Fall 2014 - Interdisciplinary Faculty of Reproductive Biology

IFRB 2014
POINTS OF INTEREST:
 The IFRB was organized
in 1992 and is one of the
largest Reproductive
Biology Programs in the
US
 Membership includes 43
faculty from 5 departments, 3 colleges , 4
TAMUS components
and 2 state agencies
 IFRB sponsored activities: 20th Annual R.O.
Berry Lecture, 23 year
old IFRB Repro Forum
Seminar Series, 20th
Texas Forum on Reproductive Sciences, Annual IFRB Retreat
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
New IFRB Faculty
Spotlight
1
Reproduction &
One Health
1
IFRB Member
Spotlight
3
In Memorium
4
IFRB Seminar
Series
5
Trainee Spotlight/
2014 SSR Meeting
6
Snapshot of IFRB
Research
7
20th R.O. Berry
Memorial Lecture
9
8th Annual IFRB
Retreat
11
Faculty Activities
12
2 0 1 4 ,
I S S U E
2
F A L L ,
2 0 1 4
New IFRB Faculty Spotlight
Polycystic ovary syndrome
(PCOS) is the most prevalent reproductive endocrine disorder in
women and results in a substantial
financial burden to the American
healthcare system. PCOS is characterized by an/oligoovulation, polycystic ovaries, and hyperandrogenism. PCOS patients are also at risk
for the development of metabolic
syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease. Fat location
appears to be a key element of the
hyperandrogenemia in PCOS, as
obese patients with visceral fat
distribution have androgen levels
greater than those in either lean
PCOS women or obese PCOS
women with peripheral fat distribution. Furthermore, visceral fat deposition of obese
PCOS patients is correlated with insulin resistance and
free testosterone. Current treatments for hyperandrogenemia in obese PCOS patients include birth control
pills, insulin-sensitizing drugs, and weight loss. Such
therapeutic recommendations highlight the interaction
of metabolism and androgens in the pathogenesis of
PCOS.
Annie Newell-Fugate, D.V.M., Ph.D. is the
newest member of the IFRB. She received her D.V.M.
(2004) from North Carolina State University, her M.Sc. (2008) in Wildlife
Reproduction from University of Pretoria, South Africa, and her Ph.D.
(2012) in Animal Sciences from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Newell-Fugate also practiced small
animal clinical medicine for three years.
Dr. Newell-Fugate conducted her PhD
in the laboratories of Drs. Rebecca
Krisher, Romana Nowak, and Janice
Bahr. In the last year of her Ph.D.
(2011), she was awarded a five-year
NIH K01 award through the Office of
Research Infrastructure Programs
(formerly the National Center for
Research Resources). In November
2014, Dr. Newell-Fugate joined the
Department of Veterinary Physiology
and Pharmacology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and
Biomedical Sciences as an Assistant Professor. Dr. NewellFugate is a current member of the Texas A&M Nutrition and
Obesity Research Center and is the out-going Trainee Representative to the Board of Directors of the Society for the
Study of Reproduction.
Dr. Newell-Fugate’s research focuses on the effects of
obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance on androgen
steroidogenesis in women and the interrelationship between
(continued on page 2)
Reproductive Biology & One Health
Linking human, animal and
environmental health
Healthy Offspring and
Healthy Adults. "One's Health Begins In Utero!" Preterm births (37
weeks of gestation or earlier) put
over 500,000 babies at risk for death
and neurological disabilities that cost
the health care system over $26 billion per year. Socioeconomic, biological, and environmental factors increase a woman’s risk for chronic
hypertension, diabetes, infections and
stress that result in preterm delivery.
Improving calf crop from 63 to 85% in
beef and dairy cows and piglets
weaned per sow from 17.5 to 22 will
increase animal protein to feed our world
and add values of $4.5 and $2.7 billion to
the beef and swine industries, respectively.
The point being that the One Health initiative must start with healthy babies and
healthy animals that are not subjected to
intra-uterine growth restriction. There is
a critical need to unravel the mysteries of
factors affecting the newborn as small
offspring are predestined to increased
risks of metabolic syndrome including
obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
(continued on page 8)
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2
Figure 1. Representative H & E stained
sections of ovarian
tissue from a control
(A) and an obese (B)
Ossabaw pig at 100x
magnification (400x
inset). TE=theca externa; TI=theca interna; G=granulosa,
FF=follicular fluid.
The black arrowhead
in panel B indicates
vacuoles in the granulosa layer. The black
arrows in panel B
indicate hyperproliferation and growth of
the theca interna into
the granulosa cell
layer. Cell layer thicknesses in panel A:
G=34.2 μm, TI= 11.4
μm, TE=16.4 μm. Cell
layers in panel B:
G=85.9 μm, TI=16.3
μm, TE= 15.6 μm.
New IFRB Faculty (cont’d from page 1)
androgens and insulin signaling in steroidogenic tissues.
During her PhD and post-doc, she used the Ossabaw
mini-pig as an animal model in which to study the effects
of morbid obesity on ovarian function and steroidogenesis. Ossabaw mini-pigs have a loss of function mutation in
the Val199àIIe region of the PRKAG3 gene (the γ3 isoform of AMP-activated protein kinase) that is associated
with increased intramuscular fat and is consistent with
the obese, “thrifty” genotype. AMPK is a “master
switch” of energy homeostasis, which is activated in
situations that deplete ATP like low glucose and hypoxia.
The Ossabaw mini-pig, when fed a hypercaloric, high fat/
cholesterol/fructose diet, naturally develops features of
metabolic syndrome more rapidly and robustly than any
other currently available swine model. During her PhD
studies, Dr. Newell-Fugate demonstrated that obese
Ossabaw pigs have increased gene expression and function of ovarian enzymes in the delta 4 steroidogenic
pathway, which result in hyperandrogenemia. Additionally, obese Ossabaw pigs develop hyperthecosis and excessive proliferation of the granulosa cell layer of the ovarian follicle (Figure 1). These findings implicate the Ossabaw mini-pig a potentially useful model to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which obesity causes
Figure 2. Relative fold transcript level expression of
INSR (top) and IRS1 (bottom) in control (n=6) and depot testosterone treated (n=5) Yorkshire pigs in insulin
sensitive tissues. INSR and IRS1 transcript levels were up
-regulated in sub-cutaneous fat and INSR was upregulated in visceral fat of depot testosterone treated
pigs. *p<0.05. INSR and IRS1 were assessed relative to
HRPT1. SQfat=sub-cutaneous fat; Visfat=retroperitoneal fat; SkM=skeletal muscle; Endo=endometrium; DTtreated=depot testosterone treated pigs.
ovarian dysfunction. Continuing to build on her previous
work, Dr. Newell-Fugate is currently exploring the relationship between obesity, adrenal dysfunction, and ovulation using this animal model. She also collaborates with
investigators at Southern Illinois University School of
Medicine and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
to examine the effects of obesity on cervical microbiome
populations and on gastrointestinal microbiome function.
Hyperinsulinemia can directly exacerbate hyperandrogenism in PCOS patients through stimulation of the insulin and IGF receptors on ovarian theca cells. However, it
is not know what role hyperandrogenemia may play in
insulin secretion and insulin signaling, particularly in the
adipose tissue of PCOS patients and obese women. To
this end, Dr. Newell-Fugate has begun studies to assess
the effects of androgens on circulating insulin and insulin
signaling. High androgen doses administered to intact,
female pigs over several weeks initially result in elevated
circulating insulin concentrations, followed by a drop in
insulin concentrations to baseline. Such findings are suggestive of a direct effect of androgens on insulin secretion
by the pancreas. High doses of androgens have variable
and somewhat conflicting effects on insulin signaling in
subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (Figure 2).
These preliminary findings indicate that androgens do
affect insulin function in adipose tissue. Dr. Newell-Fugate
is continuing to explore the mechanism by which andro(continued on page 16)
2014, ISSUE 2
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3
IFRB Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Chuck Long
Dr. Charles (Chuck) Long, PhD is an
Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and the
current Chair of the IFRB, succeeding Dr. Marcel Amsdalden. He is a member of the Reproductive Sciences Laboratory (vetmed.tamu.edu/
rsl) and shares a laboratory at the Reproductive Science Complex with his close colleagues
Drs. Mark Westhusin, Michael Golding
and Duane Kraemer. The laboratory focus
has two overall themes. One centers on developing a better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms operating in the early mammalian embryo that can alter chromatin function. These epigenetic can be significantly altered by adverse environmental conditions (or
maternal exposures) and thus transmits environmental signals to changes in transcription
and potentially embryo fate. The second area
of research is genetic engineering of livestock
to enhance production efficiency, disease resistance, and to develop biomedical models of
human disease.
Chuck began his research career as an undergraduate at the University of MissouriColumbia, working with both pig and mice
models of uterine capacity. His M.S. degree
was obtained under the direction of geneticist
Dr. William Lamberson and focused on calculating heritability estimates for uterine parameters in a mouse model. While at Mizzou,
Chuck also worked closely with other laboratories where experiments focused on early
embryonic development in cattle and swine.
These experiences led to his first industry
position as a technician at Granada BioSciences in College Station, TX where he learned
the art of cloning cattle through the use of
early embryos as donor cells. After two years
of industry experience, it was back to school
at the University of Massachusetts where,
under the guidance of Dr. Jim Robl, he developed additional skills in cloning mammals and
began to focus on the reasons for failed
embryonic development of cloned embryos.
