Home › Academics › College of Liberal Arts › Faculty › Jin Ho Park

Faculty & Staff

Areas of Expertise

Reproductive neuroendocrinology and behavioral neurosience.

Degrees

PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Professional Publications & Contributions

• Park JH, Takasu N, Alvarez MI, Clark K, Aimaq R, Zucker I (2004) Long-term persistence of male copulatory behavior in castrated and photo-inhibited Siberian hamsters. Horm Behav. 45:214-221.
• Park JH, Kauffman AS, Paul MJ, Butler MP, Beery AK, Costantini RM, and Zucker I. (2006) Interval timer control of puberty in photoinhibited Siberian hamsters. J Biol Rhythms. 21:373-384.
• Costantini RM, Park JH, Beery AK, Paul MJ, Ko JJ, and Zucker I. (2006) Post-castration retention of reproductive behavior and olfactory preferences in male Siberian hamsters: role of prior experience. Horm Behav. 51:149-155. Epub 2006 Oct 31.
• Park JH, Paul MJ, Butler MP, Villa P, Burke M, Kim DP, Routman DM, Schoomer EE, Zucker I. (2007) Short duration testosterone infusions maintain male sex behavior in Syrian hamsters. Horm Behav. 52(2):169-76. Epub 2007 Mar 27.
• Kauffman AS, Park JH, McPhie-Lalmansingh AA, Gottsch ML, Bodo C, Hohmann JG, Pavlova M, Rohde AD, Clifton DK, Steiner RA, and Rissman EF (2007) The kisspeptin receptor GPR54 is required for sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior. Journal of Neuroscience. 27(33):8826-35.
• Park JH and Rissman ER (2007) The Male Sexual Revolution: Independence from Testosterone. Annual Review of Sex Research 18:23-59.
• Park JH, Burns-Cusato M, Dominguez-Salazar E, Riggan A, Shetty S, Burgoyne PS, Arnold AP, and Rissman EF (2008) Effects of sex chromosome aneuploidy on male sexual behavior. Genes, Brain, & Behavior 7:609-617.
• Park JH, Bonthuis P, Ding A, Rais S, Rissman EF. (2009) Androgen- and estrogen-independent regulation of copulatory behavior following castration in male B6D2F1 mice. Hormones and Behavior. 56:254-263.
• Park JH, Bonthius P, Tsai HW, Bekiranov S, Rissman EF (2010) Amyloid beta precursor protein regulates male sexual behavior. J Neurosci. 30(30):9967-72.

Additional Information

Website: Click to visit

Current Research:

Dr. Park’s research interests lie in investigating the neuroendocrinology of social behaviors, such as reproduction and aggression, and focuses on the molecular and genetic basis of reproductive behavior and environmental influences on reproduction and sexual differentiation. Long-term persistence of male reproductive behavior after castration has been reported in numerous species, including humans; therefore, delineating the underpinnings of gonadal steroid-independent male sexual behavior will help understand the complex mechanisms that contribute to variability in sexual function. We utilize an animal model in which a large proportion of hybrid mice retain the full repertoire of male sexual behaviors 5-6 months after castration to investigate the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying individual differences found in male reproductive behaviors. The long term goal is to utilize our findings to develop new treatments for sexual dysfunction that are independent of steroid hormones.

We study reproductive neuroscience using an integrative “systems” approach, allowing for a comprehensive examination of the environmental and neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction at multiple levels of analyses, from genetics to neuroanatomy to endocrinology to behavior. We employ a variety of techniques that encompass analyses at multiple levels such as immunocytochemistry, real time qPCR, protein quantification using western blots, timed hormonal infusions via indwelling catheters, hormone sampling and steroid hormone radioimmunoassay, ICV infusions with osmotic pumps, and familiarity with numerous behaviors including sex behavior, olfactory preference, aggression and stress.

TEACHING: Spring 2010:

Psych 490: Biorhythms in Brain and Behavior