Neuroscience Professor
Psychology Professor
Adjunct Professor for the College of Nursing

Department of Psychology
Department of Neuroscience
Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research

Google scholar articles
PubMed articles

Phone: 614-292-7353
Fax: 614-688-8742
courtney.devries@osumc.edu

General Research: Dr. DeVries studies the effects of social stress on the histological and behavioral consequences of experimental stroke (focal cerebral ischemia) in mice. Among the stroke-induced behavioral alterations assessed are somatosensory function, cognitive function, social interaction, sexual motivation, anxiety and depression. Additional research interests include studying the role of stress hormones in motivated behaviors such as social bonding and drug-seeking behaviors. 

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Research Interests: 

  • Psychobiology
  • Behavioral endocrinology
  • Behavioral pharmacology
  • Neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying social behavior and stress
  • Mechanisms of neuroplasticity following neuronal injury and cerebral ischemia

Active Funding: American Heart Association, National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, National Institute of Mental Health, Ohio State University Seed Grant Program, The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, National Institute of Heart Blood and Lung

Selected Publications:

Moffatt, C.A., DeVries, A.C. & Nelson, R.J. 1993. Winter adaptations of male deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) that vary in reproductive responsiveness to photoperiod. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 8:221-232.

DeVries, A.C. DeVries, M.B., Taymans, S.E. & Carter, C.S. 1995. Modulation of pair bonding by corticosterone in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) by corticosterone. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 92:7744-7748.

Carter, C.S., DeVries, A.C. & Getz, L.L. 1995. Physiological substrates of mammalian monogamy: the prairie vole model. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 19:303-314.

Carter, C.S., DeVries, A.C., Taymans, S.E., Roberts, R.L., Williams, J.R. & Chrousos, G.P. 1995. Adrenocorticoid hormones and the development and expression of mammalian monogamy. New York Academy of Sciences, 771:82-91.

Nelson, R.J., Asfaw, B., DeVries, A.C. & Demas, G.E. 1996. Reproductive response to photoperiod affects corticosterone and immunoglobulin G concentrations in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 74:576-581.

DeVries, A.C., DeVries, M.B., Taymans, S.E. & Carter, C.S. 1996. The effects of stress on social preferences are sexually dimorphic in prairie voles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 93:11980-11984.

Klein, S. L., Taymans, S.E., DeVries, A.C. & Nelson, R.J. 1996. Cellular immunity is not compromised by high serum corticosterone concentrations in prairie voles. American Journal of Physiology, 271:R1608-R1613.

DeVries, A.C. & Carter, C. S. 1996. Sex differences in pair bonding in monogamous prairie voles. Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, 101(suppl.1):154.

Matecka, D., Lewis, D., Rothman, R.B., Dersch, C.M., Wojnicki, F.H.E., Glowa, J.R., DeVries, A.C., Pert, A. & Rice, K.C. 1997. Heteroaromatic analogs of 1-[(2-diphenylmethoxy)ethyl]- and 1-[2-(bis(4-flourophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazines (GBR 12935 and GBR 12909) as high affinity dopamine reuptake inhibitors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 40:705-716. 93:11980-11984.

Taymans, S.E., DeVries, A.C., DeVries, M.B., Nelson, R.J., Friedman, T.C., Castro, M., Detera-Wadleigh, S., Carter, C.S. & Chrousos, G.P. 1997. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster): evidence for target tissue resistance. Journal of General and Comparative Endocrinology, 106:48-61.

DeVries, A.C., Johnson, C.L. & Carter, C.S. 1997. Familiarity and gender influence social preferences in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 75:295-301.

DeVries, A.C., Taymans, S.E. & Carter, C.S. 1997. Social modulation of blood corticosteroid responses in male prairie voles. New York Academy of Sciences, 807:494-498.

Carter, C.S., DeVries, A.C., Taymans, S.E., Roberts, R.L, WIlliams, J.R. & Getz, L.L. 1997. Peptides, steroids and pair bonding. New York Academy of Sciences, 807:260-272.

