Laboratory of  J.M. Johns Ph.D.
 Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
430 Taylor Hall
Chapel Hill,  NC  27599-7096
(919) 966-5961-Lab number ; (919) 843-7732-Office
fax (919) 843-5730
email: jjohns@med.unc.edu

Lab motto:

Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of knowledge.
Take time to laugh, it lightens life's load.
Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to plan, and you will have time for all the rest.

****


Welcome to our home page!

 Speciality areas: behavioral pharmacology, toxicology, teratology, neuroendocrinology.

 

 

Our lab currently studies the effects of cocaine on maternal behavior and aggression as well as the underlying biochemical changes following drug treatment in a rodent model.   In addition, we also assess the behavioral and biochemical effects of prenatal exposure to various substances of abuse including cocaine, alcohol and nicotine on the pups of treated rat dams.  Techniques used in the lab range from behavioral to molecular biological and the students often learn from collaborations with other co-investigators working on projects with the lab. 

MEET SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR LAB:
Tom Jarrett - MD/Ph.D. Student
Sarah Williams - Neurobiology Graduate Student
Matthew McMurray - Biopsychology Graduate Student
Elizabeth Cox - Neurobiology Graduate Student
C.J. Malanga - Associate Professor Child Neurology
Undergraduates:
Biology- Brittany Ross,Jordan Enns,Mehreen Sheikh
Psychology-Stephanie Meiners
History-Cara Heaton
Public Policy-Nisel Desai
 

Currently Funded Grants:
Just Awarded 8/8/08!
1) Neurobehavioral and Biological Consequences of Cocaine Use in Mother Infant Dyads
5 Years - $10,000,000
NIDA - 1P01 DA022446 
http://www.psychiatry.unc.edu/research/camid-home


Previously Funded Grants:
Cocaine and Maternal Aggression: Oxytocinergic Mechanisms
(NIDA) R01-DA13283

Cocaine and Maternal Neglect: Intergenerational Effects
NIDA - 1R01 DA13362

Cardiovascular Benefits of Family Support and Oxytocin
NHLBI/NIDA - 1R01 HL64927

Cocaine and Oxytocin: Maternal Behavior and Aggression
NIDA - R29 DA08456

Effects of  Prenatal Exposure to Cocaine: A Rodent Model of Psychopathology
UNC in house grant


Gestational Treatment with Ethanol and Nicotine: Effects on Maternal behavior, aggression 
oxytocin and offspring ethanol preference

Bowles Center for Alcohol Research UNC  
RECENT PAPERS OF INTEREST FROM OUR LAB INCLUDE:

1.   McMurray, MS, Joyner, PW, Middleton, CL, Jarrett, TM, Elliott, DL, Black, MC, Hofler, VE, Walker, CH, Johns,  JM. (2008) Intergenerational Effects of Cocaine on Maternal Aggressive Behavior and Oxytocin in Rat Dams, Biology of Stress,[Epub ahead of print].

2. McMurray, M.S., Cox, E.T., Jarrett, T.M., Williams, S.K., Walker, C.H., Johns, J.M. (2008) Impact of gestational treatment or prenatal cocaine exposure on early postpartum oxytocin synthesis and receptor binding , Neuropeptides.

3. McMurray, M.S.; Williams, S.K.; Jarrett, T.M.; Cox, E.T.; Fay, E.E.; Overstreet, D.H.; Walker, C.H.; Johns, J.M. (2008) Gestational Ethanol and Nicotine Exposure: Effects on Maternal Behavior, Oxytocin, and Offspring Ethanol Intake in the Rat, Neurotoxicology and Teratology.

4. Johns, J.M., McMurray, M. S., Hofler, V.E., Jarrett, T. M., Middleton, C.L.,  Elliott, D. L., Mirza, R., Elliott, J.C, and Walker, C.H. (2007) Cocaine Disrupts Pup-Induced Maternal Behavior in Juvenile and Adult Rats,  Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 29 (6), 634-641.

5. Jarrett, T.M, McMurray, M.S., Walker , C.H. and Johns, J.M. (2006) Cocaine treatment alters Oxytocin Receptor Binding but not mRNA Production in Postpartum Rat Dams, Neuropeptides,  40 pp 161-167.

6. Johns, J.M., Elliott, D. L, Hofler, V.E., Joyner, P.W., McMurray, M. S., Jarrett, T. M., Haslup, A. M., Middleton, C.L., Elliott, J.C. and Walker, C.H. (2005) Cocaine Treatment and Prenatal Environment Interact to Disrupt Intergenerational Maternal Behavior in Rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 119/6 pp 1605-1618.