The first of these centered primarily on the
sperm derived components, which are obviously missing from a cloned embryo. After
acquiring his PhD, Chuck spent two years
with Drs. Larry Johnson and John Dobrinsky
at USDA-ARS in Beltsville, MD. At Beltsville,
his research was focused on the development of in vitro fertilization systems utilizing
the innovative new technology of gender
preselection by flow cytometric sorting of
mammalian sperm. Although not in his
assigned research area, USDA-ARS offered
opportunities to interact with some of the
pioneers of livestock genetic engineering.
His interactions with Drs. Bob Wall and
Vernon Pursel added an additional element
to his research activities and dramatically
altered his research interests. After his post
-doctoral training, Chuck spent six years in
private industry creating and developing
new businesses focused on assisted reproductive technologies and cloning of livestock
(Ovagenix, LLC and Viagen, Inc.) before
joining the faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004.
While at Texas A&M, research projects
have been developed and executed as a
member the Reproductive Sciences Labor(continued on page 14)
Members of the Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, from left to right: Kylee Veazey, Matt Snyder, Sierra Francis, Mark
Westhusin, Hanah Georges, Chuck Long, Will Skiles, Garrett Stribling, Neetu Singh, Katherine Leggett, Mike Golding, Andrew Cromwell, Lisbeth Ramirez and Daria Muller.
PAGE
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In Memorium: Marcel Amstalden, DVM, PHD
Confocal microscopy
imaging of neuropeptide
Y projections to GnRH
neurons (above) and to
kisspeptin neurons
(below) in heifers fed to
gain body weight incorporate into vascular
structures in vitro. From
Dr. Amstalden's most
recent paper (See Alves
et al, Biol Reprod. 2014
Dec 10. [Epub ahead of
print])
Dr. Marcel Amstalden, scientist, teacher, mentor, colleague and friend passed away Wednesday September 3, 2014 as a result of a motor vehicle accident
near Hallettsville, TX. He had spent the day at the
Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station in Beeville conducting research and was returning home to College
Station. Memorial Services were held at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan on September 10.
Marcel was a caring, highly effective instructor of undergraduate, graduate and
veterinary students. His impact is evidenced by the significant awards acquired by
students that he mentored,
and through his recognition
by reproductive physiologists
and neuroendocrinologists
across the world for his
unique research on the neuroendocrine regulation of
puberty and cyclicity in female animals. Dr. Amstalden
was the current Chair of the
Interdisciplinary Faculty of
Reproductive Biology at
TAMU and was an active
member of the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Neuroscience. He co-instructed a
graduate reproductive biology course and was the lead
professor for the ANSC 434 Animal Reproduction
Management course. At the time of his accident, Marcel was Associate Professor of Animal Science in the
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Adjunct
Associate Professor of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine. & Biomedical
Sciences .
Dr. Amstalden was born March 9, 1970 in Marilia,
São Paulo, Brazil to Francisco and Beatriz Lex Amstalden. He grew up in Assis, São Paulo where he was
involved with his family’s business and cattle operation.
In December 1992, Marcel graduated from the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil with
a Degree in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Amstalden was
honored by the College of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, and São Paulo, Brazil
for outstanding performance in Large Animal Medicine.
Following graduation, he practiced herd health and reproductive management of beef cattle and horses in the
state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil from 1992-1997,
and from 1995-1997 was employed by the São Bernardo Veterinary Clinic in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso
do Sul, Brazil. He then made the decision to leave clinical practice and come to the U.S. to pursue graduate
work in reproduction. From 1998-2003, Marcel served
as a graduate research and teaching assistant in the
Texas A&M Physiology of Reproduction graduate pro-
gram and was awarded M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in 2000
and 2003, respectively. His award-winning graduate
research was conducted at the Texas A&M AgriLife
Research station in Beeville, TX and in the Department
of Animal Science in College Station under the direction
of his mentor, close friend and collaborator Dr. Gary
Williams. While a graduate student at TAMU, he was
the only 3-time recipient of the Mauro Procknor Memorial Award (2000, 2001,
2002) for excellence in teaching, research and service. He
was also awarded the Dr.
A.M. Sorenson, Jr. Achievement Award for excellence in
doctoral research in 2003.
Upon graduation from TAMU,
Dr. Amstalden was a postdoctoral research fellow from
2004-2005 in neuroendocrinology at the University of
Cincinnati’s College of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio. This
was followed by a visiting
professorship at the Federal
University of Mato Grosso do
Sul, Brazil during 2006 before
joining TAMU’s Department
of Animal Science as an assistant professor.
Marcel’s research was
highly relevant to both livestock production and human
reproductive health. Thus, he had become a popular
invited speaker at major conferences both nationally
and internationally. In fact, he had just returned from a
speaking engagement in Obihiro, Japan a few days before his death. His research was supported by grants
from USDA-NIFA and the NIH. In his brief career, he
published 40 peer-reviewed papers, as well as numerous
book chapters and popular press articles. He served on
the Editorial Boards for the Journal of Endocrinology
and Domestic Animal Endocrinology, and was an active
member of the Society for the Study of Reproduction,
American Neuroendocrine Society, Endocrine Society,
and American Society of Animal Science. Students remember Marcel as demanding, yet kind with high expectations and a caring, gentle smile. Colleagues remember
Marcel as an excellent yet modest scientist, an outstanding friend who got things done, and someone always true to his word—a quiet professional.
Marcel married the love of his life Katia in 1997, in
Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. They were
blessed by the birth of beautiful daughters Sophia in
2003 and Clara in 2005. Marcel was a loving husband
and caring father. He is survived by his wife, Katia Zandonade Amstalden, daughters Sophia and Clara, parents
Francisco and Beatriz Lex Amstalden of Campo Grande,
MS, Brazil, sister Marcia Martins of Curitiba, PR, Brazil
and a large extended family.
2014,
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5
IFRB Seminar Series, Fall 2014
The IFRB Seminar Series, Reproducof Ultralong CDR3 ‘Cattlebodies’” Hosted by
tive Biology Forum, has been held weekly
Dr. Michael Criscitiello.
during the Fall and Spring Semesters since
October 17 Reproductive Biology Re1990. The 2014 IFRB Seminar Series, coorditreat (Coordinator: Drs. Greg Johnson
nated by Dr. Qinglei Li, continues to proand Gary Newton.
vide an excellent combination of seminars
Minisymposium speakers: Dr. Gary Wilfrom internationally recognized reproductive
liams, Animal Reproduction Laboratorybiologists from outside and inside the univerTexas A&M AgriLife Research Center, Beesity along with advanced IFRB trainees:
ville “Nutritional Programming of Puberty in
Heifers: Neuroendocrine Basis and ManageSeptember 19 Special seminar co-sponsored
rial Strategies”
by IFRB and TIGM, Dr. Andrew Syvyk,
Dr. Mike Golding, Department of Veterinary
University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Physiology & Pharmacology, “Epigenetic
Center in Dallas, “Transgenesis via SperProgramming and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome”
matogonial Stem Cell” Hosted by Dr.
Trainee speakers: Kithiram Sivakumar,
Benjamin Morpurgo.
“Gestational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium and Premature Ovarian Failure.”
September 26 Dr.
Leticia Vivani, DVM, “The HVCN1 Proton
Franco DeMayo,
Channel and Intracellular pH Regulation in
Baylor College of
Equine Sperm”
Medicine,
Ashley Keith, “Adaptive Placental Responses
“Molecular Interacto Nutrient Restriction in Ewes”
tions Regulating
Yang Gao, “Constitutive Activation
Uterine Function,”
of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Type 1
Hosted by Dr.
Receptor in Mouse Uterus Impairs Uterine
Qinglei Li.
Morphology and Function”
Dr. R.O. Berry Memorial Lecture
October 3 Dr. Benjamin Morpurgo,
(Coordinator: Dr. Fuller Bazer).
Texas A&M University, “Transgenic Mouse Dr. Duane C. Kraemer¸ Veterinary Physioland ES cells Resources and Services for
ogy & Pharmacology, “Memories of Dr. RayTAMUS Research,” Hosted by Dr. Marcel
mond O. Berry.”
Amstalden.
Dr. Sarah Robertson, University of Adelaide,
October 10 Dr. Heewon Seo (Postdoc),
Australia, “The immune response at concepTexas A&M University, “Enrichment of
tion – impact on fetal growth and reproducpolymerized actin and myofibroblast differtive success,” Hosted by Dr. Fuller Bazer.
entiation are associated with morphogene- October 24 Dr. Mary A Ottinger, Universisis of uterine-placental villi in pigs,” Hosted
ty of Houston. “Aging and the Environment:
by Dr. Greg Johnson.
Lessons Learned from Birds and Primates,”
Thaddeus Deiss (Grad student)
Hosted by Dr. Fuller Bazer
“Development
October 31 Dr. Weston Porter, Texas A&M
University, “Regulation of Metabolic Adaptation in Mammary Gland Development and
Breast Cancer,” Hosted by Dr. Greg Johnson.
November 7 Dr. Joanne
Richards, Baylor College
of Medicine, “Tumor
repressor protein (p53)
and steroid hormone
regulation of in ovarian
epithelial cancer progression and metastasis,”
Hosted by Dr. Qinglei
Li
November 14 Dr. Brandie Taylor, Texas
A&M Health Science Center, “Mid-pregnancy
maternal leptin in women with preeclampsia
and normotensive pregnant women,” Hosted
by Dr. Qinglei Li.
November 21 Dr. Teresa K Woodruff, Feinberg School of Medicine,
Northwestern University, “Emerging Opportunities in Oncofertility Practice and Research,”
Hosted by Dr. Sakhila
Banu.
IRFB Faculty Activities, Awards, etc.
