Education | Laboratory Personnel | General Research Interest | Selected Research Projects
Research and Clinical Interests | Major Specialized Equipment Items Available | Selected Publications
TCSVM Faculty

Sandra L. Ayres
Instructor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Caprine Reproduction
Phone: 508-839-7956 ext. 84605
Fax: 508-839-7091
Email: sandra.ayres@tufts.edu

Education
BS - Duke University - 1971
MA - Duke University - 1973
DVM with Thesis - Tufts University - 1993

Board Certification
American College of Theriogenologists, 1999

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Laboratory Personnel
Karen Baldwin, Surgical Technician
Laura Vaught, Herdsperson
Jim Collins, Herdsperson
Annette Foster, Herdsperson

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General Research Interest
Female Reproduction: Caprine advanced reproductive techniques, particularly in relationship to transgenics and cloning.

Research Sponsor Interest:

  • Privately Funded Research
  • Federally Funded Research

Specific Research Interest

  • Past
    • Learning theory: The effects of animals' natural behaviors upon structured learning paradigms.
    • Correlation of brain and behavior: The behavioral consequences of early mid-brain lesions on the visual behavior of the Syrian hamster.
  • Present
    • Biotechnology: Production of transgenic goats.
    • Male reproduction: Modifications of freezing protocols to optimize cryopreservation of goat semen.
    • Female reproduction: Development of non-surgical embryo collection and transfer techniques in the goats. Optimization of estrus synchronization and superovulation in the goat. Oocyte and embryo freezing in the goat.

Research Support

  • "Transcervical Collection of Goat Embryos", Sandra L. Ayres, Principal Investigator, Hill's Research Grant, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, August 1995-November 1996.
  • "Transgenic Goats by Microinjection", Sandra L. Ayres, Principal Investigator, Genzyme Transgenic Corporation, September 7, 1997-September 1998.
  • "Transgenic Goats by Microinjection", Sandra L Ayres, Principal Investigator, Genzyme Transgenic Corporation, September 7, 1998 - September 7, 2000.
  • "Production of Transgenic Goats by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer", Sandra L. Ayres, Principal Investigator, Genzyme Transgenic Corporation, September 6, 2000-September 5, 2001.
  • "Production of Transgenic Goats by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer", Sandra L. Ayres, Principal Investigator, Genzyme Transgenic Corporation, September 6, 2001-September 5, 2004.
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Research and Clinical Interests

  • Caprine Reproduction

  • Theriogenology

  • Neuroendocrinology

  • Behavior

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Major Specialized Equipment Items Available

  • Fluorescence spectrophotometer
  • UV/VIS spectrophotometer
  • liquid scintillation counter
  • refrigerated centrifuge
  • HPLC
  • flame photometer
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Selected Publications

  1. Ayres, Sandra L., Sequential and temporal properties of behavior induced by a schedule of periodic food delivery. Master's Thesis, Duke University, Durham, NC, 1973.

  2. Staddon, J.E.R. and Ayres, S.L., Sequential and temporal properties of behavior induced by a schedule of periodic food delivery. Behavior, 54:26-49, 1974.

  3. So, K.-F., Schneider, G.E. and Ayres, S.L., Early lesions of the brachium of the superior colliculus in hamsters: Correlation of anatomy with behavior. ARVO, Sarasota, 1977, p.88.

  4. So, K.-F., Schneider, G.E. and Ayres, S., Lesions of the brachium of the superior colliculus in neonate hamsters: Correlation of anatomy with behavior. Experimental Neurology, 71:379-400, 1981.

  5. Sabel, B.A., Ayres, S. and Schneider, G.E., Time of day is critical in the assessment of lesion-induced deficit in visual orienting. Soc. Neurosci., 1985.

  6. Schneider, G.E., Carmen, L.S. and Ayres, S. Superior colliculus function in visually elicited "fear" and in scanning movements in Syrian hamsters. Soc. Neurosci., 1987.

  7. Sabel, B.A., Ayres, S.L. and Schneider, G.E., Hemianopsia following unilateral decortication: Can it be reversed by contralateral tectal lesions? Second World Congress of Neuroscience, Budapest, 1987.

  8. Ayres, S.L. and Schneider, G.E., Early lesions produce dissociations of the anti-predator and orienting function of the superior colliculus. Soc. Neurosci, 1989.

  9. Ayres, S. Natural cycles control "pocket pet" behavior. Pet Care Times, Summer, 1991.

  10. Ayres, S.L., Development of a New Freezing Method for Goat Sperm, Senior Thesis, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1993.

  11. Ebert, K. M., DiTullio, P., Barry, C.A., Schindler, J.E., Ayres, S.L., Smith, T.E., Pellerin, L.J., Meade, H.M., Denman, J., Roberts, B., Induction of human tissue plasminogen activator in the mammary gland of transgenic goats. Bio/Tech., 12:699-702, 1994.

  12. Ayres, S.L., Wagner, P., Perirectal abscess in an American Miniature horse. Equine Practice, 16(9):33-35, 1994.

  13. DiTullio, P., Ebert, K., Pollock, J., Pollock, D, Harvey, M., Williams, J., Wilburn, B., Friedman, B.A., Marshall, D., Barry, C., Ayres, S, Meade, H., High level production of human monoclonal antibody in the milk of transgenic mice and a transgenic goat. IBF Conference on Monoclonal Antibody Production and Purification, San Francisco, CA, April 19, 1995.

