Beth Levant, PhD

Professor
Ph.D., Duke University, 1990

Research Focus

Neuropharmacology, neuropsychiatric disorders

My laboratory investigates the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in neuronal functional and neuropsychiatric disorders, and drugs and diseases affecting the CNS dopamine systems.  Major research interests are the role of brain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in postpartum depression and the role of developmental docosahexaenoic acid deficiency in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injury.  Additional interests include the D3 dopamine receptor as a therapeutic target for schizophrenia, drug addiction, and Parkinson's disease; and mechanisms underlying sensitization to psychostimulants.

Selected Publications

Levant B, Crane JF, Carlson SE  (2006)  Sub-chronic treatment with antipsychotic drugs does not alter brain phospholipid fatty acid composition in rats.  Prog, Neuro-psychopharmacol Biol. Psychiatr. 30:728-732.

Levant B, Radel JD, Carlson SE  (2006)  Reduced brain DHA content after a single reproductive cycle in female rats fed a diet deficient in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.  Biol.Psychiatry  60:987-990.

McNamara RK, Levant B, Taylor B, Ahlbrand R, Lu Y, Sullivan JR, Stanford K, Richtand NM (2006)  C57BL/6J mice exhibit reduced dopamine D3 receptor-mediated inhibitor function relative to DBA/2J mice.  Neuroscience  143:141-153.

Pierce JD, Jagathesan J, Levant, B, Winter M, McCarson KE, Clancy RD (2006) Detection of dopamine receptor subtypes in the rat diaphragm.  Heart Lung  (in press).

Levant B, Ozias MK, Jones KA, Carlson SE  (2006) Differential effects of modulation of docosahexaenoic acid content during development in specific regions of rat brain.  Lipids 41:407-414.

Levant B, Ozias MK, Carlson SE  (2006)   Sex-specific effects of variation in brain long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid composition on locomotor activity in the developing rat.  Physiol. Behav. 89:196-204.

Ozias MK, Carlson SE, Levant B  (2007)  Maternal parity and diet (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid content influence brain phospholipid fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid accretion in the developing rat. J. Nutr. 137:125-129.

Levant B, Ozias MK, Carlson SE (2007)  Specific brain regions of the female rat are differentially depleted of docosahexaenoic acid by reproductive activity and an (n-3) fatty acid-deficient diet. J. Nutr.137:130-134.  PMID: 17182813

Pierce JD, Jagathesan J, Levant, B, Winter M, McCarson KE, Clancy RD (2007) Detection of dopamine receptor subtypes in the rat diaphragm.  Heart Lung  36:58-63.

Richards TL, Pazdernik TL, Levant B (2007)  Clorgyline-induced modification of behavioral sensitization to quinpirole: effects on local cerebral glucose utilization. Brain Res.  1160:124-133.  PMID: 17573047

Levant B, Ozias MK, Davis PF, Winter M, Russell KL, Carlson SE, Reed GA, McCarson KE (2008) Decreased brain docosahexaenoic acid content produces neurobiological effects associated with depression: interactions with reproductive status in female rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 33:1279-1292.  PMID: 1870781

Ahmad SO, Park J, Radel JD,Levant B, Crane JF, Carlson SE  (2006)  Sub-chronic treatment with antipsychotic drugs does not alter brain phospholipid fatty acid composition in rats.  Prog, Neuro-psychopharmacol Biol. Psychiatr. 30:728-732.

Witkin JM, Gasior M, Kaminski R, Levant B (2008)  The dopamineD3/D2 agonist R-(+)-trans-3,4a,10b-tetrahydro-4-propyl-2H,5H-[1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]-1,4-oxazin-9-ol [(+)-PD-128,907] protects against acute and cocaine kindled seizures in mice: further evidence for the involvement of D3 receptors.  J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.  326:930-938.  PMID: 18566292.

Culver KE, Szechtman H, Levant B (2008)  Altered dopamine D2-like receptor binding in rats with behavioral sensitization to quinpirole: effects of pre-treatment with Ro 41-1049.  Eur. J. Pharmacol.  592:67-72.  PMID: 18644362

Chen J, Collins GT, Zhang J, Yang C-Y, Levant B, Woods J, Wang S (2008)  Design, synthesis and evaluation of potent and selective dopamine 3 receptor ligands with a novel profile of pharmacologic and behavioral activity.  J. Med. Chem.  51:5905-5908.  PMID: 18785726

(2008)  Reduced numbers of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area of rats fed an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-deficient diet: a stereological study.  Neurosci. Lett. 438:303-307.  PMID: 18499349

Witkin JM, Gasior M, Kaminski R, Levant B (2008)  The dopamineD3/D2 agonist R-(+)-trans-3,4a,10b-tetrahydro-4-propyl-2H,5H-[1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]-1,4-oxazin-9-ol [(+)-PD-128,907] protects against acute and cocaine kindled seizures in mice: further evidence for the involvement of D3 receptors.  J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.  326:930-938.  PMID: 18566292.

Culver KE, Szechtman H, Levant B (2008)  Altered dopamine D2-like receptor binding in rats with behavioral sensitization to quinpirole: effects of pre-treatment with Ro 41-1049.  Eur. J. Pharmacol.  592:67-72.  PMID: 18644362

Chen J, Collins GT, Zhang J, Yang C-Y, Levant B, Woods J, Wang S (2008)  Design, synthesis and evaluation of potent and selective dopamine 3 receptor ligands with a novel profile of pharmacologic and behavioral activity.  J. Med. Chem.  51:5905-5908.  PMID: 18785726