Research
Research
Social interactions, including aggressive, sexual, affiliate, hierarchical and parental behaviors determine a large part of day-to-day life. Abnormalities in social interactions, for example exaggerated aggression, atypical sexual behavior or social anxiety can therefore profoundly affect the quality of life. Social impairments often come to light in adolescence, and if not adequately treated may cause physical and mental health problems that last into adulthood.
Aggressive, sexual, affiliate and parental behaviors are controlled by complex, partly overlapping neurobiological circuits that are putatively sex- and age-specific. It is well known that the neuropeptides oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP), in combination with the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) and the steroid hormones testosterone (T) and estrogen (E), play important roles in these circuits. Social behaviors are furthermore strongly influenced by the stress system: both acute and chronic stress can change behavioral responses to a conspecific, and stressful early life circumstances can profoundly affect the “social personality” of an individual.
I am interested in how variability in these systems (due to inborn individual differences, early life stress, or experimental manipulations) underlies abnormal social interactions, in particular pathological aggression (in females) and aggressive sexual behavior (in males).
Main Techniques Used
- extensive behavioural observations in rats
- in vivo microdialysis (measuring OXT, AVP and 5-HT release in the brain during ongoing behaviour)
- intracerebral/systemic application of psychoactive drugs
- immunohistochemistry
- receptor autoradiography
- in situ hybridization
Projects
As part of the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FemNAT-CD, focusing on conduct disorder in (pre-) adolescent girls, I study aggressive behavior in young female rats. Together with PhD-student Vinicius Oliveira I investigate the effects of pharmacological interventions in the OXT, AVP and 5-HT system, as well as early life stress on female aggression.
In addition, I am interested in the neurobiology underlying aggressive and coercive sexual behavior displayed by males toward females. I am developing a novel behavioral model in which this specific type of instrumental aggression can be investigated, with help from PhD-student Marianella Masis.
I am strongly involved in the University of Regensburg Themenverbund “Aggression und Gewalt in Natur und Kultur”, where I help to coordinate meetings and multidisciplinary scientific collaborations.
Profile
Profile
2013-2015:
Habilitandin/Scientist at the Dept. of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Germany.
Funding:
•Anschubfinanzierung von wissenschaftlichen Projekten, Universität Regensburg
•European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement n° 602407 (FemNAT-CD)
2011-2013:
Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dept. of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Germany
Funding:
•Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (24 months)
2008-2010
Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dept. of Biology (Behavioral Neuroendocrinology), University of California, Riverside, USA
Funding:
•Start-up grant Prof. Dr. Wendy Saltzman
•NIH grant 1R21MH087806
2006-2007
Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dept. of Psychoharmacology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Funding:
•Laboratoires Servier
2002-2005
PhD degree at the Dept. of Psychopharmacology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
•Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
1996-2001
BSc and MSc (equivalent) in Biology at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands
MA (equivalent) in Journalism at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
Publications
Publications
2015
Lukas M, de Jong TR. Conspecific interactions in laboratory rodents: friends or foes? Accepted review in Current Topics in Behavioural Neurosciences.
De Jong TR, Menon R, Grund T, Klampfl SM, Jurek B, Bosch OJ, Hellhammer J, Neumann ID. Salivary oxytocin concentrations in response to running, sexual self-stimulation, breastfeeding and the TSST: The Regensburg Oxytocin Challenge (ROC) study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 62: 381-388.
Saltzman W, Harris BN, de Jong TR, Nguyen P, Cho JT, Hernandez M, Perea-Rodriguez JP. Effects of parental status on male body mass in the monogamous, biparental California mouse. Journal of Zoology 296(1): 23-29
Veening JG, de Jong TR, Waldinger MD, Korte SM, Olivier B (2015). Reproductive behavior in the male and female rat: the role of oxytocin. European Journal of Pharmacology 753: 209-228
2014
De Jong TR, Beiderbeck DI, Neumann ID. Measuring virgin female aggression in the female intruder test (FIT): Effects of oxytocin, estrous cycle, and anxiety. Plos ONE, 9, e91701.
De Jong TR, Neumann ID. Moderate role of oxytocin in the pro-ejaculatory effect of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT. Journal of Sexual Medicine 12(1): 17-28.
2013
De Jong TR, Harris, BN, Perea-Rodriguez, JP, Saltzman W. Physiological and neuroendocrine responses to chronic variable stress in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus): influence of social environment and paternal state. Psychoneuroendocrinology 38(10): 2023-2033.
Harris BN, de Jong TR, Yang V, Saltzman W. Effects of chronic variable stress on paternal behavior and pup development in California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Hormones and Behavior 64(5): 799-811.
2012
De Jong TR, Korosi A, Harris BN, Perea-Rodriguez JP, Saltzman W. Behavioral and physiological associations between rank and paternal care in virgin Peromyscus californicus. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 85(6): 740-751.
Chauke M, de Jong TR, Garland T Jr., Saltzman W. Paternal responsiveness is associated with, but not mediated by reduced neophobia in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Physiology and Behavior 107(1): 65-75.
