Department of Biology, North Carolina State University

Heather B. Patisaul

Current Projects

We have found soy phytoestrogens are anxiogenic in males, but anxiolytic in proestrus females.  We are now examining the mechanisms by which this may occur using a variety of techniques.

Determine how endocrine active compounds (EACs) affect anxiety.

Female rats display a posture called lordosis when receptive.  Males do not.  ERβ may play a role in the development of the neurocircuitry regulating this sexually dimorphic behavior.

Describe how ERβ influences sexually dimorphic circuits in the VMN.

Exposure to soy phytoestrogens, Bisphenol-A and other EACs may have permanent and persistent effects on adult physiology and behavior.  We are particularly interested in how these compounds affect the timing of puberty, the regulation of the estrus cycle and reproductive capacity in females.  Disruption can occur at the level of the brain, the ovary or both.  Studies are underway to determine the molecular mechanisms by which EACs affect puberty in females using a rat model, with a specific focus on signaling pathways that involve estrogen receptors.  

Assess how neonatal EAC exposure affects fertility and the timing of puberty in females.