DeVries, A.C., Young, W.S. & Nelson, R.J. 1997. Reduced aggressive behavior in mice with targeted disruption of the oxytocin gene. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 9:363-368.

Demas, G.E., DeVries, A.C. & Nelson, R.J. 1997. Effects of photoperiod and 2-deoxy-D-glucose induced metabolic stress on immune function in female deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). American Journal of Physiology, 272:R1762-R1767.

Klein, S.L., Hairston, J.E., DeVries, A.C. & Nelson, R.J. 1997. Social environment and steroid hormones affect species and sex differences in immune function among voles. Hormones and Behavior, 32:30-39.

DeVries, A.C., Gerber, J., Richardson, H.A., Moffatt, C.A., Demas, G.E., Taymans, S.E. & Nelson, R.J. 1997. Influence of stress on corticosterone and immunoglobin levels in house mice and prairie voles. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A, 118:655-663.

DeVries, A.C., Taymans, S.E., Sundstrom, J.M. & Pert, A. 1998. Conditioned release of corticosterone by contextual stimuli associated with cocaine is mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor. Brain Research, 786:39-46.

DeVries, A.C. & Pert, A. 1998. Conditioned increases in anxiogenic-like behavior following exposure to contextual stimuli associated with cocaine are mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor. Psychopharmacology, 137:333-340.

Walensky, L.D., Shi, Z.T., Blackshaw, S., DeVries, A.C., Demas, G.E., Gascard, P., Nelson, R.J., Conboy, J.G., Rubin, E.M., Snyder, S.H. & Mohandas, N. 1998. Neurobehavioral deficits in mice lacking erythrocyte membrane cytoskeletal protein 4.1. Current Biology, 8:1269-1272.

Young, W.S., Shepard, E., DeVries, A.C., Zimmer, A., LaMarca, M.E., Ginns, E.I., Amico, J., Nelson, R.J., Henninghausen, L. & Wagner, K-U. 1998. Targeted reduction of oxytocin expression provides insights into its physiological roles. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 30:231-240.

Hall, F.S., DeVries, A.C., Fong, G.W., Huang, S. & Pert, A. 1999. The effects of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine depletion of tissue serotonin levels on extracellular serotonin in the striatum assessed with in vivo microdialysis: relationship to behavior. Synapse, 33:16-25.

Cho, M.M., DeVries, A.C., Williams, J.R. & Carter, C.S. 1999. The effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on partner preference in male and female prairie voles (Micotus ochrogaster). Behavioral Neuroscience, 113:1071-1079.

Carter, A.C. & DeVries, A.C. 1999. Oxytocin and vasopressin influence the traits of monogamy and the activity of the HPA axis. Excertpa Medica, International Congress Series, 1185:3-9.

DeVries, A.C. & Carter, C.S. 1999. Sex differences in temporal parameters of partner preference in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 77:885-889.

Bilbo, S.D., Klein, S.L., DeVries, A.C. & Nelson, R.J. 1999. Lipopolysaccharide facilitates partner preference behaviors in prairie voles. Physiology and Behavior, 68:151-156.

DeVries, A.C. & Carter, C. S. 1999. Oxytocin. In Encyclopedia of Reproduction, Edited by E. Knobil and J.D. Neill. Academic Press, San Diego, 3:630-634.

Carter, C.S. & DeVries, A.C. 1999. Stress and soothing: An endocrine perspective. In Soothing and Stress, Edited by M. Lewis & D. Ramsey. Erlbaum Associates, New Jersey. Pages 3-18.

Mansikka, H. Sheth, R. DeVries, A.C., Lee, H., Winchurch, R. & Raja, S. 2000. Nerve injury-induced mechanical, but not thermal, hyperplasia is attenuated in neurokinin-1 receptor knockout mice. Experimental Neurology, 162:343-349.