NEW GRANTS:
*Dr. Ashlee Watts received a grant from the American Quarter Horse
Association, ““Developing a Technique for Stem Cell Tracking via 19F MRI
and a Fluorocarbon Label” 10/14 - 9/15
*Dr. Brandie Taylor received three new grants: American Sexually
Transmitted Disease Association Developmental Award, “Host genetic
susceptibility to chlamydia-associated reproductive morbidity,” 7/14 - 6/16
Texas Census Research Data Center Small Grant, “Identification of population level variants associated with adverse reproductive and pregnancy
outcomes.” 7/14 - 6/15
Texas A&M University-CONACYT Collaborative Research Grant,
“Identification of Mycoplasma genitalium and its correlates in Mexican
women”, Brandie Taylor (Co-PI), Fernando Martín Guerra Infante (Co-PI),
Marcela López Hurtado (Co-I), Roberto Villagrana Zesati (Co-I), María de
Jesús de Haro Cruz (co-I), 9/14 - 08/15
*Dr. Nancy H. Ing received a USDA NIFA grant, “Queen supersedure in honey bees: How do agricultural pesticides impair fertility
in queens and drones?” She is CoPI with Dr. Juliana Rangel-Posada,
4/15 to 3/18.
*Dr. Chuck Long received a grant from the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation Grand Challenges, “Single dose, multivalent vaccine for zoonotic diseases,” 5/1/14 to 4/30/16, $100,000. Co-Is are
Luciana Bertolini (UNIFOR), Angela Arenas (Texas A&M), Matthew
Wheeler (U. Illinois).
*Dr. Gary R. Newton received a USDA NIFA grant, “Acquisition
of Equipment for the Shared Nutrition Research Facility.” 4/1/15 3/31/16. The equipment will be used to establish a multi-user regional core facility on the University research and demonstration farm at
the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, Prairie View A&M
University.
(continued on page 12)
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Trainee Spotlight: Xiaoqiu (Churchill)Wang
Xiaoqiu (Churchill)
Wang, is a doctoral candidate in Physiology of Reproduction under the mentorship
of Drs. Fuller W. Bazer
and Guoyao Wu.
He received his B.S. degree in Animal Science from
China Agricultural University
(Beijing, China) before joining
Texas A&M University as a
graduate student. Embryonic
mortality is a major constraint
to reproductive performance
in all mammalian species.
Estimates of embryonic death
in sheep, other ruminants, and most mammals range
from 20 to 40%, with two-thirds of those losses occurring during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. During the peri-implantation period of pregnancy in ungulates, the conceptus undergoes dramatic morphological transitions from spherical to
tubular to filamentous forms immediately prior to
implantation. This process is highly correlated with
the composition of histotroph, which represents
uterine secretions from luminal
(LE) and glandular epithelium
(GE) of the uterus. It includes
enzymes, growth factors, adhesion proteins, cytokines, hormones, transport proteins, amino acids, glucose and fructose.
Therefore, Churchill’s research
has been focusing on the functional roles of histotroph
[arginine, secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) and fructose] on
mammalian conceptus development during peri-implantation
period of pregnancy. He designed morpholino antisense
oligonucleotide (MAO) for in vivo translational
knockdown of mRNAs of arginine related gene transcripts: (1) arginine transporter, SLC7A1; (2) nitric
oxide synthase, NOS3; (3) ornithine decarboxylase,
ODC1, in ovine peri-implantation conceptuses.
Knockdown of SLC7A1 mRNA completely inhibited
conceptus development, whereas knockdown of
NOS3 mRNA partially retarded conceptus
(continued on page 8)
47th Annual SSR Meeting
The 47th Annual Meeting of
the Society for the Study of
Reproduction was held 19-23
July 2014 at the DeVos Place,
in Grand Rapids, MI. This
year's theme, Fertility: A
Global Challenge, highlighted
the impact reproductive science has on the environment,
wildlife species, domesticated
animals, human fertility, and
population growth, as well as
their interaction with one another.
The IFRB was again well represented at the meeting with reports
involving 13 faculty members and
18 trainees. Faculty from TAMU
contributing to papers presented
included Drs. Marcel Amstalden, Joe Arosh, Sakhila
Banu, Kayla J. Bayless, Fuller
W. Bazer, Robert C.
Burghardt, Scott Dindot,
Kathrin Dunlap, Greg A. Johnson, Qinglei Li, M. Carey Satterfield, Gary L. Williams, and
Guoyao Wu
Trainee participants included
Bruna RC Alves, Rodolfo C
Cardoso, Hannah M Del Cur-
to, James W Frank, Yang Gao,
Irene Ruiz-Gonzalez, Ashley B
Keith, Shu Li, Gang Lin, Alyssa
L Miller, Heewon Seo, Chelsie
Steinhouser, Yongfeng Sun,
Kayley R Wall, Jing Xu,
Xiaoqiu Wang, Ying Wei, and
Xiaoling Zhu.
One of our IFRB trainees
was the recipient of a major
SSR award. Rodolfo Cardoso
(far left in picture) was a awarded
the 2014 Animal Research in Reproduction Fellowships from the
USDA. He was also a finalist in the
Trainee Research Competition (Platform).
Recipients of the
Larry Ewing Memorial
Trainee Travel Fund
Awards (LEMTTF), administered by the Trainee Affairs Committee
were Chelsie Burroughs Steinhouser,
Rodolfo Cardoso,
Yang Gao, Xiaoqiu
(Churchill) Wang,
Jing (Jean) Xu, Wei
(Eddie) Ying.
These same students
reived travel awards provided by the
IFRB with funding provided by the
Texas A&M University Division of
Research and Deans of the Colleges
of Agriculture and Life Sciences and
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences. Trainees supported included Two other trainees, Brittni Littlejohn and Meghan Roberts,
received travel awards to attend the
Joint Meeting of the American Dairy
Science Association/American Society
of Animal Science, July 20-24, 2014 in
Kansas City, MO.
2014,
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A Snapshot of IFRB Research, Fall 2014
The IFRB is recognized as one of the most
productive interdisciplinary research and
education programs in reproductive biology in the U.S. The following “snapshot”
of research productivity illustrates the
multiple investigator research activities
of the IFRB involving extensive participation of trainees during the 6 month period June 1 to December , 2014:
Abbey CA, Bayless KJ. Matrix density alters zyxin
phosphorylation, which limits peripheral process formation and extension in endothelial
cells invading 3D collagen matrices. Matrix Biol.
2014 Sep;38:36-47.
Alves BR, Cardoso RC, Prezotto LD, Thorson JF,
Bedenbaugh M, Sharpton SM, Caraty A, Keisler
DH, Tedeschi LO, Williams GL, Amstalden M.
Elevated body weight gain during the juvenile
period alters neuropeptide Y-gonadotropinreleasing hormone circuitry in prepubertal heifers. Biol Reprod. 2014 Dec 10. [Epub ahead of
print]
Amstalden M, Cardoso RC, Alves BR, Williams
GL. Reproduction Symposium: hypothalamic
neuropeptides and the nutritional programming
of puberty in heifers. J Anim Sci. 2014 Aug;92
(8):3211-22
Assaad H, Yao K, Tekwe CD, Feng S, Bazer FW,
Zhou L, Carroll RJ, Meininger CJ, Wu G. Analysis of energy expenditure in diet-induced obese
rats. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2014; 19:967985.
Bae H, Lim W, Bae SM, Bazer FW, Choi Y, Song
G. Avian prostatic acid phosphatase: Estrogen
regulation in the oviduct and epithelial cellderived ovarian carcinomas. Biol Reprod 2014;
91:3.
Bae SM, Lim W, Jeong W, Lee JY, Kim J, Han JY,
Bazer FW, Song G. Hormonal regulation of
beta-catenin during development of the avian
oviduct and its expression in epithelial cellderived ovarian carcinogenesis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 382:46-54.
Bae SM, Lim W, Jeong W, Kim J, Bazer FW, Song
G. Expression and regulation of avian cathepsin
L in the oviduct during molting. Gen Comp
Endocrinol 2014; 204C:88-94.
Bazer FW, Wu G, Johnson GA, Wang X. Environmental factors affecting pregnancy: Endocrine disrupters, nutrients and metabolic pathways. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2014 Dec;398(12):53-68.
Bernstein LR, Mackenzie AC, Kraemer DC, Morley JE, Farr S, Chaffin CL, Merchenthaler I.
Shortened estrous cycle length, increased FSH
levels, FSH variance, oocyte spindle aberrations,
and early declining fertility in aging senescenceaccelerated mouse prone-8 (SAMP8) mice:
concomitant characteristics of human midlife
female reproductive aging. Endocrinology. 2014
Jun;155(6):2287-300.
Bordin AI, Pillai SD, Brake C, Bagley KB, Bour-
quin JR, Coleman M, Oliveira FN, Mwangi W,
McMurray DN, Love CC, Felippe MJ, Cohen
ND. Immunogenicity of an electron beam
inactivated Rhodococcus equi vaccine in neonatal foals. PLoS One. 2014 Aug 25;9
(8):e105367.
Bruner-Tran KL, Ding T, Yeoman KB, Archibong A, Arosh JA, Osteen KG. Developmental exposure of mice to dioxin promotes
transgenerational testicular inflammation and
an increased risk of preterm birth in unexposed mating partners. PLoS One. 2014 Aug
15;9(8):e105084.
Cardoso RC, Alves BR, Prezotto LD, Thorson
JF, Tedeschi LO, Keisler DH, Amstalden M,
Williams GL. Reciprocal changes in leptin and
NPY during nutritional acceleration of puberty in heifers. J Endocrinol. 2014 Dec;223
(3):289-98.
