Dr. Kaplan has primary appointments as Professor of Pathology (Comparative Medicine) and Translational Medicine. He also serves as Director of the Wake Forest University Primate Center and the Head of the Section on Comparative Medicine. He received his BA from Swarthmore College and then earned an MA and PhD in Biological Anthropology from Northwestern University. Dr. Kaplan’s career long research interest has been in evaluating behavioral and hormonal effects on disease vulnerability, particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease. He began his studies with male monkeys, demonstrating that behaviorally-induced arousal of the sympathetic nervous system could exacerbate atherosclerosis; he evaluated the underlying mechanisms with several studies involving beta-adrenergic blocking agents. He also has maintained a career-long interest in women’s health, especially as influenced by psychosocial factors. At present he explores the relationship between behaviorally-induced impaired premenopausal ovarian function and the increased trajectory of risk for the chronic and degenerative diseases that comprise the majority of the postmenopausal health burden.

Appt SE, Clarkson TB, Hoyer PB, Kock ND, Goode AK, May MC, Persyn JT, Ethun KF, Chen H, Kaplan JR, et al. Experimental induction of reduced ovarian reserve in a nonhuman primate model (Macaca fascicularis). Comp Med. 2010; 60(5):380-388.

Wood CE, Kaplan JR, Fontenot MB, Williams JK, Cline JM. Endometrial profile of tamoxifen and low-dose estradiol combination therapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2010; 16(3):946-956.

Appt SE, Chen H, Goode AK, Hoyer PB, Clarkson TB, Adams MR, Wilson ME, Franke AA, Kaplan JR. The effect of diet and cardiovascular risk on ovarian aging in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Menopause. 2010; 17(4):741-748.

Jones JC, Appt SE, Werre SR, Tan JC, Kaplan JR. Validation of multi-detector computed tomography as a non-invasive method for measuring ovarian volume in macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Am J Primatol. 2010; 72(6):530-538.

Christ GJ, Melman A, Williams K, Aboushwareb T, Zhao WX, Kaplan J, Anderson K-E [sic] [Andersson K-E]. Nonhuman primates as a model for translational research on atherosclerosis-related vascular disease and erectile dysfunction [abstract]. J Sex Med. 2010; 7(Suppl 1):46.

Jolly CJ, Phillips-Conroy J, Kaplan J, Mann JJ. Monoamine metabolites in the CSF of male anubis (Papio anubis) and hamadryas (P. hamadryas) baboons parallel their species-specific behavioral ontogeny [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2009; 71(Suppl 1):64.

Kaplan JR, Chen H, Manuck SB. The relationship between social status and atherosclerosis in male and female monkeys as revealed by meta-analysis. Am J Primatol. 2009; 71(9):732-741.

Christ GJ, Andersson K-E, Williams K, Zhao W, D’Agostino R Jr, Kaplan J, Aboushwareb T, Yoo J, Calenda G, Davies KP, et al. Smooth-muscle-specific gene transfer with the human Maxi-K channel improves erectile function and enhances sexual behavior in atherosclerotic cynomolgus monkeys. Eur Urol. 2009; 56(6):1055-1066.

Appt SE, Clarkson TB, Chen H, Adams MR, Christian PJ, Hoyer PB, Wilson ME, Kaplan JR. Serum antimullerian hormone predicts ovarian reserve in a monkey model. Menopause. 2009; 16(3):597-601.

Appt SE, Clarkson TB, Chen H, Adams MR, Christian PJ, Hoyer PB, Wilson ME, Kaplan JR. Serum antimullerian hormone predicts ovarian reserve in a monkey model [abstract]. J Womens Health. 2009; 18(5):744.

Riddick NV, Czoty PW, Gage HD, Kaplan JR, Nader SH, Icenhower M, Pierre PJ, Bennett A, Garg PK, Garg S, Nader MA. Behavioral and neurobiological characteristics influencing social hierarchy formation in female cynomolgus monkeys. Neuroscience. 2009; 158(4):1257-1265.

Muhammad FS, Goode AK, Kock ND, Arifin EA, Cline JM, Adams MR, Hoyer PB, Christian PJ, Isom S, Kaplan JR, Appt SE. Effects of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide on peripubertal and adult Sprague-Dawley rats: ovarian, clinical, and pathologic outcomes. Comp Med. 2009; 59(1):46-59.

Chen Z, van Doorslaer K, DeSalle R, Wood CE, Kaplan JR, Wagner JD, Burk RD. Genomic diversity and interspecies host infection of alpha 12 Macaca fascicularis papillomaviruses (MfPVs). Virology. 2009; 393(2):304-310.

