Edward Daniel Levin
Director, Center on Addiction & Behavior Change
Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Overview
The three main research components of his laboratory are focused on the themes of the basic neurobiology of cognition and addiction, neurobehavioral toxicology and the development of novel therapeutic treatments for cognitive dysfunction and substance abuse. Currently, our principal research focus concerns nicotine. We have documented the basic effects of nicotine on learningm memory and attention as well as nicotine self-administration. We are continuing with more mechanistic studies in rat models using selective lesions, local infusions and neurotransmitter interaction studies. We have found that nicotine improves memory performance not only in normal rats, but also in rats with lesions of hippocampal and basal forebrain connections. We are concentrating on alpha7 and alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor subtypes in the hippocampus, amygdala , thalamus and frontal cortex and how they interact with dopamine D1 and D2 and glutamate NMDA systems with regard to memory and addiction. I am also conducting studies on human cognitive behavior. We have current studies to assess nicotine effects on attention, memory and mental processing speed in schizophrenics, Alzheimer's Disease patients and people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In the area of neurobehavioral toxicology, I have continuing projects to characterize the adverse effects of prenatal and adolescent nicotine exposure. Our primary project in neurobehavioral toxicology focuses on the cognitive deficits caused by the marine toxins including domoic acid, ciguatera toxin and pfiesteria. We have documented a persistent neurobehavioral effects caused by Pfiesteria and domoic acid exposure. We are determining the neurobehavioral nature and mechanisms of this deficit. The basic and applied aims of our research complement each other nicely. The findings concerning neural mechanisms underlying cognitive function help direct the behavioral toxicology and therapeutic development studies, while the applied studies provide important functional information concerning the importance of the basic mechanisms under investigation.
Selected Grants
Microglial sculpting of dopamine receptors in adolescence: implications for opioid use disorders awarded by National Institutes of Health (Co Investigator). 2022 to 2027
Pharmacological Sciences Training Grant awarded by National Institutes of Health (Preceptor). 2020 to 2025
Duke University Program in Environmental Health awarded by National Institutes of Health (Mentor). 2013 to 2024
Receptor-type protein in tyrosine phosphatase D (PTPRD) treatment with 7-BIA to reduce nicotine self-adminstration awarded by Biomedical Research Institute of New Mexico (Principal Investigator). 2019 to 2022
HAB toxin exposure and Alzheimer's disease susceptibility awarded by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Principal Investigator). 2019 to 2022
Using Zebrafish to Help Identify Which Environmental Toxicants Could Increase Autism Risk awarded by Autism Research Institute (Principal Investigator). 2019 to 2021
Paternal Transgenerational Epigenetic Legacy from Use of Cannabis awarded by John Templeton Foundation (Co-Project Leader). 2017 to 2021
Alzheimer's Disease, Genes, and Pesticide Use in the Agricultural Health Study awarded by National Institutes of Health (Co Investigator). 2014 to 2021
Reinforcing effect of nicotine alone vs. nicotine plus other chemicals in tobacco awarded by Rose Research Center, LLC (Principal Investigator). 2019 to 2020
Pharmacological Sciences Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health (Participating Faculty Member). 1975 to 2020
Pages
Levin, E. D., and J. J. Buccafusco. Animal models of cognitive impairment. 2006, pp. 1–376.
Levin, E. D. Nicotinic receptors in the nervous system. 2001, pp. 1–291.
Hawkey, A. B., et al. “A Behavioral Test Battery to Assess Larval and Adult Zebrafish After Developmental Neurotoxic Exposure.” Neuromethods, vol. 172, 2021, pp. 353–80. Scopus, doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1637-6_16. Full Text
Rezvani, A. H., et al. “Oral 18-Methoxycoronaridine (18-MC) Decreases Nicotine Self-Administration in Rats.” Neuroscience of Nicotine: Mechanisms and Treatment, 2019, pp. 493–97. Scopus, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-813035-3.00059-9. Full Text
Levin, E. D. “Chronic Nicotine Effects on Memory and Nicotine Self-Administration: Age of Exposure is Key.” Advances in Neurotoxicology, vol. 2, 2018, pp. 189–96. Scopus, doi:10.1016/bs.ant.2018.03.003. Full Text
Levin, E. D., and Y. Abreu-Villaça. “Developmental neurotoxicity of nicotine and tobacco.” Handbook of Developmental Neurotoxicology, 2018, pp. 439–52. Scopus, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809405-1.00039-0. Full Text
Abreu-Villaça, Y., and E. D. Levin. “Developmental neurobehavioral neurotoxicity of insecticides.” Handbook of Developmental Neurotoxicology, 2018, pp. 453–66. Scopus, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809405-1.00040-7. Full Text
Roegge, C. S., and E. D. Levin. “Nicotinic receptor antagonists in rats.” Animal Models of Cognitive Impairment, 2006, pp. 21–35.
Cerutti, D. T., and E. D. Levin. “Cognitive impairment models using complementary species.” Animal Models of Cognitive Impairment, 2006, pp. 315–42.
Levin, E. D., and J. J. Buccafusco. “Introduction.” Animal Models of Cognitive Impairment, 2006, pp. 1–2.
Levin, E. D. “Nicotinic systems: An integrated approach.” Nicotinic Receptors in the Nervous System, 2001, pp. 281–82.