Harukuni, I., Bhardwaj, A., Shaivitz, A.B., DeVries, A.C., London, E.D., Hurn, P.D., Traystman, R.J. & Kirsh, J.R. 2000. Sigma1-receptor ligand 4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)-piperdine affords neuroprotections from focal ischemia and proloned reperfusion. Stroke, 31:976-982.

Hattori, K., Lee, H., Hurn, P.D., Crain, B., Traystman, R.J, & DeVries, A.C.. 2000. Cognitive deficits after focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Stroke, 31:1939-1944.

DeVries, A.C., Nelson, R.J., Traystman, R.J. & Hurn, P.D. 2001. Cognitive behavioral testing in experimental stroke research: Will it prove useful? Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 25:325-342.

Traystman, R.J., Klaus, J.A., DeVries, A.C., Shaivitz, A.B. & Hurn, P.D. 2001. Anticonvulsant lamotrigine administered on reperfusion fails to improve experimental stroke outcomes. Stroke, 32:783-787.

DeVries, A.C., Joh, H-D., Bernard, O., Hattori, K. Hurn, P.D., Traystman, R.J. & Alkayed, N.J. 2001. Social stress exacerbates stroke outcome by supressing bcl-2 expression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98:11824-11828.

DeVries, A.C., Guptaa, T., Cardillo, S., Cho, M.M. & Carter, C.S. 2002. Corticotropin releasing-factor induces social preferences in male prairie voles. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 27:705-714.

Sugo, N., Hurn, P.D., Morahan, M.B., Hattori, K., Traystman, R.J., DeVries, A.C.. 2002. Social stress exacerbates focal ischemia in mice. Stroke, 33:1660-1664.

DeVries, A.C. 2002. Frank A. Beach Award: Interaction among social environment, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and behavior. Hormones and Behavior, 41:405-413.

Hurn, P.D. & DeVries, A.C. 2002. Sex and stress hormones in brain injury. In Neuroprotection, Edited by E.H. Lo & J. Marwah. Prominent Press, Boston, MA. Pages 239-258.

Campbell, T., Lin, S., DeVries, A.C. & Lambert, K. 2003. Coping strategies in male and female rats to multiple stressors. Physiology and Behavior, 78:495-504.

DeVries, A.C., Glasper, E.R. & Detillion, C.E. 2003. Social modulation of stress responses. Physiology and Behavior, 79:399-407.

Neigh, G.N., Kofler, J., Meyers, J.L., Bergdall, V., La Perle, K.M.D., Traystman, R.J. & DeVries, A.C. 2004. Cardia arrest/ cardiopulmonary resuscitation increases anxiety-like behavior and decreases social interaction. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism , 24:372-382.

Li, X., Blizzard, K., Zeng, Z. DeVries, A.C., Hurn, P.D., & McCullough, L.D. 2004. Chronic behavioral testing after focal ischemia in the mouse: functional recovery and the effects of gender. Experimental Neurology, 187:94-104.

Kofler, J., Hattori, K., Sawad, M., DeVries, A.C., Martin, L.J., Hurn, P.D. & Traystman, R.J. 2004. Histopathological and behavioral characterization of a novel model of cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in mice. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 136:33-44.

Detillion, C.E., Craft, T.K.S., Glasper, E.R., Prendergast, B. & DeVries, A.C. 2004. Social facilitation of wound healing. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29(8):1004-1011.

Neigh, G.N., Glasper, E.R., Kofler, J., Traystman, R.J., Mervis, R., Bachstatter, A. & DeVries, A.C. 2004. Cardiac arrest/pulmonary resuscitation reduces dendritic spine density in CA1 pyramidal cells and selectively alters acquisition of spatial memory. European Journal of Neuroscience, 20(7):1865-72.

Glasper, E.R. & DeVries, A.C. 2005. Social structure influences effects of pair housing on wound healing. Brain Behavior and Immunity, 19:61-68.

