Cliff Summers, Ph.D.

414 East Clark Street • 253 Lee Medicine & Science Building • Vermillion, SD 57069 USA
• Phone:(605)677-5254 • Fax: (605)-677-6381 • E-mail: biomed@usd.edu

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Cliff Summers, Ph.D. (University of Colorado)

Professor
Department of Biology
Neuroendocrinology of Stress
(605) 677-6177
cliff@usd.edu
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Mechanisms of neural and endocrine stress responses are the focus of Dr. Summer's laboratory. Of special interest are how and why individuals differ, and how responses are characterized temporally. Also of interest are the relationships between stress, biological rhythms, and reproduction. The connection between neural and endocrine responses and variability in the magnitude and way in which individuals respond to and cope with stress behaviorally are what are investigated. There are differing reactions to stress among individuals, including responses of many different hormones and neurotransmitters. His laboratory is interested in elucidating the mechanisms by which experience modulates the responsiveness of neural and hormonal stress responses. These studies include measuring behaviorally stimulated changes in biogenic amines by HPLC using microdialysis and brain punch microdissection; mapping neurotransmitters, neuroactive peptides and receptors in the brain immunohistochemically; and relating physiology and anatomy to behavior, ecology and evolution. To study these mechanisms his laboratory utilizes vertebrate model systems.

Summers TR, Matter JM, McKay JM, Ronan PJ, Larson ET, Renner KJ, Summers CH (2003). Rapid glucocorticoid stimulation and GABAergic inhibition of hippocampal serotonergic response, in vivo dialysis in the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Hormones & Behavior 43:245-253.
Larson ET, Norris DO, Grau EG, Summers CH (2003). Monoamines stimulate sex reversal in the saddleback wrasse. General and Comparative Endocrinology 130:289-298.
Summers CH, Summers TR, Moore MC, Korzan WJ, Woodley SK, Ronan PJ, Höglund E, Watt MJ, Greenberg N (2003). Temporal patterns of limbic monoamine and plasma corticosterone response during social stress. Neuroscience 116:553-563.