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Variations upon a theme: Australian lizards provide insights into the endocrine control of vertebrate reproductive cycles
Australian lizards exhibit a broad array of different reproductive strategies and provide an extraordinary diversity and range of models with which to address fundamental problems in reproductive biology. Studies on lizards have frequently led to new insights into hormonal regulatory pathways or mechanisms of control, but we have detailed knowledge of the reproductive cycle in only a small percentage of known species. This review provides an overview and synthesis of current knowledge of the hormonal control of reproductive cycles in Australian lizards. Agamid lizards have provided useful models with which to test hypotheses about the hormonal regulation of the expression of reproductive behaviors, while research on viviparous skinks is providing insights into the evolution of the endocrine control of gestation. However, in order to better understand the potential risks that environmental factors such as climate change and endocrine disrupting chemicals pose to our fauna, better knowledge is required of the fundamental characteristics of the reproductive cycle in a broader range of lizard species.
History
Publication title
General and Comparative EndocrinologyVolume
244Pagination
60-69ISSN
0016-6480Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Academic Press Inc Elsevier SciencePlace of publication
525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, USA, Ca, 92101-4495Rights statement
Copyright 2015 Elsevier Inc.Repository Status
- Restricted