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Reproductive Biology (RB) and Neuroscience (N)

The research interests of faculty members in the Section of Reproductive Biology span a wide range of areas that include cloning, the production of transgenic animals to produce pharmaceutics, studies of implantation of ova, pregnancy, and lactation, neural and neuroendocrine functions associated with female reproduction, the effects of environmental toxins and drugs on neuroendocrine functions and fertility, and behavior. The specific interests of each researcher involved in reproductive biological research are described below.

Sandra Ayres, D.V.M, M.S., DACT, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences (RB)
Dr. Ayres research interests involve advanced reproductive techniques in the goat, particularly as they apply to the production of transgenic and cloned goats. Dr. Ayres' earlier work has included designing protocols to freeze goat semen as well as examining non-surgical approaches for embryo collection and transfer. Dr. Ayres current work, in collaboration with Biotherapeutics, Inc., examines the hormonal aspects of the estrous cycle and how the hormonal milieu affects the quality of oocytes produced for nuclear transfer.

  1. Baguisi A, Behboodi E, Melican D, Pollock JS, Destrempes MM, Cammuso C, Williams JL, Nims SD, Porter CA, Midura P, Palacios MJ, Ayres SL, Denniston RS, Hayes ML, Ziomek CA, Meade HM, Godke RA, Gavin WG, Overstrom EW, Echelard Y. Production of goats by somatic cell nuclear transfer. Nature/Biotechnology 17:456-461, 1999.
  2. Karuri AR, Ayres S, Kumar MSA. Regional distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, beta-endorphin and met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivities in the central nervous system of the goat. Brain Res. Bull. 51:63-68, 2000
  3. Ayres SL, Nims S, Porter C, Cammuso C, Gavin W. Evaluation of follicular development and early pregnancy in goats using transvaginal ultrasound. Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Goats, Tours, France, May 15-18, 2000.

Robert S. Bridges, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Head - Section of Reproductive Biology (RB/N)


The Bridges’ lab is interested in determining what biological factors regulate parental behavior in mammals together with the long-term effects of pregnancy and lactation on the maternal brain and endocrine system. A combination of physiological, anatomical, molecular and genetic approaches are used to elucidate basic neurobiological processes underlying mammalian brain function together with the biological bases of reproductive physiology and behavior. Specific projects examine the involvement of the endocrine and nervous systems in the regulation of maternal behavior and the effects of reproductive experience in the female. Studies using the rat as an animal model are utilized to delineate the role of the neural prolactin receptor system in the onset of maternal behavior and in maternal memory. Possible alterations in neural dopamine and prolactin systems induced by reproductive experience are studied in the context of neuroendocrine and behavioral plasticity as well as anxiety and post-partum mood disorders.

1. Bridges RS, Byrnes EM. Reproductive experience reduces circulating estradiol-17? and prolactin levels during proestrus and alters estrogen sensitivity in female rats. Endocrinology 147:2575-2582, 2006.

2. Scanlan VF, Byrnes EM, Bridges RS. Reproductive experience and activation of maternal memory. Behavioral Neuroscience 120:676-686, 2006.

3. Byrnes EM, Bridges RS. Reproductive experience alters anxiety-like behavior in the female rat. Hormones and Behavior 50:70-76. 2006.

4. Anderson GM, Grattan DR, van den Ancker W, Bridges RS. Reproductive experience increases prolactin responsiveness in the medial preoptic area and arcuate nucleus of female rats. Endocrinology 147:4688-4694, 2006.

Elizabeth M. Byrnes, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences (N)
Dr. Byrnes research interests involve the examination of neuroendocrine systems that underlie lactation and the expression of maternal behavior. Of particular interest are studies that investigate the long-term influence of reproductive experience on hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic dopamine systems. In addition, other studies include examination of the impact of environmental manipulations (i.e. drugs of abuse or stress) on the neuroendocrine system.

  1. Byrnes EM, Bridges RS. Opioid facilitation of maternal memory. Behavioral Neuroscience 114 (4): 797-804, 2000.
  2. Byrnes EM, Bridges RS. Dopamine antagonists during parturition disrupt maternal care and the retention of maternal behavior in rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior 73:869-875, 2002.

M.S. Kumar, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Sciences (N)
Dr. Kumar's research focuses upon two topics. The first project examines possible reproductive hazards associated with increased environmental exposure to nitric oxide, an endogenous neurotransmitter. The second project examines the effects of lead exposure during early development on neural circuits controlling the onset of puberty and hypothalamic-pituitary functions. Studies are exploring the effects of lead on the molecular and cellular events, including signaling pathways, upstream of the GnRH neuron that impact the secretion and metabolism of GnRH and gonadotropins.

  1. Zhang Q, Rosenberg MS, Kugel G, Agarwal MS, Phillips J, Kumar MSA. Effect of nitrous oxide on intracellular events of GT1-7 GnRH sectering neurons. Anesth. Progress 50:53-61, 2003.
  2. Zhang QS, Bratton GR, Agarwal RK, Calise D, Kugel G, Wan YS, Kumar M.S.A. Lead-induced cell signaling cascades in GT1-7 cells. Brain Research Bulletin 61:207-217, 2003.

Phyllis E. Mann, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences (RB/N)
Dr. Mann is studying the involvement of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) in the regulation of maternal behavior in rats. She is using and will use behavioral, molecular, and tract-tracing techniques to identify the central (brain) mechanisms that inhibit the onset of maternal behavior. She is also determining the distribution of mu opioid receptors in the brain of horses and cats; two species that have paradoxical (adversive) reactions to narcotic administration.

  1. Mann PE. (2006) Finasteride delays the onset of maternal behavior in primigravid rats. Physiology & Behavior, 88, 333-338.
  2. Mann, P.E. & Babb, J. A. (2005) Neural steroid hormone receptor gene expression in pregnant rats. Molecular Brain Research,142, 39-46.
  3. Mann, P.E. & Babb, J.A. (2004) Disinhibition of maternal behavior following neurotoxic lesions of the hypothalamus in primigravid rats. Brain Research, 1025, 51-58.
  4. Mann, P.E. & Bridges, R.S. (2002) Prolactin receptor gene expression in the forebrain of pregnant and lactating rats. Molecular Brain Research, 105, 136-135.
  5. Mann, P.E., Foltz, G., Rigero, B., & Bridges, R.S. (1999) The development of POMC gene expression in male and female juvenile rats. Developmental Brain Research, 116, 21-28.
  6. Mann, P.E., Rubin, B.S., & Bridges, R.S. (1997) Differential proopiomelanocortin gene expression in the medial basal hypothalamus of rats during pregnancy and lactation. Molecular Brain Research, 46, 9-16.

 

Faculty and Staff of Reproductive Biology

Faculty:

Administrative Staff:

Staff:

  • Kerriann Casey, Research Technician
  • Dennis Lovelock, Research Technician

Students:

  • Elliot Garber, DVM/MS Student
  • Karyn Vonlderstein, DVM/MS Student

 
 
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