ZFIN ID: ZDB-PERS-960805-120
Connaughton, Victoria P.
Email: vconn@american.edu
URL: http://www.american.edu/cas/bio/faculty_media/connaughton/
Affiliation: Connaughton Lab
Address: Biology Department Hall of Science American University 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016-8007 USA
Country:
Phone: (202) 885-2188
Fax: (202) 885-2182
ORCID ID:


BIOGRAPHY AND RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests encompass the disciplines of developmental biology (nervous system development) and neurobiology. Specifically, I am interested in examining the relation between visually-guided behaviors in larval teleosts and maturation of retinal neurons, circuits, and receptor mechanisms. I am also interested in examining how the development of neural connections could be altered due to mutations or drugs. I have performed experiments that address behavioral/ecological questions, as well as those that employ cell biology techniques to examine retinal circuitry in both developing and adult retinal tissue.


PUBLICATIONS
Clayman, C.L., Hwang, C., Connaughton, V.P. (2023) Ethanol and caffeine age-dependently alter brain and retinal neurochemical levels without affecting morphology of juvenile and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). PLoS One. 18:e0286596e0286596
McCarthy, E., Dunn, J., Augustine, K., Connaughton, V.P. (2022) Prolonged Hyperglycemia Causes Visual and Cognitive Deficits in Danio rerio. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23(17)
Jessup, W.H., Wiegand, J., Delbridge-Perry, M., MacAvoy, S.E., Connaughton, V.P. (2022) Developmental effects of siloxane exposure in zebrafish: a comparison study using laboratory-mixed and environmental water samples. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT. 42(12):1986-2004
Bernardo, R.C., Connaughton, V.P. (2021) Transient developmental exposure to tributyltin reduces optomotor responses in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio). Neurotoxicology and teratology. 89:107055
Connaughton, V.P., Nelson, R.F. (2021) Ganglion cells in larval zebrafish retina integrate inputs from multiple cone types. Journal of neurophysiology. 126(4):1440-1454
McCarthy, E., Rowe, C.J., Crowley-Perry, M., Connaughton, V.P. (2021) Alternate Immersion in Glucose to Produce Prolonged Hyperglycemia in Zebrafish. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. (171):
Rowe, C.J., Crowley-Perry, M., McCarthy, E., Davidson, T.L., Connaughton, V.P. (2021) The Three-Chamber Choice Behavioral Task using Zebrafish as a Model System. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. (170):
Crowley-Perry, M., Barberio, A.J., Zeino, J., Winston, E.R., Connaughton, V.P. (2021) Zebrafish Optomotor Response and Morphology Are Altered by Transient, Developmental Exposure to Bisphenol-A. Journal of developmental biology. 9(2)
LeFauve, M.K., Rowe, C.J., Crowley-Perry, M., Wiegand, J.L., Shapiro, A.G., Connaughton, V.P. (2021) Using a variant of the optomotor response as a visual defect detection assay in zebrafish. Journal of biological methods. 8:e144
Lucore, E.C., Connaughton, V.P. (2021) Observational learning and irreversible starvation in first-feeding zebrafish larvae: is it okay to copy from your friends?. Zoology (Jena, Germany). 145:125896
Ng, M., DeCicco-Skinner, K., Connaughton, V.P. (2020) Using zebrafish to assess the effect of chronic, early developmental exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 76:103356
Wilken, R.L., Imanalieva, A., MacAvoy, S., Connaughton, V.P. (2020) Anatomical and Behavioral Assessment of Larval Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Reared in Anacostia River Water Samples. Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology. 78(4):525-535