Cardoso RC, Alves BR, Prezotto LD, Thorson
JF, Tedeschi LO, Keisler DH, Park
CS, Amstalden M, Williams GL. Use of a stair
-step compensatory gain nutritional regimen
to program the onset of puberty in beef heifers. J Anim Sci. 2014 Jul;92(7):2942-9.
Chang CA, Ying W, Bazer FW, Zhou B. MicroRNAs control macrophage formation and
activation: The inflammatory link between
obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Cells
2014; 3:702-712.
Choi YH, Velez IC, Macías-García B, Hinrichs
K. Effect of oocyte maturation duration on
blastocyst rates after equine somatic cell
nuclear transfer. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2014
Dec;27(1):112.
Culumber ZW, Ochoa OM, Rosenthal GG.
Assortative mating and the maintenance of
population structure in a natural hybrid zone.
Am Nat. 2014 Aug;184(2):225-32.
Dai Z, Wu Z, Wang J, Wang X, Jia S, Bazer
FW, Gu G. Guoyao Wu Analysis of polyamines in biological samples by HPLC involving
pre-column derivatization with ophthalaldehyde and N-acetyl-L-cysteine.
Amino Acids 2014; 46:1557-1564.
Dai Z, Wu Z, Jia S, Wu G. Analysis of amino
acid composition in proteins of animal tissues
and foods as pre-column o-phthaldialdehyde
derivatives by HPLC with fluorescence detection. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed
Life Sci. 2014 Aug 1;964:116-27.
De Miranda BR, Popichak KA, Hammond SL,
Miller JA, Safe S, Tjalkens RB. Novel ParaPhenyl Substituted Diindolylmethanes Protect
Against MPTP Neurotoxicity and Suppress
Glial Activation in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease. Toxicol Sci. 2014 Nov 17. pii:
kfu236. [Epub ahead of print]
Faucette AN, Maher VA, Gutierrez MA, Jucker
JM, Yates DC, Welsh TH Jr, Amstalden M,
Newton GR, Nuti LC, Forrest DW, Ing NH.
Temporal changes in histomorphology and
gene expression in goat testes during
postnatal development. J Anim Sci. 2014
Oct;92(10):4440-8.
Forde N, Simintiras CA, Sturmey R, Mamo
S, Kelly AK, Spencer TE, Bazer FW, Lonergan P. Amino Acids in the uterine luminal fluid reflects the temporal changes
in transporter expression in the endometrium and conceptus during early pregnancy in cattle. PLoS One 2014;9
(6):e100010.I
Gao Y, Duran S, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ,
Burghardt RC, Bayless KJ, Bartholin L, Li
Q. Constitutive activation of Transforming Growth Factor beta Type 1 Receptor
in the mouse uterus Impairs uterine morphology and function. Biol Reprod. 2014
Dec 10. pii: biolreprod.114.125146.
PMID: 25505200.
Ghaffari N, Sanchez-Flores A, Doan R,
Garcia-Orozco KD, Chen PL, OchoaLeyva A, Lopez-Zavala AA, Carrasco JS,
Hong C, Brieba LG, Rudiño-Piñera E,
Blood PD, Sawyer JE, Johnson CD, Dindot SV, Sotelo-Mundo RR, Criscitiello
MF. Novel transcriptome assembly and
improved annotation of the whiteleg
shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), a dominant crustacean in global seafood mariculture. Sci Rep. 2014 Nov 25;4:7081.
ng NH, Forrest DW, Riggs PK, Loux S,
Love CC, Brinsko SP, Varner DD, Welsh
TH Jr. Dexamethasone acutely downregulates genes involved in steroidogenesis in stallion testes. J Steroid Biochem
Mol Biol. 2014 Sep;143:451-9.
Ing NH, Forrest DW, Love CC, Varner
DD. Dense spermatozoa in stallion ejaculates contain lower concentrations of
mRNAs encoding the sperm specific calcium channel 1, ornithine decarboxylase
antizyme 3, aromatase, and estrogen receptor alpha than less dense spermatozoa. Theriogenology. 2014 Jul 15;82
(2):347-53.
Ing NH, Berghman L, Abi-Ghanem D, Abbas K, Kaushik A, Riggs PK, Puschett JB.
Marinobufagenin regulates permeability
and gene expression of brain endothelial
cells. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp
Physiol. 2014 Jun 15;306(12):R918-24.
Ing, N. H., S. P. Brinsko, K. O. Curley, D.
W. Forrest, C. C. Love, K. Hinrichs, M. M
Vogelsang, D. D. Varner, T. H. Welsh, Jr.
Dexamethasone acutely regulates endocrine parameters in stallions and subsequently affects gene expression in testicular germ cells. Anim. Reprod. Sci. (2014
Dec 2. pii: S0378-4320(14)00369-8.
Jin UH, Lee SO, Pfent C, Safe S. The aryl
hydrocarbon receptor ligand omeprazole
(continued on page 13)
PAGE
8
Churchill Wang, Trainee Spotlight cont’d. from page 6
development. ODC1 knock down created two subphenotypes (healthy and unhealthy ones with both ODC1 enzymatic protein being knocked-down). Interestingly, this phenomenon provided the opportunity for him
to discover the novel and alternative arginine decarboxylase/agmatinase pathway for polyamine biosynthesis in
sheep. The ongoing study is to further understand the
mechanism (imprinted gene or sex determined gene)
that regulates their ability for activation of this novel
pathway.
Further studies conducted by Churchill have demonstrated that arginine added into culture medium at physiological concentrations stimulates an established ovine
trophectoderm cell line isolated from day 15 ovine conceptuses (oTr1) cell proliferation and protein synthesis
via its metabolism of arginine to NO and polyamines, but
putrescine in particular. Arginine also stimulates IFNT
production exclusively via the polyamine biosynthesis
pathway. These beneficial effects of arginine are achieved
via stimulation of the MTOR cell signaling pathway involving TSC2 phosphorylation. Churchill also investigated the existence of cooperative effects of arginine and
SPP1 on proliferation, migration and adhesion of oTr1
cells and tested the cell signaling pathways hypothesized
to be responsible for those effects of arginine and SPP1
(i.e., MTOR1C for proliferation and MTORC2 for cytoskeleton reorganization of oTr1 cells [see Figure at left]).
Left: Immunocytochemical analyses revealed striking individual and synergistic effects of arginine and
rSPP1 on cytoskeleton reorganization of ovine
trophectoderm (oTr1) cells at 24 h of treatment
which is reflected in the pattern of staining for tubulin and cell spreading. Width of field, 220 nm
His findings provide important insights into understanding orchestrated events between the conceptus
and uterus during peri-implantation period of pregnancy.
Placentae of pigs and ruminants are fructogenic as
glucose not metabolized immediately is converted into
fructose by trophectoderm cells and stored in allantoic
fluid. Studies conducted by Churchill and colleagues
demonstrated the functional roles of fructose in stimulating oTr1 cell development via the hexosamine-Akt/
PKB-TSC2-MTOR cell signaling cascade. This novel
work revealed the mechanisms for conceptus survival,
growth and development in response to histotroph,
and advances insights into the roles of glucose and fructose in improving reproductive performance in sheep
and pigs.
While at Texas A&M, Churchill has published ten
papers (four first-author and six co-author peerreviewed research papers). Eight additional manuscripts
with Churchill as the first author are in review or in
preparation. In addition, he has presented the results of
his studies at several national and international scientific
meetings, including annual meetings of the Society for
the Study of Reproduction (SSR) and the 2014 Gordon
Research Conference (GRC) on Mammalian Reproduction. Churchill has also served as a Graduate Teaching
Assistant for ANSC 433 from 2013-2014 and is currently a Tom Slick Senior Graduate Fellow. He was
selected to participate in the Frontiers in Reproduction
(FIR) course, as well as the Stem Cell and Regeneration
(SCARE) course at Woods Hole, MA in 2014. Churchill
appreciates the advice and guidance from all members
of his graduate supervisory committee including Drs.
Fuller W. Bazer, Guoyao Wu, Robert C. Burghardt,
Greg A. Johnson, Beiyan Zhou, and Qinglei Li, as well as
grant support from United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture.
Reproductive Biology and One Health cont’d.
Frontiers of Epigenomics and Metabolomics are Intertwined in Reproductive Biology. Research is underway at Texas A&M University that will enhance the One
Health theme through expertise and research into
epigenomics and metabolomics affecting health and well
-being of humans and animals. The genome is the hard
drive of the body, but the epigenome is the software
that regulates expression of genes within the genome to
predispose humans and animals to a healthy life or one
savaged by chronic disease. One Health focus on developmental origins of health and diseases and effects of
obesegens on developmental reprogramming that epigenetically modifies the genome to cause obesity and diabetes that affects over one-half of adults in Texas. The
“One Health” concept recognizes that animal health
and human health are inextricably linked through systems biology research.
The human and livestock genome projects are
providing revolutionary insights for improving human and
animal health. Through the integration of scholarship in
genomics biology, physiological epigenomics and metabolomics the goal is to ensure that our global society has an
abundant, affordable and safe food supply that will continue
to be the essential foundation for human and animal health,
economic stability and political stability for improved quality
of life worldwide. We seek to strengthen our Program in
Uterine Biology, Nutrition and Pregnancy with established
leaders in Physiological Epigenomics and Metabolomics offers an unprecedented opportunity to capitalize on the
“One Health” concept of linking basic and translational research in animal agriculture, veterinary medicine and human
medicine.
Research and graduate education that advances the One
Health theme will gain success from capitalizing on our vast
knowledge of animals to improve people's lives Texans' lives
and the economy of Texas, as well as our global society.
