Robert S. Bridges
Professor
Head, Section of Reproductive Biology
Director, Combined DVM/MS Program in Biomedical Sciences
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Neuroendocrinology
Phone: 508-839-7985
Email: robert.bridges@tufts.edu
Education
B.A. Biology - Earlham College - 1969
M.S. BioBehavioral Sciences - University of Connecticut - 1972
Ph.D. Endocrinology - University of Connecticut - 1974
Laboratory Personnel
Phyllis E. Mann, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Elizabeth M. Byrnes, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
Benjamin Nephew, Postdoctoral Fellow
Jessica Babb, Research Technician
Vicky Scanlan, Research Technician
General Research Interest
A combination of physiological, anatomical, molecular and genetic approaches
are used to elucidate basic neurobiological processes underlying mammalian
brain function together with the biological bases of reproductive physiology
and behavior. Specific projects examine the involvement of the endocrine
and nervous systems in the regulation of maternal behavior and the effects
of reproductive experience in the female on subsequent neural functions.
Studies using the rat as an animal model are delineating the role of the
neural prolactin-like system in the onset of maternal behavior and in
maternal memory. Possible alterations in brain dopamine systems as a function
of reproductive experience are studied in the context of neuroendocrine
and behavioral plasticity. Project objectives include understanding the neurobiology of affiliative responses and disorders, ie. post-partum depression.
Research Sponsor Interest
Federally Funded Research
- "Endocrine Regulation of Maternal Behavior˛ This NIH funded project examines the biological regulation of maternal behavior in mammals, using the rat as a model. Central sites of endocrine regulation of the onset of maternal care and neurochemical events responsible for the maintenance and retention of maternal behavior are studied.
- "Neuroendocrine Consequences of Reproductive Experience" - This NIH funded project examines the long-term effects of prior pregnancies and lactations on neurochemical functions associated with behavioral and hormonal states. A primary focus is on alterations in neural dopaminergic function resulting from reproductive experience. Studies are conducted using a rat model.
Research and Clinical Interests
- Surgical approaches include stereotaxic surgery and routine endocrine surgeries.
- Lab techniques include radioimmunosassays for hormones, in situ hybridization histochemistry, and immunocytochemistry for neural peptides and receptors. Research Technique
- Behavioral assays include measurement of parental behavior, elevated-plus maze, activity chambers (computerized), assessment of pain, and testing for reproductive behaviors.
Major Specialized Equipment Items Available
Gamma counter, cryostats, microscopes, behavioral apparatus
Bridges RS, Rigero BA, Byrnes EM, Yang L, Walker AM. Central infusions of the recombinant human prolacting antagonist, S179D-PRL, delay the onset of maternal behavior in steroid-primed, nulliparous female rats. Endocrinology 142:730-739, 2001.
Bridges RS, Thankey KP, Scanlan VF. Duration of daily test pup exposure in adult, nulliparous rats alters maternal behavior induction rats: implications for animal use numbers. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Research 43:28-31, 2004.
Furuta M, Bridges RS. Gestation-induced cell proliferation in the rat brain. Developmental Brain Research 156:61-66, 2005.
Byrnes EM, Bridges RS. Lactation reduces prolactin levels in reproductively experienced female rats. Hormones and Behavior 48:278-282, 2005.
Bridges RS, Hays LE Steroid-induced alterations in mRNA expression of the long-form of the prolactin receptor in the medial preoptic area of female rats: effects of exposure to a pregnancy-like regimen of progesterone and estradiol. Molecular Brain Research 140:10-16, 2005.