My manuscript on the role of melatonin in mediating seasonal transitions in aggressive behavior and circulating androgen profiles, which will form the first chapter of my dissertation, was recently published in Hormones and Behavior! In this study, I showed that male hamsters given a long-term, short day (SD)-like melatonin signal, either via timed melatonin injections or exposure to a SD light cycle, elevate territorial aggression and reduce circulating androgen levels in response to an aggressive interaction. Together, my findings suggest that SD males transition from synthesis to metabolism of circulating androgens following an aggressive encounter, a response that is modulated by melatonin and culminates in increased aggression.

A link for the manuscript can be found under the “Publications” page and can also be accessed here.

Image credit: Tyler Stevenson.