Event Title

Analysis of Sex Steroid Hormone Implants on Serum Levels of Two Steroid Hormones in the Green Anole Lizard

Presenter Information

Patrick Connolly, Minnesota State University - MankatoFollow

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

20-4-2015 10:00 AM

End Date

20-4-2015 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

Sex steroid hormones and their derivatives have a broad effect on animal behavior and physiology, and treatment with testosterone and estradiol has been shown to be important for the production of new neurons in the adult brain. However, data shows that administration methods of steroid hormones are not always reliable, thus necessitating further investigation. We are testing the effects of implantation of various sex steroid hormones (testosterone and estradiol) in the green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis). We collected serum from gonadectomized male lizards that were given a subcutaneous hormone pellet that contained testosterone, estradiol, or was left empty as a control. In order to assess delivery of sex steroid hormones, plasma testosterone and estradiol levels will be assayed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We expect to find that we will be able to detect a difference in plasma hormone concentrations between testosterone- and estradiol-treated animals compared to control animals. This result would suggest that implantation of the hormonal pellet successfully increased serum levels in vivo.