7.      Johns, J.M., Joyner, P. W., McMurray, M. S., Elliot, D. A., Hofler, V. E.,  Knupp, K., Greenhill, K. W. and Walker, C. H. (2005) The Effects of Combined Dopaminergic / Serotonergic Reuptake Inhibition on Maternal Behavior, Maternal Aggression, and Oxytocin in the Rat Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 81/4 pp 769-785.

8. Johns, J.M, Lubin, D.A., Walker, C.H., Joyner, P. W., Middleton, C.L., Hofler, V. E. and McMurray, M. (2004) Gestational Cocaine and Fluoxetine Treatment Upregulates Oxytocin Receptor Number and Lowers Binding Affinity in the Amygdala of Rats on Postpartum Day Six. (Invited article Special Issue: Developmental Aspects of Addiction - Edited by R.M. Booze and C.F. Mactutus) International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 22/5-6 pp 321-328. 

9.    Light, K.C., Grewen, K.M., Amico, J.A., Boccia, M., Brownley, K. & Johns, J. M. (2004) Deficits in Plasma Oxytocin Responses and Increased Negative Affect, Stress and Blood Pressure in Mothers with Cocaine Exposure during Pregnancy. Addictive Behaviors.

10.    Moy, S., Nadler, J., Perez, A., Barbaro, R,  Johns, J., Magnuson, T., Piven, J. and Crawlery, J. (2004). Sociability and Preference for Social Novelty in Five Inbred Strains:  An Approach to Assess Autistic-like Behavior in Mice. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 3: 287-302

11.  Lubin, D.A., Elliott, J.C., Black, M.C.,& Johns, J.M. (2003). An Oxytocin Antagonist Infused into the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala Increases Maternal Aggressive Behavior. Behavioral Neuroscience,117(2): 195-201.

12.  Lubin, D.A., Cannon, J.B., Black, M.C., Brown, L.E., & Johns, J.M.(2003). Effects of Chronic Cocaine on Monoamine Levels in Discrete Brain Structures of Lactating Rat Dams. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. 74, 449-454.

13. Phillips, P.E., Johns, J.M., Lubin, D.A., Budygin, E.A., Gainetdinov, R.R. Lieberman, J. A. and Wightman, R. M. (2003) Presynaptic Dopaminergic Function is Largely Unaltered in Mesolimbic and Mesostriatal Terminals of Adult Rats That Were Prenatally Exposed to Cocaine. Brain Research, 961, 63-72.

14.  Johns, J.M., Lubin, D.A., Leiberman, J., and Lauder, J.M. (2002) Developmental Effects of Prenatal Cocaine Exposure on 5-HT1A Receptors in Male and Female Rat Offspring. Developmental Neuroscience, 24, 522-530.

15. Lubin, D.A., Meter, K.E., Walker, C.H. and Johns, J.M. (2001) Dose-Related Effects of Gestational Cocaine Treatment on Maternal Aggression in Rats on Postpartum Days 2, 3 and 5. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 25(7), 1421-1433 (Invited paper).

16. Elliott, J.C., Lubin, D.A., Walker, C.H., and Johns, J.M. (2001) Acute Cocaine Alters Oxytocin Levels in the Medial Preoptic Area and Amygdala of Lactating Rat Dams: Implications for Cocaine-Induced Changes in Maternal Behavior and Maternal Aggression. Neuropeptides, 35(2), 127-134.

HERE'S SOME OF THE ABSTRACTS WE PRESENTED AT VARIOUS CONFERENCES:

 

1. Williams, S.K.; Cox, E.T.; Fay, E.E.; McMurray, M.S.; Johns, J.M. (2008) Cocaine: effects on maternal anxiety measures during gestation and the postpartum period. Society for Neuroscience: Washington, DC.

2. Williams, S.K.; Cox, E.T.; Fay, E.E.; Jarrett, T.M.; McMurray, M.S.; Walker, C.; Johns, J.M. (2008) Effects of gestational exposure to alcohol and nicotine on oxytocin receptors in limbic brain regions. Research Society on Alcoholism: Washington, DC.

3. McMurray, M.S.; Jarrett, T.M.; Moy, S.; Styner, M.; Johns, J.M. (2008) In utero cocaine exposure alters pup produced stimuli relevant to maternal care. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society: St Thomas, USVI.

4. Cox, E.T.; Williams, S.K.; McMurray, M.S.; Jarrett, T.M.; Fay E.E.; Overstreet D.H. (2008) Prenatal exposure to alcohol/nicotine alters oxytocin receptor binding but not mRNA in adult rats. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society: St Thomas, USVI.

