Regulation of Androgen Metabolism in Frog Development

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Environmental pollutants that affect reproduction are one of the contributing factors to the declining populations of amphibians worldwide. A better understanding of sex hormone synthesis in amphibians is critical to help discover the mechanisms of action of these pollutants. The objective of the proposed research program is to use known hormone synthesis inhibitors to further our understanding of the regulation and biological functions of enzymes and hormones involved in male endocrine signalling. The experimental approach includes the analysis of organismal, cellular and molecular endpoints and aims to correlate higher levels of biological organization, for example atypical histology, to subtle molecular changes (e.g., gene expression). Over the next five years, my research program will study testosterone metabolism during frog development and sexual maturity. This program will provide training opportunities for HQP who are interested in pursuing a research career in molecular endocrinology and environmental science related to endocrine disruption. The proposed work will generate unique data on male sexual development that will be beneficial to biologists and biomedical scientists in Canada and elsewhere. Indeed, this work will provide baseline data on the consequences of altering the production of male hormones in vertebrates, which in the long term will help Canada's policy makers better manage emerging and existing contaminants that exhibit androgenic and anti-androgenic activity.