2012,
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9
20th Annual Dr. Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecture
The Twentieth Annual Dr. Raymond O. Berry Memorial
Lecture was held at the Veranda, Bryan, TX on October
21, 2014. Dr. Sara Robertson, Director of Robinson Institute and Research Program Leader, Reproductive Immunology Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Medical School North, University of Adelaide,
Adelaide, Australia was selected by a vote of IFRB faculty
to present the Lecture entitled, “The immune response at
conception – impact on fetal growth and reproductive success.”
Dr. Robertson’s research focus is centered on three related
themes: Cytokine and leukocyte control of conception and early
pregnancy; Maternal immune regulation of success and quality of
embryo implantation, placental development and reproductive outcome; and Male seminal fluid signaling in the female reproductive
tract. She is working to define how events at the time of conception impact pregnancy and fetal development, and the health of the
child after birth. In particular she studies the role of cytokines and
the immune response in regulating embryo development and implantation. She has a major interest in the immune adaptation required to support healthy fetal development and prevent pathologies of pregnancy such as miscarriage, preeclampsia and preterm
delivery. She holds patents in various countries around the world
(NHMRC). She was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Reproductive Immunology from 2008-2013 and has served on the Editorial Board of Biology of Reproduction, and is currently on the Editorial Boards of Reproduction and the
Journal of Reproductive Immunology.
The Annual Raymond O. Barry Lecture series is held in honor of Dr. Raymond O. Barry, a member
of the faculty of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas from
1931 to 1960 who contributed significantly to establishment of the discipline of
Reproductive Immunology
through his pioneering
studies involving embryo
transfer to evaluate genetic
factors affecting reproduction.
Right: Dr. Fuller Bazer
presented Dr. Sara Robertson with a plaque
commemorating her
presentation as the
Twentieth Annual Dr.
Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecturer.
Left: (From left to right: Dr. Joe McLemore, Obstetrician / Gynecologist in Houston ,Texas, Dr. Gary Newton, Co-organizer of
the IFRB retreat, Dr. Chuck Long, Chair, IFRB, Dr. Sara Robertson, 20th Lecturer in the Series, Dr. Fuller W. Bazer, Organizer
of the Annual Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecture, and Dr.
Greg Johnson, Co-organizer of the IFRB Retreat which was held
in conjunction with the Lecture.
for reproductive technologies, and has collaborated with industry
partners to successfully develop a new treatment for miscarriage,
which is now on the international market. EmbryoGen is a GM-CSF
-containing treatment product for miscarriage, and was developed
in collaboration with Origio A/S (Denmark) based on Professor
Robertson's prior research findings. In 2012, it was introduced into
the American market after receiving approval from the US Food
and Drug Administration.
Dr. Robertson’s work is funded by Project grants and a Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council of
Australia, the Australian Research Council, The Canadian Institutes
of Health Research and the Gates Foundation. She has authored
and co-authored over 130 peer-reviewed scientific journal papers
and reviews and has won numerous awards, including the 2013
Senior Investigator Award of the European Society for Reproductive Immunology and Founder's Lecturer, Society for Reproductive
Biology, She is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology and
the recipient of the Society for Reproductive Biology RCRH Award
for Excellence in Reproductive Biology Research and serves on the
Academy of the National Health and Medical Research Council
Dr. Berry made many contributions to the fields of Reproductive Biology and Genetics. Pioneering work of Dr. Berry and his colleagues involved
embryo transfer to study sheep/goat hybrids. Dr. Berry and colleagues made the
first successful intra-species transfer of a
goat embryo in 1932 and a successful intraspecies sheep embryo transfer in 1933.
Until that time, embryo transfer had been
limited to rats and rabbits. Dr. Berry's research produced pregnancies from interspecies transfer of embryos between sheep and
goats, but none was carried to term.
Through these results, he was perhaps the
first to demonstrate that the uterus is not
an immunologically privileged site. Pregnancy failure does result because the uterus of the
“Dr. Berry’s pioneering
goat rejects fetal-placental tissues of sheep and
studies contributed basic
vice versa. Since that time scientists have determined that the trophoblast (placenta) associated knowledge about
with an embryo must be immunologically commaternal immune
patible with the mother. Therefore, a goat emrecognition of the fetal
bryo will develop to term in a ewe if the early
embryo is manipulated to insure that it has sheep placental unit.”
trophoblast (placenta) and sheep/goat chimeras
-Fuller W. Bazer
(continued on page 16)
PAGE
10
IFRB Trainee News
Top: Constitutively active Transforming Growth
Factor b Type 1
Receptor in the
mouse uterus impairs uterine morphology and function (lower panel)
compared to wild
type (upper panel)
including formation of hypermuscled uteri.
Bottom: TGFβ
signaling promotes
uterine smooth
muscle gene expression following
SMAD2/3 nuclear
translocation.
(From Gao et al.
Biol Reprod 2014,
Dec 10, [Epub
ahead of print],
graduate student
in Dr. Q. Li’s lab).
*Shawna Peer recently joined the
laboratory of Dr. Nancy H. Ing as an
M.S. student Shawna earned a B.S. in
Biology from Augustana College in
Rock, Island Illinois while interning at
several veterinary clinics and the
Rock Island county animal shelter.
Her interests are in reproductive
physiology and molecular biology. In
Dr. Ing’s lab she has been exploring
the GSTA3 gene in a variety of species to further understand the mechanisms of action of the GSTA3 enzyme in the testosterone biosynthesis pathway.
Several trainees recently joined the laboratory of
Dr. Beiyan Zhou:
*Alexander Tseng, MD/PhD
student from the Texas A&M
Health Science Center. He will
focus on investigating the impact of
obesity on mesenchymal stem cells.
He has successfully identified the
primary cell-population enriched for
mesenchymal stem cells and characterized their frequency in mouse fat
pads. Further investigations will
generate whole-genome transcriptome profiles and employ both in
vivo and in vitro systems to dissect the epigenetic and genomic alternations.
*Andrew Morin is working on an
M.S. degree in BIMS/VTPP. He is currently applying Crisper/Cas9 technique to generate microRNA knockout cells, including cultured and primary hematopoetic stem cells, and
investigate their function during blood
cell formation and cancerous transformation.
*Alzahra Alshayeb is a Ph.D. trainee who is working
to elucidate the genes that regulating hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation by analyzing Next-Generation
Sequencing datasets.
*Hannah
Crawford is a technician/lab
manager and an M.S. student
who is experienced in veterinary/animal handling. She is very
organized in managing and outgoing member in the lab. She is
also working on a small project
to understand feline cancer
development by generating and
analyzing a set of NextGeneration Sequencing data from feline tumors.
*Regan Puckett, joined the
laboratory this summer and is
the 5th undergraduate student
in Dr. Zhou’s laboratory who is
actively pursuing research
goals. Regan is under the mentorship of Alexander Tseng to
understand impact of obesity
on mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. She is also a Undergraduate Research Honor
Scholar (TAMU).
*Heewon Seo, PhD, postdoctoral fellow working with Drs.
Greg Johnson and Kayla
Bayless gave an invited platform presentation, “ Focal adhesion-anchored stress fibers
and differentiation of fibroblast
into myofibroblast are associated with morphogenesis of uterine-placental villi in pigs” at the
Mechanotransduction in the
Reproductive Tract Meeting, Durham, NC, Oct. 14-15.
Three trainees recently complete their graduate
programs in the laboratories of Drs. Marcel Amstalden and Gary Williams:
*Rodolfo Cardoso defended his
dissertation, “Nutritional Programming
of Puberty in Heifers” in May and graduated in August, 2014. He is currently
an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at the
University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI.
*Bruna Alves
defended her dissertation, “Nutritional Programming of
Neuroendocrine Pathways Controlling
Onset of Puberty in Heifers” in May
and graduated in August, 2014.She is
currently a research
scientist with Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation
(Embrapa Gado de Leite), Juiz de Fora,
Brazil.
*Michelle Bedenbaugh defended
her M.S. thesis, “Regulation of ESR1 in
Kisspeptin Neurons during Reproductive Maturation in Ewe Lambs” in Dec,
2014. She is currently a Ph.D. student at West Virginia
University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV.
*Meghan Roberts and Brittni Littlejohn working in
the laboratories of Drs. Ron Randel and Thomas H.
Welsh, Jr completed Physiology of Reproduction M.S.
degrees in December, 2014. Megan’s thesis was ,”Postnatal
growth, feeding behavior, and sexual development of prenatally stressed Brahman bulls.” Brittni’s thesis was
““Endogenous cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone secretion and GnRH-induced LH and testosterone secretion in prenatally stressed sexually mature
Brahman bulls.”
2014,
ISSUE
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PAGE
11
8th Annual IFRB Retreat and Outreach Activity, 2014
The 8th Annual IFRB Retreat was held
on October 17, 2014 in conjunction with the
20th Annual Dr. Raymond O. Berry Memorial Lecture. Over 90 IRFB faculty and trainees from the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine
& Biomedical Sciences and Agriculture and
Life Sciences, College of Medicine, and Prairie View A&M plus guests participated in the
Retreat which was held at the Navasota
Civic Center, Navasota, TX. The meeting
was dedicated to the exceptional efforts of
Dr. Marcel Amstalden, to advance research, teaching, and service to the IFRB and
our community. The organizers of the retreat were Drs. Gary Newton from Prairie
View A&M and Greg Johnson, Assistant
Professor, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences.
Highlights of the Retreat included a
touching dedication of the meeting to Dr.
Amstalden by Dr. Tom Welsh. Dr. Katia
Amstalden and their two daughters, Sophia,
and Clara attended the dedication. Minisymposia were presented by IFRB Faculty : Dr.
