JOHN D. BOUGHTER, JR., Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology

The University of Tennessee College of Medicine

Address

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 515

Memphis, TN 38163

Tel: (901) 448-1633; Fax: (901) 448-7193;

Education

Undergraduate institution: Binghamton University

Ph.D. Institution: Florida State University, Psychology Department, Neuroscience Program

Postdoctoral: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology

Research Interests

Ingestive decisions play a key role in a number of human conditions including obesity, diabetes, anorexia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. We are currently using neurogenetic approaches towards identifying genes that influence ingestive behaviors, including taste sensitivity, solution intake, and licking in mice.

Fluid licking in mice is thought to be under the control of one or more central pattern generators (CPG); that is, an ensemble of neurons in the CNS that generate the rhythmic output which in turn drives certain groups of muscles to act in a stereotyped, coordinated fashion. Two inbred strains of mice, C57BL/2J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2), differ in their licking behavior – D2 mice lick at a faster rate. This is likely due to a difference in the properties of the CPG. Unfortunately, the exact nature of the CPG is unknown, except for a good guess as to what part of the CNS it may reside in. We will attempt to uncover this mechanism by identifying genes that may control it. We are also embarking on a series of physiological investigations of these brain regions using in vivo recording preparations.

The above figure shows the results of a preliminary genome scan for lick rate using BXD recombinant inbred mice (this data is available using the search databases feature at the website www.webqtl.org). We have identified intervals (peaks of the blue trace) on chromosomes 1, 5, and 10 that likely contain genes that influence this trait.

Recent Publications

• St John SJ, Boughter JD Jr. Orosensory responsiveness to and preference for hydroxide-containing salts in mice. Chem Senses. 2009 Jul;34(6):487-98. Epub 2009 May 7. PMID: 19423656
• Tokita K, Inoue T, Boughter JD Jr. Afferent connections of the parabrachial nucleus in C57BL/6J mice. Neuroscience. 2009 Jun 30;161(2):475-88. Epub 2009 Mar 25. PMID: 19327389
• Glatt AR, Denton K, Boughter JD Jr. Variation in nicotine consumption in inbred mice is not linked to orosensory ability. Chem Senses. 2009 Jan;34(1):27-35. Epub 2008 Sep 4. PMID: 18775876
• Reiner DJ, Jan TA, Boughter JD Jr, Li CX, Lu L, Williams RW, Waters RS. Genetic analysis of tongue size and taste papillae number and size in recombinant inbred strains of mice. Chem Senses. 2008 Oct;33(8):693-707. Epub 2008 Jul 24. PMID: 18653645
• Tichansky DS, Boughter JD Jr, Harper J, Glatt AR, Madan AK. Gastric bypass surgery in rats produces weight loss modeling after human gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2008 Oct;18(10):1246-50. Epub 2008 Jun 25. PMID: 18581193
• Boughter JD Jr, Bachmanov AA. Behavioral genetics and taste. BMC Neurosci. 2007 Sep 18;8 Suppl 3:S3. Review. PMID: 17903279

view complete list of references (pubmed link)