Stephen Gammie

Research Interests

My research focuses on how central nervous system (CNS) gene expression contributes to positive social behaviors as well as neurological disorders. One interest includes examination of publicly available large scale gene expression datasets (e.g., microarrays or RNA-seq) along with multiple approaches, including gene network analysis, enrichment analysis, drug repurposing, and machine learning, to identify patterns that relate to social behaviors and disorders. Recent work involves an analysis of the large-scale gene expression changes in the CNS in mothers to gain insights into the basis of prosocial behavior (i.e, maternal bonding) and also to gain insights into what can go amiss, including the risk of postpartum depression. Additional recent studies involve examination of gene expression dysregulation patterns that occur in association with Parkinson’s disease. A current study involves examination of multiple large scale gene expression studies from individuals with major depressive disorder to identify an underlying portrait of depression. With that portrait and drug repurposing approaches, I also explore how well a number of potential treatments, including exercise, may act to reverse depression expression patterns and serve as possible treatments.

Teaching

Courses:

Zoology 151: Introductory Biology
Zoology 604: Computer-based Genes and Disease/Disorder Lab
Zoology 620: Neuroethology
Zoology 962: Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar

Note to Prospective Graduate Students:

I am looking for graduate students who can work independently and have a strong enthusiasm for research and discovery. The aim of the lab is to help train graduate students so that they have the tools necessary to either run their own lab or pursue other careers in science.

Students supervised who have earned graduate degrees:

Justin S. Rhodes, Ph.D. – Zoology, 2002
Nina S. Hasen, Ph.D. – Zoology, 2007
Kimberly D’Anna, Ph.D. – Zoology, 2008
Grace Lee, Ph.D. – Zoology, 2009
Terri Driessen – Zoology, 2014
Michael Saul – Zoology, 2014
Brian Eisinger – Zoology, 2014

Recent Publications

• Gammie SC, Driessen TM, Zhao C, Saul MC, Eisinger BE (2016). Genetic and neuroendocrine regulation of the postpartum brain. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 42:1-17.

• Saul MC, Zhao C, Driessen TM, Eisinger BE, Gammie SC (2016). MicroRNA expression is altered in lateral septum across reproductive stages. Neuroscience 312:130-40.

• Zhao C, Gammie SC (2015). Metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 is downregulated and its expression is shifted from neurons to astrocytes in the mouse lateral septum during the postpartum period. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 63:417-26.

• Zhao C, Eisinger BE, Driessen TM, Gammie SC (2014). Addiction and reward-related genes show altered expression in the postpartum nucleus accumbens. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 10.3389.

• Zhao C, Gammie SC (2014). Glutamate, GABA, and glutamine are synchronously upregulated in the mouse lateral septum during the postpartum period. Brain Research 1591:53-62.

• Eisinger BE, Driessen TM, Saul MC, Zhao, C, Gammie SC (2014). Medial prefrontal cortex: genes linked to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have altered expression in the highly social maternal phenotype. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 8:110.

• Driessen T, Eisinger BE, Zhao C, Stevenson SA, Saul MC, Gammie, SC (2014). Genes showing altered expression in the medial preoptic area in the highly social maternal phenotype are related to autism and other disorders with social deficits. BMC Neuroscience 15:11

• Driessen T, Zhao C, Whittlinger A, Williams H, Gammie, SC (2014). Endogenous CNS expression of neurotensin and neurotensin receptors is altered during the postpartum period in outbred mice. Public Library of Science ONE 9:e83098

• Eisinger B, Saul MC, Driessen T, Gammie SC (2013). Development of a versatile enrichment analysis tool reveals associations between the maternal brain and mental health disorders, including autism. BMC Neuroscience 14:147

• Zhao C, Eisinger B, Gammie SC (2013). Characterization of GABAergic neurons in the mouse lateral septum: a double fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical study using tyramide signal amplification. Public Library of Science ONE e73750

• Saul MC, Stevenson SA, Gammie SC (2013). Sexually dimorphic, developmental, and chronobiological behavioral profiles of a mouse mania model. Public Library of Science ONE 8:e72125

• Eisinger B, Zhao C, Driessen T, Saul MC, Gammie SC (2013). Large scale expression changes of genes related to neuronal signaling and developmental processes found in lateral septum of postpartum outbred mice. Public Library of Science ONE 8:e63824