Gary Williams, “Nutritional programming
of Puberty in Heifers: Neuroendocrine basis
and managerial strategies,” and Dr. Mike
Golding, “Epigenetic programming and fetal
alcohol syndrome.” Dr. Williams presentation highlighted the long-standing collaboration with Dr. Amstalden from trainee to
colleague over the past 16 years.
Trainee presentations included: Joan
Stanley, “Gestational exposure to hexavalent chromium and premature ovarian failure.” Leticia Vivani, DVM, “The HVCN1
proton channel and intracellular pH regulation in equine sperm.” Ashley Keith,
“Adaptive placental responses to nutrient
restriction in ewes,” Yang Gao, "Constitutive
activation of transforming growth factor-beta
type 1 receptor in mouse uterus impairs uterine
morphology and function.” There were also 35
posters presented by trainees during the retreat. This year, the retreat incorporated a new
outreach activity for over 40 students from
Navasota Independent School (NISD) district
interested in the sciences. The poster session
provided our current trainees an opportunity to
present their information to, and interact with,
potential future students from NISD. An information table, with application and scholarship
forms, was also available for NISD students. and
graduate students.
Undergraduate and graduate student trainees
did an excellent job representing our research
programs at Prairie View A&M University and
Texas A&M University.
Support for the 8th Annual IFRB
Retreat and Dr. Raymond O. Berry
Memorial Lecture was provided by Dr.
Eleanor E. Green, College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Alan
Sams, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Dr. Alton Johnson, College of Agrriculture, Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Evelyn Tiffany-Castiglioni, Department of
Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Dr. H.
Russell Cross, Department of Animal Science, Dr. John Stallone, Department of
Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Dr.
Paul Ogden, College of Medicine, and Dr.
Fuller Bazer, through his Distinguished
Professor account.
Top: More than 90 IFRB members participated at the 8th Annual IFRB Retreat
Bottom: Over 40 students from the Navasota Independent School District who are interested in
science attended the IFRB-sponsored outreach activity. The poster session provided our current
trainees an opportunity to present their information to, and interact with, potential future students from NISD.
PAGE
12
IRFB Faculty Activities, Awards, etc. cont’d from page 7
Fluorescence and
overlay of fluorescence and DIC images showing uptake of labeled
exosomes isolated
from uterine flushiings of pregnant
ewes into ovine
trophectoderm
cells. The exosomes were shown
to contain mRNAs
for enJSRV-Env,
HSP70, interleukins
and interferonregulatory factors
derived from uterine endometrial
epithelial cells.
Exosomes liberated
into the uterine
lumen during early
pregnancy stimulate trophectoderm
cells to proliferate
and secrete IFNT
via components of
the TLR-mediated
signaling pathway
expressed in
trophectoderm
cells. (From RuisGonzalez, Reproduction 2014, Dec
19 [Epub ahead of
print], postdoctoral
fellow in Dr. F.W.
Bazer’s lab).
AWARDS & HONORS:
*Dr. Fuller W. Bazer received
the Morrison Award, the highest
award from the American Society of
Animal Science (2014).
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
*Dr. Marcel Amstalden was an
invited speaker at the I9th International Ruminant Reproduction Symposium, Obihiro, Japan, Aug 26,
2014. The title of his lecture was
“Kisspeptin neuronal networks in
pubertal development of domestic
female ruminants.”
*Dr. Young Ho Choi traveled to
Korea in Nov, 2014 and presented a
number of invited lectures including:
“Mare breeding management” College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Kwang-Ju,
S. Korea, November 3.
“Current progress in assisted reproductive technology in the horse”
College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chonnam National University,
Kwang-Ju, S. Korea, November 4.
“Mare breeding soundness examination” College of Veterinary Medicine,
Chungbuk National University,
Cheong-Ju, S. Korea, November 6.
“Update on cloning research in the
horse” College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University,
Seoul, S. Korea, November 10.
“Mare breeding management and
assisted reproductive technology”
College of Veterinary Medicine,
Seoul National University, Seoul, S.
Korea, November 13.
*Dr. Katrin Hinrichs was an invited speaker for the Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Animal
(CRRA) Seminar Seeries, University
of Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Dec 10, 2014.
Dr. Hinrichs also presented three
invited lectures earlier in the year
including, “Practical considerations in
equine assisted reproduction,” at the
Workshop on Advanced Equine Reproduction, Faculties of Agronomy
and Veterinary Science, University of
Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 31,
2014; “Equine intracytoplasmic
sperm injection (ICSI)” 2nd International Congress of the Sociedad Argentina de Tecnologías Embrionarias
(Argentine Society of Embryo Technologies), Buenos Aires, Argentina,
May 30, 2014: and “Assisted reproductive techniques in the horse” and
laboratory on oocyte collection, Master’s Program in Equine Reproduction, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain, May 12-13, 2014.
*Dr. Qinglei Li traveled to China
from October 26 -31, 2014 to present an invited plenary talk entitled,
“TGF-beta signaling in the female
reproductive tract development,
function, and disease,” at the 3rd
SKLRB Symposia on Frontiers in Reproductive Biology, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing, China. The symposia have provided an international
forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research in the
field of reproductive biology.
*Dr. Chuck Long presented the
following lectures: “Are cloned animals in fact identical?” European
COST, Epiconcept: Epigenetics and
Periconception Environment: CrossSpecies Epigenetics, Gametogenesis
and Embryogenesis. Faro, Portugal
Sept 30-Oct 2, 2014
“Transgenic livestock for agriculture
and biomedical applications.” 60th
Brazilian Congress of Genetics: SBG
and the Brazilian Genetics: 60 years
of history. Guarujá, São Paulo-SP,
Brazil Aug 26-29, 2024
Dr. Long was also Panel Moderator:
“Cloning and the impact of asynchronous regulation.” Second International Workshop for Regulation of Animal Biotechnology, Brasilia, Brazil Aug
18-21, 2014.
INVITED LECTURES
*Dr. Young Ho Choi attended
the Havemeyer Workshop, RM Kenney Equine Reproduction Symposium
II, Kennett Square, PA, Sept 27, 2014
and presented the following lecture
“Factors affecting blastocyst and live
birth rates after equine somatic cell
nuclear transfer.”
Dr. Choi also attended the Theriogenology Annual Conference and
Symposia, Portland, OR Aug 8, 2014
and presented, “Effect of early medium pH on equine embryo development in vitro after intracytoplasmic
sperm injection.”
*Dr. Greg Johnson was invited
again to serve as a faculty member in
the 2014, Frontiers in Reproduction
course at the Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, MA, 28
April - 8 June, 2014. He and Dr.
Tom Spencer presented sections on
Implantation, Development of Reproductive Tract and Transgenesis, and
Placental Structure.
*Dr. Qinglei Li was an invited
speaker in Department of Animal
Sciences, Michigan State University,
July 17, 2014. The title of his lecture
was “TGF-beta signaling in reproductive cancer.”
*Dr. Katrin Hinrichs presented
an invited lecture entitled, “The effect of mare age on efficiency of ICSI / in vitro embryo culture for foal
production” at the Havemeyer Foundation Workshop on Comparative
Aspects of Reproductive Aging in the
Mare and Woman, Estes Park, Colorado, Oct 10, 2014
She also presented “Opportunities in
Equine Assisted Reproduction” for
the TAMU Horsemen’s Association,
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, Oct 28, 2014
***********************************
IRFB International Scholar
*Dr. Bo Kang is a visiting scholar
who
joined the
lab of Dr.
Qinglei Li
in September 2014.
Bo is an
associate
professor
at the
College of
Animal
Science and Technology, Sichuan
Agricultural University, China. He is
interested in understanding the
mechanisms underpinning polyamine
regulation of ovarian granulosa cell
proliferation and apoptosis during
follicular development. His work in
Dr. Li’s lab focuses on defining the
role of key growth factor signaling
pathway in female reproduction and
development using transgenic mice as
a model system.
2014,
ISSUE
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PAGE
13
Research Snapshot, cont’d from page 7
inhibits breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis. BMC Cancer. 2014
Jul 9;14:498.
Johnson, L., T. H. Welsh Jr., K. O. Curley Jr., N. H. Ing, C. E. Johnston.
(2014) Anatomy and physiology of the male reproductive system and
potential targets of toxicants. In: M. Caplan (ed.) “Reference Model in
Biomedical Sciences” Waltham MA, Elsevier.
Ing, N. H. (2014) Post-transcriptional regulation of steroid hormone
receptors. In: Post-transcriptional Regulation of Endocrine Function
(eds. K. M. J. Menon and A. Goldstrum). Springer, NY (in press).
Jo G, Lim W, Bae SM, Bazer FW, Song G. Avian SERPINB12 expression
in the avian oviduct is regulated by estrogen and up-regulated in epithelial cell-derived ovarian carcinomas of laying hens. PLoS One. 2014;
9(7):e99792.
Johnson JB, Macedo DC, Passow CN, Rosenthal GG. Sexual ornaments,
body morphology, and swimming performance in naturally hybridizing
swordtails (teleostei: xiphophorus). PLoS One. 2014 15;9(10):e109025.
Johnson RR, Maldonado Bouchard S, Prentice TW, Bridegam P, Rassu F,
Young CR, Steelman AJ, Welsh TH Jr, Welsh CJ, Meagher MW. Neonatal experience interacts with adult social stress to alter acute and
chronic Theiler's virus infection. Brain Behav Immun. 2014 40:110-20.
Jutooru I, Guthrie AS, Chadalapaka G, Pathi S, Kim K, Burghardt R, Jin
UH, Safe S. Mechanism of action of phenethylisothiocyanate and other
reactive oxygen species-inducing anticancer agents. Mol Cell Biol. 2014
Jul;34(13):2382-95.
