Quantifying a Suite of Hormones in Songbird Plasma using Mass Spectrometry
Poster Number
41
Faculty Mentor Name
Karan J. Odom
Format
Poster Presentation
Research or Creativity Area
Natural Sciences
Abstract
For decades, research on birdsong has largely focused on males. Male birdsong is known to be regulated by testosterone. It was not until recently that researchers realized that female birdsong is also common, including in our study species, the house wren (Troglodytes aedon). Yet paradoxically, females often sing while circulating testosterone levels are high. Therefore, the hormone(s) implicated in birdsong regulation in both sexes remain unidentified. Estradiol, or other steroid hormones, such as cortisol or progesterone, could be driving birdsong in female house wrens. Hormone quantification of plasma samples collected throughout the breeding season of the northern house wren could uncover the neuroendocrine mechanisms behind female birdsong regulation. To quantify hormones, traditional methods, such as immunoassays, often fall short: they only measure one hormone at a time, require large sample volumes, and sometimes suffer from cross-reactivity. In this small songbird, the average sample volume in our study is 30 μL. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, or LCMS allows for simultaneous identification and quantification of a suite of hormones – including testosterone, estradiol, other steroid hormones, and the thyroid hormones. Additionally, LCMS can detect precursors and metabolites from minute amounts of sample. Combining Liquid Chromatography to separate samples by physical properties, yielding a chromatogram with x-axis retention time, and Mass Spectrometry at every point of the chromatogram, we can detect our compound of interest based on whether the daughter m/z value matches the predetermined m/z value and we can quantify our compound of interest by comparing the change in area under the peak of the compound of interest in the treatment and control solutions. LCMS improves analytical precision, thereby opening new avenues for understanding the complex hormonal regulation of female birdsong. By revealing these intricate biochemical pathways, we seek to gain a deeper insight into female songbird biology. This poster will summarize our progress from the Dreyfus Fellowship awarded to Amanda Nguyen in Summer 2025.
Location
University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
Start Date
24-4-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2026 2:00 PM
Quantifying a Suite of Hormones in Songbird Plasma using Mass Spectrometry
University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
For decades, research on birdsong has largely focused on males. Male birdsong is known to be regulated by testosterone. It was not until recently that researchers realized that female birdsong is also common, including in our study species, the house wren (Troglodytes aedon). Yet paradoxically, females often sing while circulating testosterone levels are high. Therefore, the hormone(s) implicated in birdsong regulation in both sexes remain unidentified. Estradiol, or other steroid hormones, such as cortisol or progesterone, could be driving birdsong in female house wrens. Hormone quantification of plasma samples collected throughout the breeding season of the northern house wren could uncover the neuroendocrine mechanisms behind female birdsong regulation. To quantify hormones, traditional methods, such as immunoassays, often fall short: they only measure one hormone at a time, require large sample volumes, and sometimes suffer from cross-reactivity. In this small songbird, the average sample volume in our study is 30 μL. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, or LCMS allows for simultaneous identification and quantification of a suite of hormones – including testosterone, estradiol, other steroid hormones, and the thyroid hormones. Additionally, LCMS can detect precursors and metabolites from minute amounts of sample. Combining Liquid Chromatography to separate samples by physical properties, yielding a chromatogram with x-axis retention time, and Mass Spectrometry at every point of the chromatogram, we can detect our compound of interest based on whether the daughter m/z value matches the predetermined m/z value and we can quantify our compound of interest by comparing the change in area under the peak of the compound of interest in the treatment and control solutions. LCMS improves analytical precision, thereby opening new avenues for understanding the complex hormonal regulation of female birdsong. By revealing these intricate biochemical pathways, we seek to gain a deeper insight into female songbird biology. This poster will summarize our progress from the Dreyfus Fellowship awarded to Amanda Nguyen in Summer 2025.
