The Behavioral Biology Laboratory at the UL Lafayette-New Iberia Research Center is under the direction of Dr. M. Babette Fontenot (formerly, M.B. Botchin). The laboratory offers both graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in research on neurobiology and cognition in a variety of primate species.

The laboratory has ongoing studies examining cognitive aspects of vocal communication in Cebus apella (capuchin monkeys), and neurobiological and hormonal correlates of social behavior in Macaque species and Chlorocebus aethiops (African green monkeys).

Currently, we house two breeding groups of Cebus apella, which are the primary subjects of the vocal communication studies. The laboratory uses both Macintosh and PC compatible systems for data acquisition and analysis.

M. Babette Fontenot

Head, Division of Behavioral Sciences
University of Louisiana at Lafayette-New Iberia Research Center
P.O. Box 13610
New Iberia, LA 70562-3610

Education:

Relevant Citations

Journal Articles (past-present):

Brady AG, Johnson WH Jr, Botchin MB, Williams LE, Scimeca JM, Abee CR. Developmental changes in ECG associated with heart rate are similar in squirrel monkey and human infants. Lab Anim Sci 1991;41:596-601.

Botchin MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. "Low" versus "high" prolactin responders to fenfluramine challenge: Marker of behavioral differences in adult male cynomolgus macaques. Neuropsychopharmacology 1993;9:91-99.

Botchin MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Neuroendocrine responses to fenfluramine challenge are influenced by exposure to chronic social stress in adult male cynomolgus macaques. Psychoneuroendocrinology 1994;19:1-11.

Kaplan JR, Shively CA, Fontenot MB, Morgan TM, Howell SM, Manuck SB, Muldoon MF, Mann JJ. Demonstration of an association among dietary cholesterol, central serotonergic activity, and social behavior in monkeys. Psychosom Med 1994;56:479-484.

Kaplan JR, Botchin MB, Berard J, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Delayed dispersal and elevated monoaminergic activity in free-ranging rhesus monkeys. Am J Primatol 1995;35:229-234.

Kyes RC, Botchin MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Aggression and brain serotonergic responsivity: Response to slides in male macaques. Physiol Behav 1995;57:205-208.

Shively CA, Fontenot MB, Kaplan JR. Social status, behavior and central serotonergic responsivity in female cynomolgus monkeys. Am J Primatol 1995;37:333-339.

Fontenot MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Arango V, Mann JJ. Long-term effects of chronic social stress on serotonergic indices in the prefrontal cortex of adult male cynomolgus macaques. Brain Res 1996;705:105-108.

Fontenot MB, Kaplan JR, Shively CA, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Cholesterol, serotonin, and behavior in young monkeys. Ann NY Acad Sci 1996;794:352-354.

Kaplan JR, Fontenot MB, Manuck SB, Muldoon MF. The influence of dietary lipids on agonistic and affiliative behavior in Macaca fascicularis. Am J Primatol 1996;38: 333-347.

Kaplan JR, Phillps-Conroy J, Fontenot MB, Jolly CJ, Fairbanks LA, Mann JJ. Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites differ in wild and hybrid (Anubis hamadrayas) baboons: possible relationships to life history and behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology, 1999;20:517-524.

Fairbanks LA, Fontenot MB, Kaplan JR, Philips-Conroy J, Jolly CJ, Mann JJ. CSF monoamines, age and impulsivity in wild grivet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops aethiops). Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 1999; May-June;53(5-6):305-12.

Langan GP, Harvey RC, O’Rourke D, Fontenot MB, Schumacher J. Cardiopulmonary effects of sevoflurane in Garnett’s greater bush baby (Otolemur garnettii).Comparative Medicine 2000;Dec;50(6):639-43.

Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Fontenot MB, Mann JJ. Central nervous system monoamine correlates of social dominance in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Neuropsychopharmacology 2002; 26(4): 431-443.

Book Chapters:

Kaplan JR, Botchin MB, Manuck SB. Animal models of aggression and cardiovascular disease. In: Siegman AW, Smith TW, eds. The role of anger and hostility in cardiovascular disease. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1994:127-148.

Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Fontenot MB, Muldoon MF, Shively CA, Mann JJ. The cholesterol-serotonin hypothesis: Interrelationships among dietary lipids, central serotonergic activity, and social behavior in monkeys. In: Hillbrand M, Spitz RT, eds. Lipids, Health, and Human Behavior. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1997:139-165.

Abstracts:

Botchin MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Extreme aggression and social withdrawal are related to reduced central serotonergic activity in adult male cynomolgus macaques. Soc Neurosci Abstr 1992;18:151.12.