Kang P, Zhang L, Hou Y, Ding B, Yi D, Wang L, Zhu H, Liu Y, Yin Y, Wu
G. Effects of L-proline on the growth performance, and blood parameters in weaned Lipopolysaccharide (lps)-challenged pigs. AsianAustralas J Anim Sci. 2014 Aug;27(8):1150-6.
Kong X, Wang X, Yin Y, Li X, Gao H, Bazer FW, Wu G. Putrescine
stimulates the mTOR signaling pathway and protein synthesis in porcine trophectoderm cells. Biol Reprod. 2014 91:106.
Lee J, Stanley JA, McCracken JA, Banu SK, Arosh JA. Intrauterine coadministration of ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 inhibits interferon TAU action
in the endometrium and restores luteolytic PGF2alpha pulses in sheep.
Biol Reprod. 2014 Aug;91(2):46.
Lee SO, Li X, Hedrick E, Jin UH, Tjalkens RB, Backos DS, Li L, Zhang Y,
Wu Q, Safe S. Diindolylmethane analogs bind R4A1 and are NR4A1
antagonists in colon cancer cells. Mol Endocrinol. 2014 28(10):1729-39.
Li Q. Transforming growth factor β signaling in uterine development and
function. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2014 Nov 14;5(1):52
Lim W, Bae SM, Jo G, Bazer FW, Choi Y, Song G. Prostaglandin D2
synthase related to estrogen in the female reproductive tract. Biochem
Biophysical Res Commun 2014 Dec 2. pii: S0006-291X(14)02118-4.
Loux SC, Macías-Garcia B, González-Fernández L, DeSiqueira Canesin H,
Varner DD, Hinrichs K. Regulation of Axonemal motility in demembranated equine sperm. Biol Reprod. 2014 Oct 22. pii: biolreprod.114.122804. [Epub ahead of print]
Martino NA, Dell'Aquila ME, Uranio MF, Lampignano R, Lacalandra GM,
Hinrichs K. Temperature during overnight holding in meiosis inhibitorfree medium affects chromatin configuration and meiotic resumption in
equine oocytes. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2014 Dec;27(1):244.
McQueen CM, Doan R, Dindot SV, Bourquin JR, Zlatev ZZ, Chaffin MK,
Blodgett GP, Ivanov I, Cohen ND. Identification of genomic loci associated with Rhodococcus equi susceptibility in foals. PLoS One. 2014 Jun
3;9(6):e98710.
Miranda RC. MicroRNAs and ethanol toxicity. Int Rev Neurobiol.
2014;115:245-84.
Nair V, Sreevalsan S, Basha R, Abdelrahim, Abudayyeh A, Rodrigues
Hoffman A, Safe S. Mechanism of metformin-dependent inhibition of
mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Ras activity in pancreatic
cancer: role of specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors. J Biol
Chem. 2014 Oct 3;289(40):27692-701.
Paczolt KA, Passow CN, Delclos PJ, Kindsvater HK, Jones AG, Rosenthal GG. Multiple mating and reproductive skew in parental and introgressed females of the live-bearing fish Xiphophorus birchmanni. J
Hered. 2014 Nov 27. pii: esu066. [Epub ahead of print]
Passos C, Tassino B, Reyes F, Rosenthal GG. Seasonal variation in female mate choice and operational sex ratio in wild populations of an
annual fish, ustrolebias reicherti. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 16;9(7):e101649.
Pasupuleti S, Sule N, Cohn WB, MacKenzie DS, Jayaraman A, Manson
MD. Chemotaxis of Escherichia coli to norepinephrine (NE) requires
conversion of NE to 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid. J Bacteriol. 2014
Dec 1;196(23):3992-4000.
Peña B, Barhoumi R, Burghardt RC, Turro C, Dunbar KR. Confocal
fluorescence microscopy studies of a fluorophore-labeled dirhodium
compound: visualizing metal-metal bonded molecules in lung cancer
(A549) cells. J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Jun 4;136(22):7861-4.
Phillips TD, Richardson M, Cheng YS, He L, McDonald TJ, Cizmas LH,
Safe SH, Donnelly KC, Wang F, Moorthy B, Zhou GD. Mechanistic
relationships between hepatic genotoxicity and carcinogenicity in
male B6C3F1 mice treated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
mixtures. Arch Toxicol. 2014 Jun 3. [Epub head of print]
Proudfoot C, Carlson DF, Huddart R, Long CR, Pryor JH, King TJ,
Lillico SG, Mileham AJ, McLaren DG, Whitelaw CB, Fahrenkrug SC.
Genome edited sheep and cattle. Transgenic Res. 2014 Sep 10. [Epub
ahead of print]
Ramírez-Carvajal L, Díaz-San Segundo F, Hickman D, Long CR, Zhu J,
Rodríguez LL, de los Santos T. Expression of porcine fusion protein
IRF7/3(5D) efficiently controls foot-and-mouth disease virus replication. J Virol. 2014 Oct;88(19):11140-53.
Ren W, Chen S, Yin J, Duan J, Li T, Liu G, Feng Z, Tan B, Yin Y, Wu G.
Dietary arginine supplementation of mice alters the microbial population and activates intestinal innate immunity. J Nutr. 2014 Jun;144
(6):988-95.
Ruan Z, Liu S, Zhou Y, Mi S, Liu G, Wu X, Yao K, Assaad H, Deng Z,
Hou Y, Wu G, Yin Y. Chlorogenic acid decreases intestinal permeability and increases expression of intestinal tight junction proteins in
weaned rats challenged with LPS. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 2;9(6):e97815.
Ruiz-González I, Xu J, Wang X, Burghardt RC, Dunlap K, Bazer FW.
Exosomes, endogenous retroviruses and toll-like receptors: Pregnancy recognition in ewes. Reproduction. 2014 Dec 19. pii: REP-14-0538.
[Epub ahead of print]
Sabatini C, Mari G, Mislei B, Love C, Panzani D, Camillo F, Rota A.
Effect of post-thaw addition of seminal plasma on motility, viability
and chromatin Iintegrity of cryopreserved donkey jack (Equus asinus)
spermatozoa. Reprod Domest Anim. 2014 Dec;49(6):989-94.
Safe S, Imanirad P, Sreevalsan S, Nair V, Jutooru I. Transcription factor
Sp1, also known as specificity protein 1 as a therapeutic target. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2014 Jul;18(7):759-69.
Sawant OB, Ramadoss J, Hankins GD, Wu G, Washburn SE. Effects of
L-glutamine supplementation on maternal and fetal hemodynamics in
gestating ewes exposed to alcohol. Amino Acids. 2014 46(8):1981-96.
Schmidt SE, Neuendorff DA, Riley DG, Vann RC, Willard ST, Welsh
TH Jr, Randel RD. Genetic parameters of three methods of temperament evaluation of Brahman calves. J Anim Sci. 2014 92(7):3082-7.
Selvamani A, Schumer M, Cui R, Powell DL, Dresner R, Rosenthal GG,
Andolfatto P. High-resolution mapping reveals hundreds of genetic
incompatibilities in hybridizing fish species. Elife. 2014 Jun 4;3.
(continued on page 15)
PAGE
14
Faculty Spotlight, cont’d from page 3
tory team. Currently, their
research to produce inducible
tissue specific expression of
transgenes in a swine model of
obesity and metabolic syndrome is funded by a R24
grant from NIH-ORIP. Led by
post-doctoral trainee, Dr.
Neetu Singh in collaboration
with Dr. Stephen Smith, this
work seeks to regulate the
expression of sterol Co-A
desaturase to alter lipid composition in an inducible tissue
specific manner. The project
to develop a single dose multivalent vaccine to zoonotic
diseases by producing the
antigens in the milk of goats is
funded by the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation. This project is just getting underway,
but seeks to produce low cost
highly effective vaccines to
seven of the most prevalent
diseases affecting livestock and
humans worldwide. Ongoing
research into the genetic engineering of livestock to enhance
Figure 2 (A-C) Three characteristic expression patterns exhibited by several representadisease resistance is funded by
tive epigenetic modifiers in bovine preimplantation embryos. The y-axis represents the
Texas AgriLife Research. This
average fold change in expression seen across early embryonic stages, normalized to the
project, led by our former
geometric mean of three endogenous controls: Gapdh, Ywhaz, and Sdha. Error bars repstudent Lisbeth Ramírezresent S.E.M. for each stage examined.
Carvajal in collaboration with
Drs. Teresa de los Santos and
Luis Rodríguez of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center has recently been published in the
Journal of Virology (J. Virol. 2014 October
88:11140-11153). Ongoing studies will place
animals on the ground with enhanced innate
immune systems capable of more quickly adapting to infection and blocking viral replication.
Studies into the regulation of the epigenome of
early bovine embryos is funded by a R01 grant
from NIH-NICHD. This project is a continuing
collaboration between Drs. Westhusin, Golding
and Long and has studied the expression of key
epigenetic modifiers during early embryonic
development (Figure 2). Additionally, this project uses RNA interference to alter expression
of these genes and evaluate effects on development and chromatin modifications. The RSL also
has ongoing collaborations with industry partners to develop livestock with enhanced production traits. An example of which is a gene
edited Nellore bull, produced in collaboration
with Recombinetics, that expresses increased
muscle mass due to an induced mutation in the
myostatin gene (Figure 3). Overall these are just
Figure 3. Increased muscle mass due to a TALEN induced mutation in the
a sample of the projects that are being directed
mysotatin gene at the one-cell stage of embryonic development in a Nelby Dr. Long and his colleagues at the Reproduclore bull (right). The bull’s half-sibling female is show at left.
tive Sciences Laboratory.
