The effects of gestational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the adult social behavior in male and female rats

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dc.contributor.advisorGore, Andrea C., 1964-
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCrews, David
dc.contributor.committeeMemberVasquez, Karen
dc.contributor.committeeMemberDominguez, Juan
dc.contributor.committeeMemberRichburg, John
dc.creatorReilly, Michael Patrick
dc.creator.orcid0000-0003-1447-0292
dc.date.accessioned2018-08-15T16:35:25Z
dc.date.available2018-08-15T16:35:25Z
dc.date.created2018-05
dc.date.issued2018-06-13
dc.date.submittedMay 2018
dc.date.updated2018-08-15T16:35:25Z
dc.description.abstractEndocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) exposures during critical periods of development influence neuronal development and the manifestation of sexually dimorphic behaviors that emerge in adulthood. Among these behaviors, social information processing is sexually dimorphic and regulated by sex steroids. Oxytocin and vasopressin serve as primary neurotransmitters mediating these behaviors; these neuroendocrine circuits are hormone sensitive and potential targets of prenatal EDC exposures. In dissertation, I assess the effects of gestational exposure to EDCs on the social behavior of male and females later in adulthood. A weakly estrogenic PCB mixture, Aroclor 1221, was administered to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rat dams during the time when the hypothalamus undergoes sexual differentiation. The brains of these animals were also used to quantify the presence of oxytocin or vasopressin in the two main regions of production: the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the supraoptic nucleus (SON). Another experiment extended this treatment paradigm to encompass a longer period of gestational development, added another EDC treatment group (Vinclozolin), and looked at similar behavioral outcomes. Lastly, I provide a novel way of modeling complex social behaviors in a laboratory setting. Through all of this work, we show that the sexes are differentially susceptible to endocrine disruption by PCBs or vinclozolin. Additionally, we provide evidence that the traditional choice models of social behavior in the rodent may not be reflective of how an animal behaves in a more complex, naturalistic, environment.
dc.description.departmentPharmaceutical Sciences
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifierdoi:10.15781/T26D5PW0W
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/67705
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectEndocrine disrupting chemicals
dc.subjectPolychlorinated biphenyls
dc.subjectSocial behavior
dc.subjectSocial recognition
dc.subjectVinclozolin
dc.subjectPCB
dc.subjectEDC
dc.titleThe effects of gestational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the adult social behavior in male and female rats
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
thesis.degree.departmentPharmaceutical Sciences
thesis.degree.disciplinePharmaceutical Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorThe University of Texas at Austin
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

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