Alexander G. Ophir

Hypothalamic Cell Type Evolution across Vertebrates

This study identifies conserved and clade-specific hypothalamic cell types across vertebrates using single-cell transcriptomics, revealing conserved transcription factors and rewired regulatory linkages.

Effects of short-term isolation on vocal and non-vocal social behaviors in prairie voles

This study examines short-term social isolation effects on vocal and non-vocal social behaviors in prairie voles, finding no overall impact but sex- and context-specific changes in aggression.

Plasticity in parental behavior and vasopressin: Responses to co-parenting, pup age, and an acute stressor are experience-dependent

This study examines how parental behavior and vasopressin neuron counts in prairie voles change with pup age, co-parenting, and acute stress, showing experience-dependent plasticity.

DREADD activation of the lateral septum alters prosocial and antisocial behaviors, but not partner preferences in male prairie voles

This study investigates how activating the lateral septum in male prairie voles affects prosocial and antisocial behaviors, finding it increases affiliative behaviors and reduces selective aggression without altering partner preferences.

Pair bonding slows epigenetic aging and alters methylation in brains of prairie voles

This study develops DNA methylation-based age estimators for prairie voles and finds that pair bonding slows epigenetic aging and alters methylation in brain tissue.

Social status in mouse social hierarchies is associated with variation in oxytocin and vasopressin 1a receptor densities

The paper examines how social status in mice correlates with oxytocin and vasopressin receptor binding in specific brain regions.