Botchin B, Kaplan J, Manuck S, Mann J. Social rank and brain monoamine function in male cynomolgus macaques. Am J Primatol 1992;27:18.

Kaplan J, Botchin B, Manuck S, Mann J. Brain serotonergic and noradrenergic correlates of recent social stress in male cynomolgus macaques. Am J Primatol 1992;27:36-37.

Kyes RC, Botchin MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Aggressive behavior and brain serotonergic responsivity in male cynomolgus macaques. Soc Neurosci Abstr 1992;18: 151.13.

Botchin B, Kaplan J, Manuck S, Mann J. Long term effects of social stress on cortisol response to adrenocorticotropin stimulation in adult male cynomolgus macaques. Am J Primatol 1993;30:300.

Botchin MB, Shively CA, Kaplan JR. Social behavior, ovarian function, and central serotonergic activity in adult female macaques. Soc Neurosci Abstr 1993;19:591.

Kaplan JR, Botchin MB, Mann JJ, Manuck SB, Berard J. High serotonin activity of non-emigrating male rhesus monkeys. Soc Neurosci Abstr 1993;19:1061.

Kaplan JR, Botchin MB, Manuck SB. Relationships among brain serotonin, aggression, and diet in Macaca fascicularis. Am J Phys Anthropol 1993; Suppl 16:121-122.

Kaplan JR, Shively CA, Mann JJ, Botchin MB, Kyes RC, Howell S, Manuck SB, Muldoon MF. Plasma cholesterol, behavior, and serotonergic activity in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Am J Primatol 1993;30(4):322.

Botchin MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Effects of social stress and serotonergic indices in prefrontal cortex of adult male Macaca fascicularis. Soc Neurosci Abstr 1994;20:1447.

Botchin MB, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Mann JJ. Menstrual cycle, dominance status and cerebrospinal fluid monoaminergic metabolites in adult cynomolgus macaques. Am J Primatol 1994;33(3):197.

Mach RH, Ehrenkaufer RL, Nader MA, Botchin MB, Smith CR, Hubbard CL, Morton TE, Huston-Lyons D. PET studies in rhesus monkeys of two ¹⁸F-labeled benzamides that bind reversibly to dopamine D₂ receptors. Soc Neurosci Abstr 1994;20:911.

Kaplan JR, Botchin MB, Manuck SB. Dietary fat and cholesterol influence behavior in monkeys -- public health and evolutionary implications. Am J Phys Anthropol 1995;20:122.

Kaplan JR, Fontenot MB, Brammer GL, Manuck SB, Cohen S, Mann JJ. High social status is associated with elevated dopaminergic activity in small groups of cynomolgus monkeys. Am J Primatol 1995;36(2):132.

Kidd KE, Fontenot MB, Kaplan JR. Differences in social behavior associated with menstrual cycle phase in adult female cynomolgus monkeys. Am J Primatol 1995;36(2):133.

Shively CA, Fontenot MB, Kaplan JR. Social status, behavior and central serotonergic responsivity in female cynomolgus monkeys. Am J Primatol 1995;36(2):155.

Fontenot MB, Kaplan JR, Phillips-Conroy J, Jolly CJ, Mann JJ. Cerebrospinal fluid metabolite concentrations in adult male baboons: Field studies in the Aqwash River valley, Ethiopia. Am. J Phys Anthropol 1997; (Suppl 24): 112

Kaplan JR, Phillips-Conroy JE, Jolly CJ, Fontenot MB, Mann JJ. Cerebrospinal fluid monoaminergic metabolites differ in wild anubis, hamadrayas, and hybrid baboons, possibly reflecting variation in life history. Am. J. Physiol. Anthropol. 1999; (Suppl 28): 164

Kaplan JR, Phillips-Conroy JE, Jolly CJ, Fontenot MB, Mann JJ. Monoaminergic metabolites differ in wild anubis, hamadrayas, and hybrid baboons, possibly reflecting variation in life history. Society for Neuroscience Abstr. 1999; 25 (Pt. 1): 177.

Kaplan JR, Fontenot MB, Berard J, Fairbanks LA, Mann JJ. Adolescent dip in indices of central serotonergic activity among free-ranging rhesus monkeys. Am. J. Primatol. 1999: 49(1); 67-68.

Fairbanks LA, Fontenot MB, Philips-Conroy J, Jolly CJ, Kaplan JR,Mann JJ. CSF monoamines, age and impulsivity in wild grivet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops aethiops). Am J Primatol 1999; 49(1): 49-50.

Fontenot MB, Stavisky RC, Seraphin S, Whitten PL. Aging in primates: patterns of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate secretion in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) Am J Primatol. 2001; 54 (Suppl 1): 71.