Our lab is studying how cues in the environment are detected and transformed into electrical activity in the brain to generate behavior
We are identifying the coding logic of all aspects of the system:
(1) specific pheromone chemosignals that generate stereotypic behavior
(2) sensory neurons that detect pheromones and other specialized chemosignals
(3) the neural and molecular mechanisms in the brain that result in stereotypic behavior
We are studying several independent stereotypic behaviors in the mouse: male-male aggression, pup-suckling, inter-species fear, female reproductive behavior, and scent marking. Analysis of these behaviors in parallel will enable us to determine the neural mechanisms that specify each behavior as well as the common mechanisms that underlie general principles of stereotypic behavior.
People
- Current lab members
- Alumni
Tools
Protocols:
Free floating double fluorescent in situ hybridization
Dissociated vomeronasal neuron calcium imaging
Links:
The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) home page
Dorris Neuroscience Center home page
TSRI Kellogg School of Science and Technology
UCSD Neurosciences Graduate Program
Other:
Mouse cartoon Adobe Illustrator file
Publications
Original Articles:
Logan DW, Brunet LJ, Webb WR, Cutforth T, Ngai J, Stowers L (2012) Learned Recognition of Maternal Signature Odors Mediates the First Suckling Episode in Mice. Curr Biol 22:1998-2007. pdf
Flanagan KA, Webb W, Stowers L (2011) Analysis of male pheromones that accelerate female reproductive organ development. PLoS One 6(2):e16660. pdf
Papes F, Logan DW, and Stowers L (2010) The vomeronasal organ mediates interspecies defensive behaviors through detection of protein pheromone homologs. Cell 141:692-703. (Cover article, see also Preview Cell 141:568-570, Science 328:960) pdf
Barros CS, Calbrese B, Chamero P, Roberts AJ, Korzus EJ, Lloyd KC, Stowers L, Mayford M, Halpain S, and Müller U (2009) Impaired maturation of dendritic spines without disorganization of cortical cell layers in mice lacking NRG1ErbB signaling in the CNS. PNAS 106:4507-4512. pdf
Logan DW, Marton TF, and Stowers L (2008) Species specificity in major urinary proteins by parallel evolution. PLoS ONE 3:e3280. pdf
Chamero P, Marton TF, Logan DW, Flanagan K, Cruz J, Saghatelian A, Cravatt BF, and Stowers L (2007) Identification of protein pheromones that promote aggressive behavior. Nature 450:899-902. pdf
Loconto J, Papes F, Chang E, Stowers L, Jones EP, Takada T, Kumanovics A, Fischer Lindahl K, Dulac C (2003) Functional Expression of Murine V2R Pheromone Receptors Involves Selective Association with the M10 and M1 Families of MHC Class Ib Molecules. Cell 112:607-618. pdf
Stowers L, Holy TE, Meister M, Dulac C, Koentges G (2002) Loss of Sex Discrimination and Male-Male Aggression in Mice Deficient for TRP2. Science 295:1493-1500. pdf
Reviews, Chapters, and Editorials:
Stowers L and Logan DW (2010) Sexual dimorphism in olfactory signaling. Curr Opin Neurobiol 20:770-5. pdf
Stowers L, Papes F, Logan DW (2010) Interspecies fear signals. Cell Podcast 141. youtube link
Stowers L and Logan DW (2010) Olfactory mechanisms of stereotyped behavior: on the scent of specialized circuits. Curr Opin Neurobiol 20:274-80. pdf
Wilson DA, Baker H, Brunjes P, Gilbertson TA, Hermer L, Hill DL, Matsunami H, Meredith M, Mistretta CM, Smeets MAM, Stowers L, and Zhuang H (2009) Chemoreception scientists gather under the Florida sun: the 31st annual association for chemoreception sciences meeting. Ann NY Acad Sci 1170 Suppl 1:1-11. pdf
Stowers L, and Logan DW (2008) LUSH shapes up for a starring role in olfaction. Cell 133:1137-1139. pdf
Stowers L (2007) Pheromones that promote aggression in male mice. Nature Podcast Dec 6. audio link
Stowers L and Marton T (2005) What is a pheromone? Mammalian pheromones reconsidered. Neuron 46:692-702. pdf
Stowers L (2004) Neuronal development: specifying a hard-wired circuit. Curr Biol 14(2): R62-64. pdf
Contact Us
Phone 858-784-7298 (office), 858-784-7286 (lab)
Fax 858-784-7299
Shipping address
4122 Sorrento Valley Blvd.
Ste. 107, DNC 222
San Diego, CA 92121
Physical address
3528 General Atomics Court
San Diego, CA 92122 map to building