Levin, E. D., and A. H. Rezvani. “Nicotinic involvement in cognitive function of rats.” Nicotinic Receptors in the Nervous System, 2001, pp. 167–78.
Pages
Hawkey, Andrew B., et al. “Persistent neurobehavioral and neurochemical anomalies in middle-aged rats after maternal diazinon exposure.” Toxicology, vol. 472, Apr. 2022, p. 153189. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.tox.2022.153189. Full Text
Rezvani, Amir H., et al. “Time-dependent effects of nicotine on reversal of dizocilpine-induced attentional impairment in female rats.” Pharmacol Biochem Behav, vol. 215, Apr. 2022, p. 173359. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173359. Full Text
Joglekar, Rashmi, et al. “Developmental nicotine exposure and masculinization of the rat preoptic area.” Neurotoxicology, vol. 89, Mar. 2022, pp. 41–54. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2022.01.005. Full Text
Levin, Edward D., et al. “Chronic infusions of mecamylamine into the medial habenula: Effects on nicotine self-administration in rats.” Behav Brain Res, vol. 416, Jan. 2022, p. 113574. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113574. Full Text
Holloway, Z., et al. “Corrigendum to "Paternal cannabis extract exposure in rats: Preconception timing effects on neurobehavioral effects in offspring" [Neurotoxicology 81 (2020) 180-188].” Neurotoxicology, vol. 87, Dec. 2021, p. 258. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2021.08.009. Full Text
Slotkin, Theodore A., et al. “Paternal Cannabis Exposure Prior to Mating, but Not Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, Elicits Deficits in Dopaminergic Synaptic Activity in the Offspring.” Toxicol Sci, vol. 184, no. 2, Nov. 2021, pp. 252–64. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfab117. Full Text Open Access Copy
Levin, Edward D., et al. “Self-administration by female rats of low doses of nicotine alone vs. nicotine in tobacco smoke extract.” Drug Alcohol Depend, vol. 228, Nov. 2021, p. 109073. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109073. Full Text
Rezvani, Amir H., et al. “Differential behavioral functioning in the offspring of rats with high vs. low self-administration of the opioid agonist remifentanil.” Eur J Pharmacol, vol. 909, Oct. 2021, p. 174407. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174407. Full Text
Jao, Nancy C., et al. “Differences in Cognitive Task Performance, Reinforcement Enhancement, and Nicotine Dependence Between Menthol and Nonmenthol Cigarette Smokers.” Nicotine Tob Res, vol. 23, no. 11, Oct. 2021, pp. 1902–10. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/ntr/ntab120. Full Text
Hawkey, Andrew B., et al. “Neurobehavioral anomalies in zebrafish after sequential exposures to DDT and chlorpyrifos in adulthood: Do multiple exposures interact?” Neurotoxicol Teratol, vol. 87, Sept. 2021, p. 106985. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2021.106985. Full Text
Pages
Levin, E. D. “What Can Fish Tell Us About Developmental Neurotoxic Risks of the Sea?” Birth Defects Research, vol. 111, no. 9, WILEY, 2019, pp. 454–454.
Kollins, Scott, et al. “Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure Alters Sperm Methylation Profiles: Concurrent Results From Humans and Rats.” Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 42, NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2017, pp. S642–43.
Murphy, S. K., et al. “Environment and Gametic Epigenetic Reprogramming.” Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, vol. 58, WILEY, 2017, pp. S28–S28.
Levin, Edward D. “Neurodevelopmental Toxicity of Tobacco Smoke and Nicotine.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology, vol. 61, PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2017, pp. 153–153.
Murphy, S. K., et al. “Environmental Influence on Preconceptional and Gestational DNA Methylation Profiles.” Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, vol. 57, WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2016, pp. S39–S39.
Levin, Edward D., et al. “Nicotinic treatments not only for tobacco, but also other addictions.” Biochemical Pharmacology, vol. 97, no. 4, Elsevier BV, 2015, pp. 635–635. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2015.08.040. Full Text
Hall, Brandon J., et al. “Low dose tobacco smoke extract exposure during development causes long-term behavioral dysfunction in rats.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology, vol. 49, Elsevier BV, 2015, pp. 121–22. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2015.04.073. Full Text
Bailey, Jordan, and Ed Levin. “The neurobehavioral toxicity of FireMaster 550® in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ): Chronic developmental and acute adolescent exposures.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology, vol. 49, Elsevier BV, 2015, pp. 118–118. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2015.04.064. Full Text
Oliveri, Anthony, and Ed Levin. “Early-life exposure to organophosphate flame retardants alters behavior in adult zebrafish: A comparison with organophosphate pesticides.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology, vol. 49, Elsevier BV, 2015, pp. 130–130. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2015.04.096. Full Text
Levin, Edward D. “Age and sex differences in starting nicotine self-administration in early, mid or late adolescence vs. adulthood: Cause and effect relationships determined in a rat model.” Neurotoxicology and Teratology, vol. 49, Elsevier BV, 2015, pp. 140–140. Crossref, doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2015.04.128. Full Text
Pages
Schrott, Rose, et al. Data from: Cannabinoid exposure and altered DNA methylation in rat and human sperm. 25 Aug. 2020. Manual, doi:10.7924/r4v122j79. Full Text