Professor

Department of Biological Sciences

Box 5640

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5640

(928) 523-1374   (office)

(928) 523-7500   (FAX)

E-mail: Catherine.Propper@nau.edu

Statement of Interests 

My main interests are in how environmental information gets translated into behavioral and reproductive responses and what role the neuroendocrine system plays in the translation. I use amphibians as model systems.  Currently, projects in my laboratory include 1) studies on how environmental contaminants may act as endocrine disruptors to affect  development and adult stress responses and behavior and 2) to understand the interaction between the environment and molecular mechanisms involved in seasonal reproduction in adults and sexual differentiation during development.  Specifically, we have been investigating a very commonly used pesticide, endosulfan, and its effects on reproduction and development in four different systems, tadpole development, mosquitofish sexual dimorphism, salamander pheromone production, and amphibian stress responses.  We have also investigated the effects of a common industrial compound on sexual differentiation, and we are studying the complex physiological events that result from exposure to environmental mixes of compounds found in wastewater.  

Selected Recent Publications from Our Lab:

Park, D, Hempleman, S.C., and Propper, C.R. 2001. Disrupted amphibian pheromone systems in red-spotted newts: A potential causal factor in population declines. Env. Health Perspect. 109: 669-674.

Mayer, L.P.,  Overstreet, S.L., Dyer, C.D. and Propper, C.R. 2002. Sexually dimorphic expression of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) in developing gonads of the American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana.  Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 127: 40-47.

Park, D. and Propper, C.R. 2002. Pheromones from female mosquitofish at different stages of reproduction differentially affect male sexual activity. Copeia 2002:1113-1117.

Park, D. and Propper, C.R. 2002. Endosulfan affects male pheromonal detection and production in the red-spotted newt.  Bull. of Env. Contamin. Toxicol. 69(4):609-16.

Mayer, L.P.,  Dyer, C.D. and Propper, C.R. 2003. Exposure to 4-tert-octylphenol accelerates sexual differentiation and disrupts expression of Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1) in developing bullfrogs.  Env. Health Persp. 111(4):557-61.