Behavioural neuroendocrinology, Reproductive and stress physiology

• Human sexual behaviour and physiology
• Steroid hormones in reproduction, stress and aggression
• Pheromonal mechanisms in human reproductive behaviour
• Hormonal control of pheromones
• Human stress, and stress and sex hormone measurement
• Environmental estrogens and sexual development

Long-term stress and reproduction are physiologically and behaviourally incompatible. This is largely due to the actions of steroid hormones. In my previous rodent work, I have consistently seen steroids such as estradiol (the main estrogen) and testosterone elevated in mice during reproductive periods while undergoing psychological stress or during exposure to same or opposite sex novel mice. These sex hormones can act as stress hormones in certain contexts and it is thought that these steroids may act as, or influence pheromones in mammals.

In my current work with humans, I am interested in relating social, sexual, stress and status behaviours to steroid hormone levels in bodily fluids (primarily saliva and perspiration). Specifically I am currently trying to better understand both the influence of psychological events on hormonal changes as well as the influence of exogenous hormones on behaviour and development. I have been investigating the role steroid hormones may play in human chemical communication (pheromones) but I am also very interested in evaluating steroid hormone variability as a measure of biological and psychological adaptation to changing demands in variable environments.

Vaillancourt, T. Duku, E. Becker, S. Schmidt, L.A. Nicol, J. Muir, C. MacMillan, H. Peer victimization, depressive symptoms, and high salivary cortisol predict poorer memory in children Accepted for publication in Brain and Cognition, 2011

Cieslak, T. Muir, C. Corbett, L. Ludwa, I.A. Klentrou, P. Water Cutting, Stress Hormones and Salivary Immunoglobulins in Wrestlers. Accepted for publication in International Journal of Fitness, 2011.

Corbett, C. Muir, C. Ludwa, I. Yao, M. Timmons, B. Falk, B. Klentrou, P. Associates of mucosal immunity in children and adolescent females. The Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, 23 (6): 579-588, 2010.

Muir, C. Treasurywala, K. McAllister, S. Sutherland, J. Dukas, L. Berger, R. Khan, A. deCatanzaro, D. Enzyme immunoassay of testosterone, 17β-estradiol, and progesterone in perspiration and urine of preadolescents and young adults: Exceptional levels in men’s axillary perspiration. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 40:819-826; 2008

Vaillancourt, T. deCatanzaro, D. Duku, E. Muir, C.  Androgen dynamics in the context of children’s peer relations: an examination of the links between testosterone and peer victimization. Aggressive Behaviour 34:294-305; 2008.

Vaillancourt, T. Duku, E. deCatanzaro, D. Macmillan, H. Muir, C. Schmidt, L. Variation in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity among bullied and non-bullied children. Aggressive Behaviour 34:294-305. 2008.

Van Raamsdonk, M.J. Murphy, Z. Selva, D.M. Hamidizadeh, R. Pearson, J.  Petersen, A. Bjorkqvist, M. Muir, C. MacKenzie, I.R. Hammond, G.L. Vogl, W. Hayden, M.R. Leavitt, B.R.  Testicular Degeneration in Huntington Disease. Neurobiology of Disease, 26:512-520, 2006.

Carre, J. Muir, C. Belanger, J. Putnam, S. Pre-competition hormonal and psychological levels of elite hockey players: Relationship to the home advantage. Physiology and Behaviour, 89:392-398, 2006.

Smith, A. L. Mabus, S. Muir, C. Woo, Y. Effects of Housing Density and Cage Type on Three Strains of Young Adult Inbred Mice. Comparative Medicine, 55:368-376, 2005.

Smith, A.L. Mabus, S. Stockwell, J. Muir, C. Effects of Housing Density and Cage Type on C57BL/6J Mice Comparative Medicine, 54:656-663, 2004.

deCatanzaro, D. Muir, C. Beaton, E. Jetha, M.. Non-invasive repeated measurement of urinary progesterone, 17B-estradiol, and testosterone in developing, cycling, pregnant, and postpartum female mice. Steroids,69:687-696, 2004.

deCatanzaro, D. Muir, C. Beaton, E. Jetha, M. Nadella, K. Enzyme immunoassay of oestradiol, testosterone and progesterone in urine samples from female mice before and after insemination. Reproduction, 126:407-414, 2003.

Muir, C. Spironello, E. deCatanzaro, D. Pisani, N. Enzyme immunoassay of 17b-estradiol, estrone conjugates and testosterone in urinary and fecal samples from male and female mice. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 33:653-658, 2001.

Zacharias, R. deCatanzaro, D. Muir, C. Novel-male-induced pregnancy disruption in mice: Effects of removal of the vesicular-coagulating gland complex and the preputial glands of novel males.  Physiology and Behaviour, 68:285-290, 2000.

deCatanzaro, D. Muir, C. Spironello, E. Binger, T. Thomas, J. Intense arousal of novel male mice in proximity to previously inseminated females: Inactivation of males via Chlorpromazine does not diminish the capacity to disrupt pregnancy.  Psychobiology, 28:110-114, 2000.

deCatanzaro, D. Muir, C. Sullivan, C. Boissy, A. Pheromones and novel-male-induced pregnancy disruption in mice: Exposure to conspecifics is necessary for urine alone to induce an effect.  Physiology and Behaviour, 66:153-157, 1999.

deCatanzaro, D. Douglas, A. Griffiths, J. Muir, C. Differential sexual activity of isolated and group-housed male mice: Lack of substantial influence of acute or chronic naloxone administration. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behaviour, 55:169-174, 1996.

deCatanzaro, D. Zacharias, R. Muir, C.  Disruption of early pregnancy by direct and indirect exposure to novel males in mice: Comparison of influences of preputialectomized and intact males. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 106: 269-274, 1996.

deCatanzaro, D. Muir, C. O’Brien, J. Williams, S. Strange-male-induced pregnancy disruptions in mice: Reduction of vulnerability by 17b-estradiol antibodies.  Physiology and Behaviour, 58:401-404, 1995.

deCatanzaro, D. Smith, M. Muir, C. Strange-male-induced pregnancy disruptions in mice: Potentiation by administration of 17b-estradiol to castrated males.  Physiology and Behaviour, 58:405-407, 1995.