Publications by authors named "Morgan E Hernandez Scudder"
All species, including humans, are exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Previous experiments have shown behavioral deficits caused by EDCs that have implications for social competence and sexual selection. The neuromolecular mechanisms for these behavioral changes induced by EDCs have not been thoroughly explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExposure to prenatal PCBs shifts the timing of neurogenesis in the hypothalamus of developing rats.
J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol
October 2020
The developing brain is highly sensitive to the hormonal milieu, with gonadal steroid hormones involved in neurogenesis, neural survival, and brain organization. Limited available evidence suggests that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may perturb these developmental processes. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Aroclor 1221, would disrupt the normal timing of neurogenesis in two hypothalamic regions: the ventromedial nucleus (VMN) and the preoptic area (POA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like Aroclor 1221 and vinclozolin affects social and olfactory behaviors in adult rats, with different impacts based on sex.
- Adult male rats exposed to these EDCs and females exposed to A1221 showed difficulties in mate preference and odor discrimination tests, despite having normal odor discrimination abilities overall.
- Increased neuronal activation was found in a specific brain region (VMNvl) of affected female rats, while males exhibited normal activity, indicating that EDCs disrupt hormonal and behavioral traits with significant implications for reproductive success in both wildlife and humans.