Craft, T.K.S., Mahoney, J.H., DeVries, A.C. & Sarter, M. 2005. Microsphere embolism-induced cholinergic deafferentation and impairments in attentional performance. European Journal of Neuroscience, 21:3117-3132.

Love, GA, Torrey, N. McNamara, I., Morgan, M., Banks, M., Wightman, N., Glasper, E.R., DeVries, A.C., Kinsley, C. & Lambert, K.G. 2005. Maternal experience produces long lasting behavioral modifications in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 119:1084-1096.

Craft T.K.S., Glasper, E.R., McCullough L., Zhang, N., Sugo, N., Otsuka, T., Hurn, P.D. & DeVries, A.C. 2005. Social interaction improves stroke outcome. Stroke, 36:2006-2011.

Neigh, G.N., Glasper, E.R., Bilbo, S.D., Traystman, R.J. & DeVries, A.C. 2005. Cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation augments cell-mediated immune function and transiently suppresses humoral immune function. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 25:1424-1432.

Khanna, S., Roy, S., Slivka, A., Craft, T.K.S., Chaki, S., Rink, C., Notestine, M., DeVries, A.C. & Sen, C. 2005. Neuroprotective properties of the natural vitamin E a-tocotrienol. Stroke, 36:2258-2264.

Martin, L.B., Glasper, E.R., Nelson, R.J. & DeVries, A.C. 2006. Prolonged separation delays wound healing in California mice, Peromyscus californicus, but not polygynous white-footed mice. Physiology and Behavior, 87:837-841.

Craft, T.K.S., Zhang, N., Glasper, E.R., Hurn P.D. & DeVries, A.C. 2006. Neonatal factors influence stroke outcome in mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 31:601-613.

Craft, T.K.S. & DeVries, A.C. 2006. The role of IL-1 in post-stroke depressive-like behavior in mice. Biological Psychiatry, 60:812-818.

DeVries, A.C., Craft, T.K.S., Glasper, E.R., Neigh, G.N., & Alexander, J.K. 2007. Curt P Richter Award Winner: Social influences on stress responses and health. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 32:587-603.

DeVries, A.C. & Nelson, R.J. 2007. Behavioral Genetics. In J. T. Cacioppo, L. G. Tassinary, G. G. Berntson (Eds.), The Handbook of Psychophysiology, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

DeVries, A.C. & Nelson, R.J. (Editors). 2007. Current Directions in Psychology: Biopsychology. Prentice-Hall. American Psychological Society. Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Quach, T.T., Massicotte, G., Glasper, E.R., Reibel, S., Duchemin, A.M., Mutin, M., Auvergnon, N., Berlin, M.F., DeVries, A.C., Baudry, M., & Kolattukudy, P.E.K. 2007. CRMP3 is required for hippocampal CA1 dendritic organization and plasticity. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, In press.

Research Staff:

Kate Karelina, Graduate Student
John Morris, Technician
Greg Norman, Graduate Student
James Walton, Lab Coordinator

Education and Training:

PhD: Zoology (Behavioral Endocrinology), University of Maryland
Biological Psychiatry (Behavioral Pharmacology), National Institute of Mental Health

Honors/News:

  • 1995 Outstanding Graduate Research Award, University of Maryland, College Park
  • 1996 Young Scientist Award, New York Academy of Sciences; Integrative Neurobiology of Affiliation Meeting
  • 1996 Fellows Award for Research Excellence, Office of Scientific Director, NIH
  • 1996 NSF Travel Award, International Conference on Hormones, Brain and Behavior
  • 2000 Fellow, Stroke Council, American Heart Association  
  • 2000 Frank A. Beach Award, Society of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
  • 2001 Fellow, American Heart Association, American Heart Association
  • 2003 Established Investigator Award, American Heart Association
  • 2006 Curt P. Richter Award, International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology
  • 2007 President and Provost's Leadership Institute, Ohio State University

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