Amnon Katz

Post Doctoral Researcher, Department of Physiological Science and Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Brain Research Institute, UCLA.

Principle Research Interests:
In the adult avian brain neurogenesis occurs in the walls of the lateral ventricles, an area known also as the ventricular zone (VZ). Estrogens are known to have beneficial effects on a variety of factors that influence neurogenesis. In contrast to estrogens, glucocorticoids (GC) have deleterious effects on neuron survival. I am interested in testing the effects of both estrogens and GC on cell proliferation and migration in and from the VZ of the zebra finch brain. I am mapping the expression and enzymatic activity of 11beta-HSD1 & 2, the GC metabolizing enzymes, in the zebra finch brain. Neurosteroidogenesis. Neural development. Action of sex steroids in brain.

E-mail: amnonkatz@ucla.edu

Education:
B.Sc. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
M.Sc Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Masters thesis: involvement of the sense of smell in the phenomenon of filial imprinting in heavy strain chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus)

PhD Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
Doctoral Thesis: Interconversion between corticosterone and dehydrocorticosterone in the liver, kidney and intestines of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Selected Publications:

1. Katz A, Gvaryahu G, Robinzon B, Snapir N, Barnea A. The effect of pyrazine odor on body weight and the weight of various organs in chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus). Poult Sci. 1999 Dec;78(12):1786-9.

2. Yanai J, Steingart RA, Snapir N, Gvaryahu G, Rozenboim I, and Katz A. The relationship between neural alterations and behavioral deficits after prenatal exposure to heroin. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000; 914:402-11.

3. Katz, A., Heiblum R., Robinzon B., and Meidan R. (Submitted). Distinct features of dehydrocorticosterone reduction into corticosterone in the liver and duodenum of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus).

4. Katz A, Heiblum, R., Robinzon, B., Meidan, R. Dehydrogenation of corticosterone into dehydrocorticosterone in the kidney and colon of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus): involvement of 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 & 3. in prep.

5. Katz A, Heiblum, R., Robinzon, B., Meidan, R. The effect of rapid acute stress on the interconversion between corticosterone and dehydrocorticosterone the chicken. in prep.

Published Abstracts:
Katz A., Meidan R and Robinzon B. Glucoroticoids metabolism in various tissues of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus). World Poultry Science Association, Netanya, 2005, Israel.

Katz A., Meidan R and Robinzon B. Interconversion of Corticosterone and Dehydrocorticosterone in Liver, Kidney and Intestine of the Chicken, Poultry Science Association, Auburn AL, 2005, USA

Affiliations:
Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
Israeli Endocrine Society
World poultry Science Association