Gould, C.J., Saldanha, C.J., Connaughton, V.P. (2019) Acute exposure to 4-OH-A, not PCB1254, alters brain aromatase activity but does not adversely affect growth in zebrafish. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 68:133-140
Meier, A., Nelson, R., Connaughton, V.P. (2018) Color Processing in Zebrafish Retina. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 12:327
Tanvir, Z., Nelson, R.F., DeCicco-Skinner, K., Connaughton, V.P. (2018) One month of hyperglycemia alters spectral responses of the zebrafish photopic ERG. Disease models & mechanisms. 11(10):
Gould, C.J., Wiegand, J.L., Connaughton, V.P. (2017) Acute developmental exposure to 4-hydroxyandrostenedione has a long-term effect on visually-guided behaviors. Neurotoxicology and teratology. 64:45-49
Clayman, C.L., Malloy, E.J., Kearns, D.N., Connaughton, V.P. (2017) Differential Behavioral Effects Of Ethanol Pre-exposure In Male And Female Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Behavioural brain research. 335:174-184
Carvan, M.J., Kalluvila, T.A., Klingler, R.H., Larson, J.K., Pickens, M., Mora-Zamorano, F.X., Connaughton, V.P., Sadler-Riggleman, I., Beck, D., Skinner, M.K. (2017) Mercury-induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of abnormal neurobehavior is correlated with sperm epimutations in zebrafish. PLoS One. 12:e0176155
Torvund, M.M., Ma, T.S., Connaughton, V.P., Ono, F., Nelson, R.F. (2017) Cone signals in monostratified and bistratified amacrine cells of adult zebrafish retina. The Journal of comparative neurology. 525(7):1532-1557
LeFauve, M.K., Connaughton, V.P. (2017) Developmental exposure to heavy metals alters visually-guided behaviors in zebrafish. Current zoology. 63:221-227
Connaughton, V.P., Baker, C., Fonde, L., Gerardi, E., Slack, C. (2016) Alternate Immersion in an External Glucose Solution Differentially Affects Blood Sugar Values in Older Versus Younger Zebrafish Adults. Zebrafish. 13(2):87-94
Reider, M., Connaughton, V.P. (2015) Developmental Exposure to Methimazole Increases Anxiety Behavior in Zebrafish. Behavioral neuroscience. 129(5):634-42
Connaughton, V.P., Wetzell, B.B., Arneson, L.S., DeLucia, V., Riley, A.L. (2015) Elevated dopamine concentration in light-adapted zebrafish retinas is correlated with increased dopamine synthesis and metabolism. Journal of neurochemistry. 135(1):101-8
Reider, M., Connaughton, V.P. (2014) Effects of Low-Dose Embryonic Thyroid Disruption and Rearing Temperature on the Development of the Eye and Retina in Zebrafish. Birth defects research. Part B, Developmental and reproductive toxicology. 101(5):347-54
Tarboush, R., Novales Flamarique, I., Chapman, G.B., Connaughton, V.P. (2014) Variability in mitochondria of zebrafish photoreceptor ellipsoids. Visual neuroscience. 31:11-23
Tarboush, R., Chapman, G.B., and Connaughton, V.P. (2012) Ultrastructure of the distal retina of the adult zebrafish, Danio rerio. Tissue & Cell. 44(4):264-279
Chapman, G.B., Tarboush, R., and Connaughton, V.P. (2012) The Effects of Rearing Light Level and Duration Differences on the Optic Nerve, Brain, and Associated Structures in Developing Zebrafish Larvae: A Light and Transmission Electron Microscope Study. The Anatomical record. 295(3):515-531
Cederlund, M.L., Morrissey, M.E., Baden, T., Scholz, D., Vendrell, V., Lagnado, L., Connaughton, V.P., and Kennedy, B.N. (2011) Zebrafish Tg(7.2mab21l2:EGFP)ucd2 Transgenics Reveal a Unique Population of Retinal Amacrine Cells. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 52(3):1613-21
Connaughton, V.P. (2011) Bipolar cells in the zebrafish retina. Visual neuroscience. 28(1):77-93
Connaughton, V.P., and Nelson, R. (2010) Spectral responses in zebrafish horizontal cells include a tetraphasic response and a novel UV-dominated triphasic response. Journal of neurophysiology. 104(5):2407-2422