5. Williams, S.K.; McMurray, M.S.; Jarrett, T.M.; Cox, E.T.; Fay, E.E.; Overstreet, D.H.; Johns, J.M. (2008) Prenatal exposure to alcohol/nicotine affects alcohol consumption in adult but not adolescent rats. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society: St Thomas, USVI.

6. Jarrett, T.M.; Williams, S.K.; Fay, E.E.; McMurray, M.S.; Overstreet, D.H.; Johns, J.M. (2008) Animal models of depression and alcoholism exhibit reduced maternal behavior. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society: St Thomas, USVI.

7. Jarrett, T.M.; Williams, S.K.; Cox, E.T.; McMurray, M.S.; Fay, E.E.; Overstreet, D.H.; Walker, C.H.; Johns, J.M. (2008) Neuroendocrine Mechanism of Reduced Ethanol Preference in Dams Treated During Gestation with Ethanol and Nicotine. Society of Biological Psychiatry: Washington, DC.

8. Williams, S.K.; McMurray, M.S.; Jarrett, T.M.; Walker, C.; Johns, J.M. (2007) The effect of prenatal combined exposure to alcohol and nicotine on oxytocin levels at postnatal day 30 and 60. Society for Neuroscience: San Diego, CA.

9. Cox, E.T.; McMurray, M.S.; Jarrett, T.M.; Williams, S.K.; Walker, C.H.; Johns, J.M. (2007) Prenatal cocaine exposure alters oxytocin synthesis in the supraoptic nucleus. Society for Neuroscience: San Diego, CA.

10. McMurray, M.S.; Williams, S.K.; Jarrett, T.M.; Fay, E.E.; Overstreet, D.H.; Knapp, D.J.; Walker, C.H.; Johns, J.M. (2007). Effect of gestational alcohol and nicotine treatment on postpartum maternal behavior and maternal aggression. Research Society on Alcoholism: Chicago, IL.

11. Jarrett, T.M.; Williams, S.K.; McMurray, M.S.; Fay, E.E.; Overstreet, D.H.; Johns, J.M. (2007) Post-weaning ethanol aversion in dams treated during gestation with ethanol and nicotine. Research Society on Alcoholism: Chicago, IL.

12. Williams, S.K.; Jarrett, T.M.; McMurray, M.S.; Fay, E.E.; Overstreet, D.H.; Johns, J.M. (2007) Effects of prenatal exposure to combined alcohol and nicotine on adolescent and early adult rodent alcohol preference. Research Society on Alcoholism: Chicago, IL.


13.) Jarrett,  T.M., Walker, C.H., McMurray, M.S., Johns, J.M. (2006) Prenatal cocaine  exposure does not alter central oxytocin receptor or
oxytocin mRNA binding in  postpartum day six rat dams. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 2006.

14) Williams,  S., Jarrett, T., Lycan, T., McMurray, M., Riday, T., Obispo-Peak, I., Lauder, J., and Johns, J. (2006) Effects of prenatal
cocaine exposure on 5-HT2A receptors in adult rats. Society for Neuroscience  Abstracts 2006.

15) McMurray,  M.S., Jarrett, T.M., Walker,  C.H., and Johns, J.M. (2006) Gestational cocaine treatment alters oxytocin mRNA  production in
rat dams in the early postpartum period. Society for Neuroscience  Abstracts 2006.

16) Johns,  J.M., McMurray, M.S., Jarrett, T.M., and Walker,  C.H. (2006) When Things Go Wrong; Cocaine’s Disruption of
Maternal/Social  Behavior in Rat Dams and their Offspring: The Oxytocin Connection. 
Invited symposium presentation and abstract,  IBNS, Whistler, British Columbia,  CA.

17. McMurray,  M.S., Zeskind, P.S., Moy, C., Jarrett, T.M., and Johns, J.M. (2006) Preliminary  Effects of in Utero Cocaine
Exposure  on Infant Rat Ultrasonic Vocalizations.   IBNS Abstracts, Whistler, British Columbia, CA.

18) Jarrett,  T.M., McMurray, M.S., Walker,  C.H. and Johns, J.M. (2005) Oxytocin receptor binding in the central nervous
system of cocaine, fluoxetine, or saline treated rat dams. Society for Neuroscience  Abstracts 2005.

19) McMurray, M.S., Desmond, B., Jarrett, T.M., Walker, C.H. and Johns,  J.M. (2005) Effects of cocaine treatment on mRNA
expression in the CNS of  postpartum rat dams. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts 2005.

Take our advice, JUST SAY NO!

                                                                                                        Maui, Hawaii 2007