW, PetzingerGM, Wood RI (2010) Sex differencesin motor behavior in the MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 95(4):466-472.
Kanayama G, Brower KJ, Wood RI, Hudson JI, Pope HG Jr (2010) Treatment of anabolic-androgenicsteroid dependence: Emerging evidence and its implications. Drug Alcohol Depend. 109(1-3):6-13 -PubMed
Sato SM, Johansen JA, Jordan CL, Wood RI (2010) Membrane androgen receptors may mediateandrogen reinforcement. Psychoneuroendocrinology,in press. -PubMed
Triemstra JL, Sato SM, Wood RI. (2008) Testosterone and nucleus accumbens dopamine in the male Syrian hamster. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 33(3):386-394 -PubMed
Sato SM, Schulz KM, Sisk CL, Wood RI. (2008) Adolescents and androgens, receptors and rewards. Horm Behav. 53(5):647-658. -PubMed
Wood RI. (2008) Anabolic-androgenic steroid dependence? Insights from animals and humans. Front Neuroendocrinol. 29(4):490-506. -PubMed
Ballard CL, Wood RI. (2007) Partner preference in male hamsters: Steroids, sexual experience and chemosensory cues. Physiol Behav. -PubMed
DiMeo AN, Wood RI. (2006) Self-administration of estrogen and dihydrotestosterone in male hamsters. Horm Behav. 49(4):519-26. -PubMed
Dimeo AN, Wood RI. (2006) ICV testosterone induces Fos in male Syrian hamster brain. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 31(2):237-49. -PubMed