Student Background/Interests
My BS is from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus, Department of Biology. While I was an undergraduate I did research in the areas of social psychology, organic chemistry and biotechnology. After I graduated, I enrolled in the graduate Program at the University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus (http://pisces.cnnet.clu.edu/biograd/). I worked with Dr. Carmen S. Maldonado-Vlaar in the area of learning and memory, specifically running studies in behavioral neuropsychopharmacology. I did several experiments to understand the basic neurobiology and pharmacology of the nucleus accumbens, core and shell subdivisions, for dopamine receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors. I was there for one year and presented several abstracts:
- A Teaching Odyssey: EvoDevo 2001 Colon, W, Colon, M, Puig, A, Ortiz, X, Rivera, N., Salas, K. Rosa-Molinar, E. University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus. Presented at the Meeting of the Society of Developmental Biology on July 18th-22nd, 2001 (Seattle,WA).
- Blockade of mGluR in the Subregions of the Nucleus Accumbens in Learning of Rats. Maldonado-Vlaar, C., Salas-Ramirez, K., Sepulveda, Alvarez, JE, Allende, L, Perez, J., Cortes, J, Borrero, C. University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus. Presented at the Meeting for the Society for Neuroscience at San Diego, CA on Nov 7-11, 2001.
- Blockade of mGluR in the Subregions of the Nucleus Accumbens in Learning of Rats. Salas-Ramírez, K and Maldonado-Vlaar, C. University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus. Presented at the Behavior, Clinical Neuroscience, Substance Abuse and Culture Meeting at Los Angeles, CA on October 23-25, 2002. Received a poster award at the meeting.
I began in the Neuroscience Program at MSU in 2001 where I became interested in the area of behavioral neuroendocrinology. After my two rotations I was able to publish two abstracts, one with Dr. Cheryl Sisk and another with Dr. Antonio Nunez:
- Centrally administered LHRH increases chemosensory investigatory behavior in the male Syrian hamster. Salas-Ramírez, K., Richardson, H.N., Ahmed, E., Schulz-Wilson, K, Sisk, C. Michigan State University. Will be presented at the Meeting for the Society for Neuroscience in Orlando, FL during Nov.2-7, 2002
- The distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase positive neurons in the hypothalamus of the diurnal murid rodent, Arvicanthis niloticus. Megan M. Mahoney, Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, Laura Smale and Antonio Nunez. Depts. of Zoology, Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University. Presented at the Society for Research on Bilogical Rhythms at Jacksonville, FL May 22-26, 2002.
The summer of 2002 I was award the American Psychological Association - Diversity in Neuroscience Program (http://www.apa.org/mfp) Fellowship and attended the Summer Program in Neuroscience, Ethics and Survival (SPINES) (http://www.mbl.edu) directed by Dr. Joe Martinez (UTSA) and Dr. James Townsel (Meharry Medical College). This was one of the most gratifying experiences that I have had a graduate student where I learned how to become an excellent scientist and academic, along with gaining excellent mentors.
At MSU, I am part of Dr. Cheryl Sisk's (http://www.msu.edu/~sisk) lab and we are interested in the role of steroid hormones in the neural and behavioral maturation through development. I have been able to maintain my passion and interest in dopaminergic systems by looking at their role in male reproductive behavior and the interactions it has with other neuropeptides.
- The Effects of Apomorphine on Reproductive Behaviors of the Male Syrian Hamster. Kaliris Y. Salas-Ramirez, Kalynn M. Schulz2, Julia L. Zehr1, Cheryl L. Sisk1,2. 1Neuroscience Program and 2Department of Psychology. Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI 48824. Society for Neuroscience, 2003
- Centrally administered apomorphine partially reverses detrimental effects on male reproductive behavior resulting from the absence of gonadal hormones during adolescence. Kaliris Y. Salas-Ramirez and Cheryl L. Sisk. Neuroscience Program and Department of Psychology. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Poster presented at the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, June 2005
However, the last two years I have conducted several studies focused on adolescent anabolic steroid exposure. In the last decade, up to 12% of adolescent males have reported anabolic steroid use. Through several behavioral studies focused on social behaviors we have found that the adolescent brain responds differently to the effects of anabolic steroids than the adult brain. Currently, I am studying whether these changes in behavior are permanent.
- The Affects of 17α-methyltestosterone, an Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid, on Aggressive Behavior in Pubertal male Syrian Hamsters. Kaliris Salas-Ramirez1, Kalynn M. Schulz2 and Cheryl Sisk1,2.1Neuroscience Program and 2Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824. National Hispanic Science Network on Substance Abuse and Society for Neuroscience, Oct 2004
- Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Increase Aggression in Adolescent Male Syrian Hamsters. Kaliris Salas-Ramirez1 and Cheryl L. Sisk1,2. 1Neuroscience Program and 2Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. Poster presentation at the Society for Neuroscience 2005 (will also be highlighted as a Lay-summary in the Society for Neuroscience Pressbook)
- Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) Differentially Affect Aggressive Behaviors in Adolescent and Adult Male Syrian Hamsters. (2006) Salas-Ramirez, K. , Rivera-Rivera, A., and Sisk, CL. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, 2006.
- Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) Differentially Affect Reproductive Behaviors in Adolescent and Adult Male Syrian Hamsters. Salas-Ramirez, K, Montalto, PR, and Sisk, CL. (2006). Society for Neuroscience, Abstract/Planner Itinerary.
Lastly, my other research interest is how the adolescent brain is organized differently than the adult brain by looking specifically at neurogenesis and how anabolic steroids may be affecting neural plasticity.
I am graduate student member of the Society for Neuroscience (http://www.sfn.org), the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (http://www.sbne.org), the National Hispanic Science Network on Substance Abuse (http://www.nhsn.med.miami.edu/) and the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (http://ehrweb.aaas.org/mge/; http://www.michagep.org/index.html).
My goals are to remain in academia and continue doing research looking at how the adolescent brain responds to drug exposure.
Selected Publications
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Kaliris
Salas-Ramirez