Chapman, G.B., Tarboush, R., Eagles, D.A., and Connaughton, V.P. (2009) A light and transmission electron microscope study of the distribution and ultrastructural features of peripheral nerve processes in the extra-retinal layers of the zebrafish eye. Tissue & Cell. 41(4):286-298
Nelson, R., Bender, A.M., and Connaughton, V.P. (2008) Transporter-mediated GABA responses in horizontal and bipolar cells of zebrafish retina. Visual neuroscience. 25(2):155-165
Connaughton, V.P., Nelson, R., and Bender, A.M. (2008) Electrophysiological evidence of GABAA and GABAC receptors on zebrafish retinal bipolar cells. Visual neuroscience. 25(2):139-153
Weber, D.N., Connaughton, V.P., Dellinger, J.A., Klemer, D., Udvadia, A., and Carvan, MJ 3rd. (2008) Selenomethionine reduces visual deficits due to developmental methylmercury exposures. Physiology & behavior. 93(1-2):250-260
Gleeson, M., Connaughton, V., and Arneson, L.S. (2007) Induction of hyperglycaemia in zebrafish (Danio rerio) leads to morphological changes in the retina. Acta Diabetologica. 44(3):157-163
Parker, B., and Connaughton, V.P. (2007) Effects of Nicotine on Growth And Development in Larval Zebrafish. Zebrafish. 4(1):59-68
Connaughton, V.P., Graham, D., and Nelson, R. (2004) Identification and morphological classification of horizontal, bipolar, and amacrine cells within the zebrafish retina. The Journal of comparative neurology. 477(4):371-385
Nelson, R., Bender, A.M., and Connaughton, V.P. (2003) Stimulation of sodium pump restores membrane potential to neurons excited by glutamate in zebrafish distal retina. The Journal of physiology. 549(3):787-800
Connaughton, V.P. (2003) Zebrafish retinal slice preparation. Methods in cell science : an official journal of the Society for In Vitro Biology. 25(1-2):49-58
Connaughton, V.P., Dyer, K.D., Nadi, N.S., and Behar, T.N. (2001) The expression of GAD67 isoforms in zebrafish retinal tissue changes over the light/dark cycle. Journal of neurocytology. 30(4):303-312
Connaughton, V.P. and Miller, M. (2001) Na plus /K plus ATPase is localized to neuronal cell bodies in the zebrafish retina. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 42(4):3607
Nelson, R.F., Bender, A.M., and Connaughton, V.P. (2001) Na plus /K plus ATPase adds long-term hyperpolarizing components to glutamate responses of zebrafish retinal neurons. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 42(4):3596
Connaughton, V.P. (2001) Organization of ON- and OFF-pathways in the zebrafish retina: neurotransmitter localization, electrophysiological responses of bipolar cells, and patterns of axon terminal stratification. Progress in brain research. 131:161-176
Nelson, R., Janis, A.T., Behar, T.N., and Connaughton, V.P. (2001) Physiological responses associated with kainate receptor immunoreactivity in dissociated zebrafish retinal neurons: a voltage probe study. Progress in brain research. 131:255-265
Connaughton, V.P. and Nelson, R. (2000) Axonal stratification patterns and glutamate-gated conductance mechanisms in zebrafish retinal bipolar cells. The Journal of physiology. 524(1):135-146
Connaughton, V.P., Behar, T.N., Liu, W.L.S., and Massey, S.C. (1999) Immunocytochemical localization of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the zebrafish retina. Visual neuroscience. 16(3):483-490
Connaughton, V.P. and Maguire, G. (1998) Differential expression of voltage-gated K+ and Ca2+ currents in bipolar cells in the zebrafish retinal slice. The European journal of neuroscience. 10:1350-1362
Connaughton, V.P. and Dowling, J.E. (1998) Comparative morphology of distal neurons in larval and adult zebrafish retinas. Vision Research. 38:13-18

NON-ZEBRAFISH PUBLICATIONS