Michopoulos V, Berga SL, Kaplan JR, Wilson ME. Social subordination and polymorphisms in the gene encoding the serotonin transporter enhance estradiol inhibition of luteinizing hormone secretion in female rhesus monkeys. Biol Reprod. 2009; 81(6):1154-1163.

Jolly CJ, Phillips-Conroy JE, Kaplan J, Bergman T, Mann JJ. Monoamine metabolites in the CSF of male anubis (Papio anubis) and hamadryas (P. hamadryas) baboons parallel their species-specific behavioral ontogeny [abstract]. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2009; 138(Suppl 48):160-161.

Wagner JD, Jorgensen MJ, Cline JM, Lees CJ, Franke AA, Zhang L, Ayers MR, Schultz C, Kaplan JR. Effects of soy vs. casein protein on body weight and glycemic control in female monkeys and their offspring. Am J Primatol. 2009; 71(9):802-811.

Shively CA, Register TC, Kritchevsky S, Carr JJ, Kaplan JR, Jorgensen MJ, Bennett AJ. A primate model of physical function [abstract]. Gerontologist. 2009; 49(Suppl 2):65-66.

Gratzke C, Christ GJ, Kaplan JR, Andersson K-E, Badlani G. Chronic soy and phytoestrogen treatment leads to significant functional and morphological changes in the urethra of female non-human primates [abstract]. Neurourol Urodyn. 2008; 27(2):106.

Ethun K, Kavanagh K, Kaplan JR. Chronic experimental high-fat diet exposure leads to coagulopathy in African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops saebeus) [abstract]. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2008; 47(5):108.

Appt SE, Clarkson TB, Adams MR, Hoyer PB, Christian PJ, Kaplan JR. Dietary soy with isoflavones retards ovarian aging [abstract]. Menopause. 2008; 15(6):1210.

Gratzke C, Christ GJ, Kaplan JR, Stief CG, Andersson KE, Badlani G. Chronic soy and phytoestrogen treatment leads to significant functional and morphological changes in the urethra of oophorectomized female non-human primates [abstract]. Eur Urol. 2008; 7(3 Suppl):315.

Kaplan JR, Manuck SB. Ovarian dysfunction and the premenopausal origins of coronary heart disease. Menopause. 2008; 15(4 Pt 1):768-776.

Gratzke C, Jarajapu YPR, Christ GJ, Kaplan JR, Williams JK, Andersson K-E, Badlani G. Effects of long-term dietary soy treatment on female urethral morphology and function in ovariectomized nonhuman primates. J Urol. 2008; 180(5):2247-2253.

Jolly CJ, Phillips-Conroy JE, Kaplan JR, Mann JJ. Cerebrospinal fluid monoaminergic metabolites in wild Papio anubis and P.hamadryas are concordant with taxon-specific behavioral ontogeny. Int J Primatol. 2008; 29(6):1549-1566.

Wagner JD, Zhang L, Shadoan MK, Kavanagh K, Chen H, Tresnasari K, Kaplan JR, Adams MR. Effects of soy protein and isoflavones on insulin resistance and adiponectin in male monkeys. Metabolism. 2008; 57(Suppl 1):S24-S31.

Walker SE, Register TC, Appt SE, Adams MR, Clarkson TB, Chen H, Isom S, Franke AA, Kaplan JR. Plasma lipid-dependent and -independent effects of dietary soy protein and social status on atherogenesis in premenopausal monkeys: implications for postmenopausal atherosclerosis burden. Menopause. 2008; 15(5):950-957.

Jarrell H, Hoffman JB, Kaplan JR, Berga S, Kinkead B, Wilson ME. Polymorphisms in the serotonin reuptake transporter gene modify the consequences of social status on metabolic health in female rhesus monkeys. Physiol Behav. 2008; 93(4-5):807-819.

Christ GJ, Andersson K-E, Williams K, Zhao W, D’Agostino R, Kaplan J, Aboushwareb T, Yoo J, Davies K, Melman A. MAXI-K gene transfer with a smooth muscle specific promoter enhances erectile function and sexual behaviour in atherosclerotic cynomolgous monkeys [abstract]. Eur Urol. 2008; 7(3 Suppl):143.

Kaplan JR. Origins and health consequences of stress-induced ovarian dysfunction. Interdiscip Top Gerontol. 2008; 36():162-185.

Miller-Butterworth CM, Kaplan JR, Shaffer J, Devlin B, Manuck SB, Ferrell RE. Sequence variation in the primate dopamine transporter gene and its relationship to social dominance. Mol Biol Evol. 2008; 25(1):18-28.

Jones JC, Appt SE, Bourland JD, Hoyer PB, Clarkson TB, Kaplan JR. Multidetector computed tomographic morphology of ovaries in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2007; 46(5):54-63.

