Prof. Gil Levkowitz

Our lab utilizes zebrafish as a vertebrate model organism to tackle basic questions concerning the development and function of the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is an evolutionarily ancient and conserved brain region that allows all vertebrates to adapt to emotional and physiological challenges. Hypothalamic neurons regulate fundamental body functions including sleep, blood pressure, body temperature, hunger and thirst, stress and social behavior.

Our main goals are to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying:

1. Morphogenesis and cell biology of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (NHS), which is an important neuroendocrine conduit between brain and blood through which neurohormones are released from hypothalamic neurons into the general circulation without disrupting the blood-brain barrier.
2. The effects of early developmental processes on physiological functions of the mature hypothalamus, focusing on stress response and social behavior.