Student Background/Interests
I came to Michigan State from Colorado State, where I received my degree in Biological Sciences. My research interests are focused on the role of estradiol during developmental organization and adult activation of reproductive forebrain regions. In the lab of Dr. Juli Wade, I approach these questions using the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) as a model system. I am currently investigating potential morphological sex and seasonal differences in adult anoles as well as quantifying changes estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) following estradiol treatment during both the breeding and non-breeding seasons in adulthood. In development, I am also examining forebrain morphology and ER-alpha mRNA expression patterns in the reproductive regions of the forebrain at timepoints which coincide with naturally occurring differences in steroid hormones.
Selected Publications
Ottem EN, Beck LA, Jordan CL, Breedlove SM. (2007) Androgen-dependent regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine kinase B in the sexually dimorphic spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus. Endocrinology. 148(8):3655-65.
Abstracts
Beck LA and Wade J. (2007) Sexual dimorphism in the preoptic area of the developing green anole lizard. [presented at Society for Neuroscience]
Beck LA, O'Bryant EL, and Wade J. (2007) Sex and seasonal differences in morphology of the green anole forebrain. [presented at Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology]
Beck LA and Wade J. (2006) Androgen receptor mRNA expression in the developing copulatory system of male green anoles (Anolis carolinensis). [presented at Society for Neuroscience]
|
Laurel
Beck