Most of my laboratory research has concerned the
roles of steroid hormones in reproduction, stress, and aggression.
This work is primarily conducted with laboratory mice, but there
are some human projects.
Excretions of steroids and social impacts on reproduction: My students and
I have developed methods for measurement of steroids (e.g. testosterone, estrogens,
and progesterone) in the excretions of mice. Unlike methods that involve blood
sampling, our methods are non-invasive, so we can take repeated measures and
develop profiles of steroids over development and in relationship to ongoing
behaviour.
Roles of steroids as pheromones: We have been studying disruptions of early
pregnancy induced by stress, by hormonal changes, and by exposure to novel
males. Minute doses of exogenous estrogens terminate pregnancy during the critical
window of intrauterine implantation of fertilized ova. Males can terminate
pregnancies that they did not sire through pheromonal actions of their urine.
We have proven that there are sufficient quantities of androgens and estrogens
in novel male urine to account for the pregnancy losses. We are now also investigating
whether similar dynamics are involved when exposure to males induces premature
puberty in developing females.
Steroids in human excretions: We have recently been measuring androgens and
estrogens in human excretions, especially perspiration. We are interested in
finding out whether such steroids can act as pheromones in people, being passed
from one individual to another during intimate behaviour.
Xenoestrogens: We are beginning research that examines the role of estrogenic
environmental contaminants as well as natural plant phytoestrogens upon reproduction.
We are particularly focussing on the effects of such environmental estrogens
upon early pregnancy.
Some recent publications:
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Berger, R., Hancock, T., & deCatanzaro, D. (2007).
Influence of oral and subcutaneous bisphenol-A on intrauterine
implantation of fertilized ova in inseminated female mice.
Reproductive Toxicology , 23, 138-144.
-
deCatanzaro,
D., Beaton E.A., Khan, A. & Vella, E.
(2006). Urinary oestradiol and testosterone levels from
novel male mice approach values sufficient to disrupt pregnancy
in nearby inseminated females. Reproduction, 132,
309-317 .
-
Beaton, E.A., Khan, A. & deCatanzaro,
D. (2006). Urinary sex steroids during sexual development
in female mice and in proximate novel males. Hormone
and Metabolic Research, 38,
501-506.
-
Beaton, E.A. & deCatanzaro, D. (2005).
Novel males' capacity to disrupt early pregnancy in mice
(Mus musculus)
is attenuated via a chronic reduction of males' urinary
17 b -estradiol. Psychoneuroendocrinology , 30,
688-697.
-
deCatanzaro, D., Muir, C., Beaton, E.A., & Jetha,
M. (2004). Non-invasive repeated measurement of urinary
progesterone, 17 b -estradiol, and testosterone in developing,
cycling, pregnant, and postpartum female mice. Steroids, 69,
687-696.
-
deCatanzaro, D. & Murji, T. (2004). Inseminated
female mice investigate rather than avoid novel males
that disrupt pregnancy, but sires protect pregnancy.
Journal of Comparative Psychology, 118,
251-257.
-
deCatanzaro, D., Muir, C., Beaton, E., Jetha,
M., & Nadella,
K. (2003). Enzymeimmunoassay of oestradiol, testosterone
and progesterone in urine samples from female
mice before and after insemination. Reproduction
, 126,
407-414.
-
deCatanzaro, D., Baptista, M.A.S. & Vella,
E.S. (2001). Administration of minute quantities of 17
b -estradiol on the nasal area terminates early pregnancy
in inseminated female mice. Pharmacology Biochemistry
and Behavior,69,
503-509.
-
Muir, C., Vella, E.S., Pisani, N. & deCatanzaro,
D. (2001). Enzyme immunoassay of 17 b -estradiol, estrone
conjugates, and testosterone in urinary and fecal samples
from male and female mice. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 33,
653-658.
-
Vella, E.S. & deCatanzaro, D. (2001). Novel
male mice show gradual decline in the capacity to disrupt
early pregnancy and in urinary excretion of testosterone
and 17 b -estradiol during the weeks immediately following
castration. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 33,
681-686.
Book:
deCatanzaro, D. (1999). Motivation and Emotion: Evolutionary,
Physiological, Developmental, and Social
Perspectives. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall (Reason
Education). - also published in Spanish, Japanese, and
Polish
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