Harris BN, Saltzman WS, de Jong TR, Milnes MR. HPA function in the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus): Changes in baseline activity, reactivity, and fecal excretion of glucocorticoids across the diurnal cycle. General and Comparative Endocrinology 179(3): 436-450.
2011
Snoeren, EMS, Chan JSW, de Jong TR, Olivier BA, Oosting, RS. A new female rat animal model for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder; behavioral and pharmacological evidence. Journal of Sexual Medicine 8(1): 44-56
Chauke M, Malisch JL, Harris BN, Robinson C, De Jong TR, Saltzman W. Effects of fatherhood and male-female pair bonding on corticosterone responses to stress in biparental California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Hormones and Behavior 60(1):128-138
2010
De Jong TR, Measor K, Chauke M, Harris BN, Saltzman W. Brief pup exposure induces Fos expression in the lateral habenula and serotonergic caudal dorsal raphe nucleus of paternally experienced male California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Neuroscience 169(3): 1094-1104
Veening JG, de Jong TR, Barendregt HP. Oxytocin messages via the cerebrospinal fluid: behavioral effects; a review. Physiology and Behavior 101(2): 193-210
Millan MJ, Dekeyne A, Gobert A, la Cour CM, Brocco M, Rivet JM, Di Cara B, Lejeune F, Cremers TI, Flik G, de Jong TR, Olivier B, de Nanteuil G. S41744, a dual neurokinin (NK)(1) receptor antagonist and serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor with potential antidepressant properties: A comparison to aprepitant (MK869) and paroxetine. Eur Neuropsychopharmacology 20(9): 599-621
2009
De Jong TR, Chauke M, Harris BN, Saltzman W. From here to paternity: Neural correlates of the onset of paternal behavior in California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Hormones and Behavior 56(2): 220-231
2008
Chan JS, Olivier B, de Jong TR, Snoeren EM, Kooijman E, van Hasselt FN, Limpens JH, Kas MJ, Waldinger MD, Oosting RS. Translational research into sexual disorders: Pharmacology and genomics. European Journal of Pharmacology 585(2-3): 426-35
Brocco M, Dekeyne A, Mannoury la Cour C, Touzard M, Girardon S, Veiga S, de Nanteuil G, de Jong TR, Olivier B, Millan MJ. Cellular and behavioural profile of the novel, selective neurokinin(1) receptor antagonist, vestipitant: A comparison to other agents. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 18(10): 729-50
2007
De Jong TR, Veening JG, Olivier B, Waldinger MD. Oxytocin involvement in SSRI-induced delayed ejaculation: a review of animal studies. Journal of Sexual Medicine 4(1): 14-28
Olivier JDA, de Jong TR, Dederen PJ, van Oorschot R, Heeren D, Pattij T, Waldinger MD, Coolen LM, Cools AR, Olivier B, Veening JG. Effects of acute and chronic apomorphine on sex behavior and copulation-induced neural activation in the male rat. European Journal of Pharmacology 576(1-3): 61-76
2006
De Jong TR, Veening JG, Waldinger MD, Cools AR, Olivier, B. Serotonin and the neurobiology of the ejaculatory threshold. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 30(7): 893-907
De Jong TR, Snaphaan LJAE, Pattij T, Veening JG, Waldinger MD, Cools AR, Olivier, B. Effects of chronic treatment with fluvoxamine and paroxetine during adolescence on serotonin-related behavior in adult male rats. European Neuropsychopharmacology 16(1): 39-48
Olivier B, Chan JS, Pattij T, de Jong TR, Oosting RS, Veening JG, Waldinger MD.Psychopharmacology of male rat sexual behavior: modeling human sexual dysfunctions? International Journal of Impotence Research 18: S14-S24
2005
De Jong TR, Pattij T, Veening JG, Dederen PJ, Waldinger MD, Cools AR and Olivier B. Effects of chronic paroxetine pretreatment on (+/-)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-npropyl- amino)tetralin induced c-fos expression following sexual behavior. Neuroscience 134(4): 1351-1361
De Jong TR, Pattij T, Veening JG, Waldinger MD, Cools AR and Olivier B. Effects of chronic selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on 8-OH-DPAT-induced facilitation of ejaculation in rats: comparison of fluvoxamine and paroxetine. Psychopharmacology (Berlin) 179: 509-15
De Jong TR, Pattij T, Veening JG, Dederen PJ, Waldinger MD, Cools AR and Olivier B. Citalopram combined with WAY 100635 inhibits ejaculation and ejaculation-related Fos immunoreactivity. European Journal of Pharmacology 509: 49-59
Pattij T, de Jong TR, Uitterdijk A, Waldinger MD, Veening JG, Cools AR, van der Graaf PH, Olivier B. Individual differences in male rat ejaculatory behaviour: searching for models to study ejaculation disorders. European Journal of Neuroscience 22: 724-734
Veening JG, Coolen LM, de Jong TR, Joosten HW, de Boer SF, Koolhaas JM, Olivier B. Do similar neural systems subserve aggressive and sexual behaviour in male rats? Insights from c-Fos and pharmacological studies. European Journal of Pharmacology 526(1-3): 226-39
