Zachary M. Weil

B.S. in Psychology, The Ohio State University

Thesis Advisor:  Randy J. Nelson

E-Mail:  weil.20@osu.edu

Research:

I am interested in how environmental conditions regulate reproduction, immune function, the nervous system and behavior.  Specifically, our lab studies how animals adapt to the changing seasons.  To simulate seasons in the lab we manipulate photoperiod (day length) an environmental cue that many animals use to time seasonal changes in the environment.  Many animals display immunological and somatic responses to day length.  In general, short day lengths inhibit reproduction and enhance immune function in the laboratory when all other conditions are held constant.  Many human inflammatory diseases display marked seasonal variation often with greater incidence in the winter months.  Since exposure to short day lengths enhances inflammatory responses in our hamsters we have predicted that exposure to short days might also potentiate neuronal inflammatory responses following experimental insults.  I am interested in examining how adaptation to changing photoperiod affects recovery from experimental neurological damage.  Additionally, I am interested in how social cues can alter the behavioral symptoms of acute infection.

Publications:

Martin II, L.B., Weil, Z.M., and Nelson R.J. (2008). Seasonal changes in vertebrate immune activity: mediation by physiological trade-offs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 363: 321–339.

Martin II, L.B., Weil, Z.M., and Nelson, R.J. (2008). Fever and sickness behavior vary among congeneric rodents. Functional Ecology 22: 68-77.

Workman JL, Weil Z.M., Tuthill C.R., and Nelson R.J., (2008). Maternal pinealectomy increases depressive-like responses in Siberian hamster offspring. Behavioural Brain Research 189: 387-391.

Martin II, L.B., Weil, Z.M., and Nelson, R.J. (2007). Immune defense and reproductive pace of life in deer mice. Ecology 88:2516-2528.

Weil ZM, Bowers SL, and Nelson RJ. (2007) Photoperiod alters affective responses in collared lemmings.  Behav Brain Res. 179(2):305-9.

Martin LB 2nd, Navara KJ, Weil ZM, and Nelson RJ. (2007) Immunological memory is compromised by food restriction in deer mice Peromyscus maniculatus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 292(1):R316-20.

Weil ZM, Martin LB 2nd, and Nelson RJ. (2006) Photoperiod differentially affects immune function and reproduction in collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). J Biol Rhythms. 21(5):384-93.

Weil ZM, Martin LB, Workman JL, and Nelson RJ. (2006) Immune challenge retards seasonal reproductive regression in rodents: evidence for terminal investment. Biol Lett. 2(3):393-6.

Weil ZM, Huang AS, Beigneux A, Kim PM, Molliver ME, Blackshaw S, Young SG, Nelson RJ, and Snyder SH. (2006) Behavioural alterations in male mice lacking the gene for D-aspartate oxidase. Behav Brain Res. 171(2):295-302.

Weil, Z.M., Bowers, S.L., Dow, E.R., & Nelson R.J. (2006)  Maternal aggression persists following lipopolysaccharide-induced activation of the immune system.  Physiology and Behavior, 87:694-699

Weil, Z.M., Pyter, L.M., Martin II, L.B., and Nelson, R.J. (2006)  Early-life photoperiods organize adult immune responses in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus).  American Journal of  Physiology- Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 290: R1714-R1719.

Weil, Z.M., Huang, A.S., Beigneux, A., Kim, P.M., Molliver M.E., Blackshaw, S., Young S.G., Nelson, R.J., & Snyder, S.H.  (2006)  Behavioural alterations in male mice lacking the gene for D-aspartate oxidase.  Behavioural Brain Research, 171:295-302 .

Martin II, L.B., Weil, Z.M., Kuhlman, J.R., and Nelson, R.J. (2006)  Trade-offs between cutaneous immune responses in female white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Functional Ecology, 20: 630-636.

Weil, Z.M., Bowers, S.L., Pyter, L.M., & Nelson, R.J. (2006)  Social interactions alter proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and behavior following endotoxin administration. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 20:72-79.

Weil, Z.M., Hotchkiss, A.K., Gatien, M.L., Pieke-Dahl, S. & Nelson, R.J. (2006) Melatonin receptor (MT1) knockout mice display depression-like behaviors and deficits in sensorimotor gating. Brain Research Bulletin, 68:425–429.

Benderlioglu, Z., Eish, J., Weil, Z.M. & Nelson, R.J.  (2006)  Low temperatures during early development influence subsequent maternal and reproductive function in adult female mice. Physiology & Behavior, 87:416–423.

Huang, A.S., Beigneux, A., Weil, Z.M., Kim, P.M., Molliver M.E., Blackshaw, S., Young S.G., Nelson, R.J., & Snyder, S.H.  (2006)  D-aspartate regulates melanocortin formation and function:  behavioral alterations in D-aspartate oxidase deleted mice.  The Journal of Neuroscience, 26:2814-2819.

Pyter, L.M., Weil, Z.M. & Nelson, R.J.  (2005)  Latitude affects photoperiod-induced changes in immune response in meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus).  Canadian Journal of Zoology, 83:1271–1278.

McCartney, H., Johnson, A.D., Weil, Z.M., & Givens, B. (2004) Theta reset produces optimal conditions for long-term potentiation. Hippocampus, 14:684-687.

Presentations at National Meetings:

Weil Z.M. Trainor, B.C., Nelson R.J., & DeVries, A.C. Photoperiod Alters Cardiac Arrest Outcome. Asilomar, CA: Society for Behavioral Endocrinology Meeting, 2007.

Weil Z.M. Su, A., Nelson, R.J., & DeVries, A.C. Circadian Variation in Global Ischemia Outcomes. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2007.

Weil Z.M. & Nelson R.J.  Photoperiod alters affective behaviors in Collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). Atlanta, GA: Society for Neuroscience meeting, 2006.

Weil Z.M., Bowers, S.L., Pyter, L.M. & Nelson R.J.  Persistent Alterations in Behavior and Immune Function after Sexual Experience. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Meeting, 2006.

Weil Z.M., Bowers, S.L., Dow, E.R., & Nelson R.J.   Maternal aggression persists following immune activation with lipopolysaccharide.  Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2005.

Weil Z.M., Bowers,S.L., Pyter, L.M. & Nelson R.J.  Social interactions alter proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and behavior following endotoxin administration. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Meeting, 2005.

Martin L.B., Hotchkiss A.K., Weil Z.M., & Nelson R.J.  Fitness costs of induced immuneactivity in Siberian hamsters.  San Diego, CA: Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, 2005. 

Weil, Z.M., Benderlioglu, Z., Nelson, R.J.  Low Temperatures During Early Development Affect Adult Behavior in Mice. San Diego CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2004.

McCartney, H., Johnson, A, Weil, Z.M., Tabbah, R., Givens, B. Theta Reset Produces Optimal Conditions for Long-Term Potentiation in the Dentate Gyrus.  Orlando, FL: Society for Neuroscience, 2002.