Each sex is studied separately to determine if they are equally affected by perinatal influences. In addition, we have recently started to investigate the role the opioid system may play in the etiology of temporal lobe epilepsy in humans and in the rat model. Selected Publications A. C. Segarra and F. L. Strand. Perinatal administration of nicotine alters subsequent sexual behavior and testosterone levels of male rats. PubMed Entry A. C. Segarra and B. S. McEwen. 1991.
Estrogen increases spine density in ventromedial hypothalamic neurons of peripubertal rats.
PubMed Entry A. C. Segarra and B. S. McEwen. Increased fluctuating asymmetry in neonates of mothers who smoked during pregnancy. Biology of the Neonate. A. C. Segarra, A. Acosta, J. A. Angulo and B. S. McEwen. Sex differences in estrogenic regulation of preproenkephalin mRNA levels in the preoptic area of peripubertal rats.