  14. Ayres, S.L., Gavin, William, Baldwin, K., Cedar, C., Hall. D., Marshall, D., Vaught, L., Ebert, K.M., Retrospective Study of the Effects of Timing of Norgestomet Implant Relative to the Goat Estrous Cycle, Proceedings of the, Annual Meeting of the Society for Theriogenology, Baltimore, MD, December 4-6, 1998.

  15. Baguisi A., Behboobi E., Melican D.T., Pollock J.S., Destrempes M.M., Williams, J.L., Nims, S.D., Porter C.A., Midura P., Palacios M.J., Ayres, S.L., Denniston R.S., Hayes M.L., Ziomek C.A., Meade H.M., Godke R.A., Gavin W.G., Overtröm E.W., Echelard Y., Production of goats by somatic cell nuclear transfer. Nature Biotech., 15(5):456-461, 1999.

  16. Ayres, S.L., Nims, S., Porter, C., Cammuso, C., Gavin, W., Early pregnancy diagnosis in goats using transvaginal ultrasound. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society for theriogenology, Nashville, TN, September 23-25, 1999.

  17. Karuri, A.R., Ayres, S., Kumar, M.S.A., 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.

  18. Ayres, S.L., 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.

  19. Melican, D., Nims, S., Ayres, S., and Gavin, W., Repeat superovulation and non-surgical retrieval utilizing transgenic founder goats, Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Embryo Transfer Society, Omaha, NE, January Theriogenology, 13-16, 2001, p. 366.

  20. Chen, L.H., Behboodi, E., Reggio, B.C., Shen, M.F., O\'Coin, M.D., Destrempes, M.M., Green, H.L., Nims, S.D., Denniston, R.S., Ayres, S.L., Godke, R.A., Echelard, Y., Meade, H.M., Generation of transgenic goats from transfected fibroblast cell line for the production of a malaria vaccine antigen. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Embryo Transfer Society, Brazil, 2002.

  21. Behboodi, E., Ayres, S.L., Reggio, B.C., O\'Coin, M.D., Gavin, W.G., Denniston, R.S., Godke, R.A., Meade, H.M., Echelard, Y., Pregnancy profile and health status of goats derived by somatic cell nuclear transfer. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Embryo Transfer Society, Brazil, 2002.

  22. Singer, Laura A., Kumar, M.S.A., Gavin, William, Ayres, Sandra L., Determining the onset of parturition in the goat using CITE progesterone tests. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Theriogenology, Colorado Springs, CO, August 7-11, 2002.

  23. Behboodi, E., Memili, E., Ayres, S.L., O'Coin, M., Cnem, L.H., Meade, H.M., Echelard, Y., Application of embryo cloning to the foundering of transgenic goats. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Embryo Transfer Society, New Zealand, 2003.

  24. Singer, L.A., Kumar, M.S.A., Gavin, W., Ayres, S.L., Determining the onset of parturition in the goat using CITE progesterone tests. Small Rum. Res., Submitted: 01/03.

Poster Sessions

  1. "The Effects of a New Freezing Method Upon the Post-thaw Motility of Goat Semen", Earl P. Charleton Student research Scientist Competition, Tufts University, Boston, MA, October, 1991.

  2. "Cryopreservation of goat semen using a -80o C freezer", Society for Theriogenology Annual Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, August 26, 1994.

  3. "Evaluation of Follicular Development and Early Pregnancy in Goats Using Transvaginal Ultrasound", presented at the Seventh International Conference on Goats, Tours, France, May 15-21, 2000.

Invited Lectures

  1. Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Seminar, "Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology". Tufts University, Medford, MA, July 26, 1995.

  2. Panel Discussion "Veterinarians in Biotechnology", Parents' Day, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, April 13, 1996.

  3. Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Teacher Outreach at Bancroft School Worcester, MA, "Transgenic Goats and Veterinary Medicine". TUSVM, Grafton, MA, August 9, 1995.

  4. American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, Continuing Education Program for Veterinarians during the 1995 Annual Conference of the American Dairy Goat Association, "Transgenic Goats: How We Create and Use Them". Syracuse, NY, October 17-18, 1995.

  5. "Retrospective Study on the Effects of Timing of Norgestomet Implant Relative to the Goat Estrous Cycle", Annual Meeting of the Society for Theriogenology, Baltimore, MD, December 4-6, 1998.

  6. "Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Goats using Transvaginal Ultrasound", Annual Meeting of the Society for Theriogenology, Nashville, TN, September 23-25, 1999.

  7. "Caprine Reproduction", Annual Meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Boston, MA, July 16, 2001.

  8. "Goats in Biotechnology - Opportunities in Reproductive Research", New England Branch AALAS, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, September 27, 2001.

  9. "Determining the Onset of Parturition in the Goat Using CITE Progesterone Tests, Annual Meeting of the Society for Theriogenology, Colorado Springs, CO, August 7-11, 2002.

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