Role of corticosterone in mediating responses to UV radiation in amphibian tadpoles

Corticosterone is the major glucocorticoid stress response hormone of amphibians. While acute stimulation of the glucocorticoid stress response is essential for effectively responding to a variety of stressors in the environment, protracted stimulation of the stress response can be detrimental. Recent work in our lab has shown that exposure to UV radiation stimulates an acute stress response in amphibian larvae, but we do not understand the role that corticosterone plays in mediating UV defences or repair responses. This project will elucidate the role that corticosterone plays in the accumulation of DNA damage, and DNA repair and oxidative stress responses in amphibian larvae.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Rebecca Cramp
Co-Supervisor: Professor Craig Franklin