Jon Levine, PhD

Professor of Neurobiology and Physiology
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Research Interests:
The laboratory of Jon Levine is interested in the analysis of molecular and genetic mechanisms that govern reproductive hormone secretions and actions. Their work focuses in large part on the actions of steroid hormones in the central nervous system, and the molecular and cellular basis of their effects on neurosecretion and behavior. Dr. Levine’s investigations include work with transgenic and deletion-mutant mice to assess the role of specific estrogen and progesterone-responsive genes in the control of ovulatory cyclicity, puberty, sexual behavior, and parental behavior. His lab is also studying the molecular mechanisms that mediate the effects of metabolic cues on reproductive hormone secretions and fertility.

Selected Publications:
Glidewell-Kenney, C., Hurley, L. A., Pfaff, L., Weiss, J., Levine, J. E. and Jameson, J. L. (2007). Nonclassical estrogen receptor alpha signaling mediates negative feedback in the female mouse reproductive axis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A104, 8173-7.

McDevitt, M. A., Glidewell-Kenney, C., Weiss, J., Chambon, P., Jameson, J. L. and Levine, J. E. (2007). Estrogen response element-independent estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha signaling does not rescue sexual behavior but restores normal testosterone secretion in male ERalpha knockout mice. Endocrinology 148, 5288-94.

Demissie, M., Lazic, M., Foecking, E. M., Aird, F., Dunaif, A. and Levine, J. E. (2008). Transient prenatal androgen exposure produces metabolic syndrome in adult female rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 295, E262-8.

Huang, W., Acosta-Martinez, M., Horton, T. H. and Levine, J. E. (2008a). Fasting-induced suppression of LH secretion does not require activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 295, E1439-46.

Huang, W., Acosta-Martinez, M. and Levine, J. E. (2008b). Ovarian steroids stimulate adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel subunit gene expression and confer responsiveness of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator to KATP channel modulation. Endocrinology 149, 2423-32.

McDevitt, M. A., Glidewell-Kenney, C., Jimenez, M. A., Ahearn, P. C., Weiss, J., Jameson, J. L. and Levine, J. E. (2008a). New insights into the classical and non-classical actions of estrogen: evidence from estrogen receptor knock-out and knock-in mice. Mol Cell Endocrinology 290, 24-30.

McDevitt, M. A., Thorsness, R. J. and Levine, J. E. (2008b). A role for ATP-sensitive potassium channels in male sexual behavior. Horm Behav.