The Effect of Steroid Hormones on Brain Regions in the Green Anole Lizard

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

21-4-2014 10:00 AM

End Date

21-4-2014 11:30 AM

Student's Major

Biological Sciences

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

Rachel Cohen

Mentor's Email Address

rachel.cohen@mnsu.edu

Mentor's Department

Biological Sciences

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Seasonally breeding animals offer a distinct advantage in the study of changes to the brain, because these animals experience dramatic seasonal changes in both the brain and the behaviors associated with these seasonal changes. In order to examine the link between hormone levels and changes in the brain, we examined the seasonally breeding green anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis. In the experiment, we used tissue from animals that were used in a previous experiment. Male anole lizards were caught during their breeding season in April. These lizards were anesthetized a week after arrival and all testicular tissue was removed. While under surgery, a hormone-filled capsule was inserted under the skin of each animal. Animals were given one of the following capsules: testosterone, estradiol, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or an empty capsule as a control. One month after the surgery the brains were collected, sectioned on a cryostat and mounted onto slides. We will stain the brain tissue using thionin. Under a microscope, we will determine the volume of three brain regions that are involved in reproductive behavior. We will also count the neurons in these regions and determine their size. We expect to see an increase in the volume and number of the cells of the brain regions in animals given hormone-filled capsules when compared to animals given an empty capsule. We also expect that testosterone will most likely have the biggest effect on growth of the brain regions because it can be converted into both estrogen and DHT.

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Apr 21st, 10:00 AM Apr 21st, 11:30 AM

The Effect of Steroid Hormones on Brain Regions in the Green Anole Lizard

CSU Ballroom

Seasonally breeding animals offer a distinct advantage in the study of changes to the brain, because these animals experience dramatic seasonal changes in both the brain and the behaviors associated with these seasonal changes. In order to examine the link between hormone levels and changes in the brain, we examined the seasonally breeding green anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis. In the experiment, we used tissue from animals that were used in a previous experiment. Male anole lizards were caught during their breeding season in April. These lizards were anesthetized a week after arrival and all testicular tissue was removed. While under surgery, a hormone-filled capsule was inserted under the skin of each animal. Animals were given one of the following capsules: testosterone, estradiol, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or an empty capsule as a control. One month after the surgery the brains were collected, sectioned on a cryostat and mounted onto slides. We will stain the brain tissue using thionin. Under a microscope, we will determine the volume of three brain regions that are involved in reproductive behavior. We will also count the neurons in these regions and determine their size. We expect to see an increase in the volume and number of the cells of the brain regions in animals given hormone-filled capsules when compared to animals given an empty capsule. We also expect that testosterone will most likely have the biggest effect on growth of the brain regions because it can be converted into both estrogen and DHT.

Recommended Citation

Gilbert, Brian; Patrick Connolly; and Steven Gilbert. "The Effect of Steroid Hormones on Brain Regions in the Green Anole Lizard." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 21, 2014.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2014/poster_session_A/11