Lees CJ, Chen H, Kaplan JR. Does pre- or post-menopausal soy consumption affect postmenopausal bone loss? [abstract]. J Bone Miner Res. 2007; 22(Suppl 1):S431.

Appt SE, Kaplan JR, Clarkson TB, Hoyer PB. Modeling the perimenopausal transition [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2007; 69(Suppl 1):72-73.

Clarkson TB, Kaplan JR. Stage of reproductive life, atherosclerosis progression and estrogen effects on coronary artery atherosclerosis. In: Lobo RA, ed. Treatment of the postmenopausal woman: basic and clinical aspects. 3rd ed. Burlington (MA): Academic Press; 2007: 509-528.

Hoffman JB, Kaplan JR, Kinkead B, Berga SL, Wilson ME. Metabolic and reproductive consequences of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) [abstract]. Endocrine. 2007; 31(2):202-211.

Miller-Butterworth CM, Kaplan JR, Barmada MM, Manuck SB, Ferrell RE. The serotonin transporter: sequence variation in Macaca fascicularis and its relationship to dominance. Behav Genet. 2007; 37(5):678-696.

Kaplan J. What monkeys can teach us about the role of behavior and evolution in women’s health [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2007; 69(Suppl 1):69.

Lees CJ, Kaplan JR, Chen H, Jerome CP, Register TC, Franke AA. Bone mass and soy isoflavones in socially housed, premenopausal macaques. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007; 86(1):245-250.

Kaplan JR. Primate models, cardiovascular disease. In: Fink G, ed. Encyclopedia of stress, vol 3. 2nd ed. San Diego: Academic Press; 2007: 204-210.

Pappano DJ, Ayers M, Cairnes D, May MC, Kaplan JR. Unrelated females housed in unisexual groups interfere in fights in a male-like pattern that is unassociated with affiliation and that tends to prolong aggressive encounters [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2007; 69(Suppl 1):31.

Wagner JD, Zhang L, Kavanagh K, Gray SB, Adams MR, Kaplan JR. Effects of sex hormones and soy isoflavones on obesity and insulin resistance in cynomolgus monkeys [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2007; 69(Suppl 1):71.

Register TC, Walker SE, Shively CA, Adams MR, Kaplan JR, Appt SE, Clarkson TB. Inflammation and atherogenesis in female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2007; 69(Suppl 1):72.

Riddick NV, Czoty PW, Kaplan JR, Pierre P, Bennett A, Gage HD, Nader MA. Behavioral and neurochemical measures as predictors of social rank in female monkeys [abstract]. FASEB J. 2007; 21(6):A1179.

Johnson Z, Lopez-Alvarenga JC, Brent L, Comuzzie AG, Mann JJ, Kaplan JR, Rogers J. Genetics of temperament in baboons (Papio hamadryas): strong heritability and linkage results from a factor analytical approach [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2007; 69(Suppl 1):86.

Appt SE, Kaplan JR, Clarkson TB, Hoyer PB, Arifin E, Cline M, Isom S. Intramuscular administration of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) destroys primordial follicles in adult Sprague Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) [abstract]. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2007; 46(4):133-134.

Appt SE, Wood CE, Parker RC, Cline JM, Kaplan JR. Androgen production in the cynomolgus monkey ovary [abstract]. Menopause. 2006; 13(6):989.

Kaplan JR, Adams MR, Clarkson TB. Monkeys and the postmenopausal hormone therapy conundrum [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2006; 68(Suppl 1):39.

Miller-Butterworth CM, Kaplan JR, Manuck SB, Ferrell RE. Behavioral genetics of monoamine regulatory genes in the cynomolgus macaque [abstract]. Am J Primatol. 2006; 68(Suppl 1):133-134.

Stroud FC, Appt SE, Wilson ME, Franke AA, Adams MR,, Kaplan JR. Concentrations of isoflavones in macaques consuming standard laboratory monkey diet. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2006; 45(4):20-23.

Kaplan JR. Kinship and behavior in primates, edited by Bernard Chapais and Carol M. Berman [book review]. Am Anthropol. 2006; 108(3):572-573.

Appt SE, Kaplan JR, Clarkson TR, Cline JM, Christian PJ, Hoyer PB. Destruction of primordial ovarian follicles in adult cynomolgus macaques after exposure to 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide: a nonhuman primate model of the menopausal transition. Fertil Steril. 2006; 86(4 Suppl 1):1210-1216.

Arthritis, atherosclerosis/thrombosis, cancer/oncogenesis, drugs/therapeutic agents pharm, neurosciences/behavior, pain.