2014,
ISSUE
2
PAGE
15
Research Snapshot, cont’d from page 13
Schumer M, Rosenthal GG, Andolfatto P. How common is homoploid
hybrid speciation? Evolution. 2014 Jun;68(6):1553-60.
Sohrabji F. Estrogen-IGF-1 interactions in neuroprotection: Ischemic
stroke as a case study. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2014 May 29. pii:
S0091-3022 (14)00050-8.
Williams MH, Miranda RC, Sohrabji F. Circulating miRNA profiles
provide a biomarker for severity of stroke outcomes associated with
age and sex in a rat model. Clin Sci (Lond). 2014 Jul;127(2):77-89.
Snyder MD, Pryor JH, Veazey KJ, Peoples MD, Williamson
GL, Golding MC, Westhusin ME, Long CR. 195 suppression of
setdb1 during bovine embryonic development results in preimplantation mortality and decreased transcription of transposable
elements. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2014 Dec;27(1):188-9
Stanley JA, Sivakumar KK, Arosh JA, Burghardt RC, Banu SK. Edaravone mitigates hexavalent chromium-induced oxidative stress and
depletion of antioxidant enzymes while estrogen restores antioxidant enzymes in the rat ovary in F1 offspring. Biol Reprod. 2014
Jul;91(1):12.
Strickland ER, Woller SA, Garraway SM, Hook MA, Grau JW, Miranda
RC. Regulatory effects of intermittent noxious stimulation on spinal
cord injury-sensitive microRNAs and their presumptive targets following spinal cord contusion. Front Neural Circuits. 2014 Sep
18;8:117.
Strickland ER, Woller SA, Hook MA, Grau J, Miranda RC. The association between spinal cord trauma-sensitive miRNAs and pain sensitivity, and their regulation by morphine. Neurochem Int 2014 77:40-9.
Taiyeb AM, Muhsen-Alanssari SA, Dees W, Ridha-Albarzanchi
MT, Kraemer DC. Improvement in in vitro fertilization outcome
following in vivo synchronization of oocyte maturation in mice. Exp
Biol Med (Maywood). 2014 Sep 21. pii: 1535370214549533. [Epub
ahead of print]
Taylor BD, Darville T, Ferrell R, Ness RB, Kelsey S., Haggerty CL.
Cross-sectional analysis of Toll-like receptor variants and bacterial
vaginosis in African American women with pelvic inflammatory disease. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2014;90:563-566
Taylor BD, Ness RB, Olsen J, Hougaard DM, Skogstrand K, Roberts
JM, Haggerty CL. Serum leptin measured in early pregnancy is higher
in women who later develop preeclampsia compared to normotensive pregnant controls. Hypertension, In Press
Tsai PC, Bake S, Balaraman S, Rawlings J, Holgate RR, Dubois D, Miranda RC. MiR-153 targets the nuclear factor-1 family and protects
against teratogenic effects of ethanol exposure in fetal neural stem
cells. Biol Open. 2014 Jul 25;3(8):741-58.
Varner DD, Gibb Z, Aitken RJ. Stallion fertility: A focus on the spermatozoon. Equine Vet J. 2014 Jun 18. doi: 10.1111/evj.12308. [Epub
ahead of print]
Wang X, Frank JW, Little DR, Dunlap KA, Satterfield MC, Burghardt
RC, Hansen TR, Wu G, Bazer FW. Functional role of arginine during
the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. I. Consequences of loss
of function of arginine transporter SLC7A1 mRNA in ovine conceptus trophectoderm. FASEB J 2014; 28: 2852–2863.
Wang X, Frank JW, Xu J, Dunlap KA, Satterfield MC, Burghardt RC,
Romero JJ, Hansen TR, Wu G, Bazer FW. Functional role of arginine
during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. II. Consequences
of loss of function of nitric oxide synthase NOS3 mRNA in ovine
conceptus trophectoderm. Biol Reprod 2014 Sep;91(3):59
Wang W, Wu Z, Lin G, Hu S, Wang B, Dai Z, Wu G. Glycine stimulates protein synthesis and inhibits oxidative stress in pig small intestinal epithelial cells. J Nutr. 2014 Oct;144(10):1540-8.
Wang H, Zhang C, Wu G, Sun Y, Wang B, He B, Dai Z, Wu Z. Glutamine enhances tight junction protein expression and modulates
corticotropin-releasing factor signaling in the jejunum of weanling
piglets. J Nutr. 2015 Jan;145(1):25-31.
Wang X, Lin G, Liu C, Feng C, Zhou H, Wang T, Li D, Wu G, Wang
J. Temporal proteomic analysis reveals defects in small-intestinal
development of porcine fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction. J Nutr Biochem. 2014 Jul;25(7):785-95.
Washburn K, Fajt VR, Coetzee JF, Rice S, Wulf LW, Washburn S.
Pharmacokinetics of tulathromycin in nonpregnant adult ewes. J
Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Dec 9. doi: 10.1111/jvp.12196. [Epub
ahead of print]
Washburn SE, Ramadoss J, Chen WJ, Cudd TA. Effects of all three
trimester moderate binge alcohol exposure on the foetal hippocampal formation and olfactory bulb. Brain Inj. 2015;29(1):104-109.
Washburn K, Fajt VR, Plummer P, Coetzee JF, Wulf LW, Washburn
S. Pharmacokinetics of oral chlortetracycline in nonpregnant adult
ewes. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Dec;37(6):607-10.
Watts AE, Ness SL, Divers TJ, Fubini SL, Frye AH, Stokol T, Cummings KJ, Brooks MB. Effects of clopidogrel on horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia. Am J Vet Res 2014 75(8):760-9.
Weems YS, Pang J, Raney A, Uchima T, Lennon E, Johnson D, Nett
TM, Randel RD, Weems CW. Prostaglandin E1 or E2 inhibits an
oxytocin-induced premature luteolysis in ewes when oxytocin is
given early in the estrous cycle. Theriogenology. 2014 Aug;82
(3):440-6.
Weems YS, Raney A, Pang J, Uchima T, Lennon E, Johnson D, Nett
TM, Randel RD, Weems CW. Prostaglandin E1 or E2 (PGE1,
PGE2) prevents premature luteolysis induced by progesterone
given early in the estrous cycle in ewes. Theriogenology. 2013 Sep
15;80(5):507-12.
Weems YS, Ma Y, Ford SP, Nett TM, Vann RC, Lewis AW, Neuendorff DA, Welsh TH Jr, Randel RD, Weems CW. Effects of intraluteal implants of prostaglandin E1 or E2 on angiogenic growth
factors in luteal tissue of Angus and Brahman cows. Theriogenology. 2014 Dec;82(9):1224-30.
Whigham AR, Blanchard TL, Love CC, Teague SR, Brinsko SP,
Welsh Jr TH, Hinrichs K, Varner DD. Equine semen quality following sperm exposure to seminal plasma stored under different conditions. Clinical Theriogenology 6: 459-466 (2014).
Wu G, Assaad H, Yao K, Tekwe CD, Feng S, Bazer FW, Zhou L,
Carroll RJ, Meininger CJ. Analysis of energy expenditure in dietinduced obese rats. Frontiers in Bioscience 2014; 19:967-985.
Wu G. Dietary requirements of synthesizable amino acids by animals: a paradigm shift in protein nutrition. J Anim Sci Biotechnol.
2014 Jun 14;5(1):34.
Wu M, Xiao H, Ren W, Yin J, Tan B, Liu G, Li L, Nyachoti CM,
Xiong X, Wu G. Therapeutic effects of glutamic acid in piglets
challenged with deoxynivalenol. PLoS One. 2014 1;9(7):e100591.
Wu G, Bazer FW, Cross HR. Land-based production of animal protein: impacts, efficiency, and sustainability. Ann NY Acad Sci 2014;
1328:18-28.
Wu G, Fanzo J, Miller DD, Pingali P, Post M, Steiner JL, ThalackerMercer AE. Production and supply of high-quality food protein for
human consumption: sustainability, challenges, and innovations. Ann
N Y Acad Sci. 2014 Aug;1321:1-19.
Wu G, Bazer FW, Dai Z, Wang J, Wu Z Amino acid nutrition in
animals: protein synthesis and beyond. Annual Rev Anim Biosci
2014; 2:387-417.
(continued on page 19)
PAGE
16
A. Newell-Fugate, New Faculty Spotlight, cont’d from page
2
cess in captive North American populations of
the Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus).
This study compares the effect of the introduction of novel pheromones versus novel
animals on fecal steroid metabolite concentrations, behavior, and estrous cyclicity in female
Red River Hogs. Additionally, Dr. NewellFugate is working with zoo-based collaborators
to develop an eletroejaculation and artificial
insemination protocol for this species.
gens alter insulin signaling in adipose tissue.
Determination of these mechanisms could
spark the development of anti-androgen, insulin sensitizing drug protocols for the
treatment of infertility and metabolic disturbances due to PCOS.
During her early scientific career, Dr. Newell-Fugate’s research focused exclusively on
reproductive endocrinology and assisted reproductive techniques for wildlife and zoo
animal species. She maintains an interest in this
research area and currently has a study to
assess the etiology of poor reproductive suc-
(Left: Red River Hog sow and piglets).
R.O. Berry Lecture, cont’d from page 9
Research Snapshot, cont’d from page 13
will develop successfully to term so long as the trophoblast
(placenta) is immunologically compatible with the recipient female.
For his outstanding contributions, Texas A&M University recognizes the work of this distinguished scientist through the Raymond O.
Berry Memorial Lecture which was established in 1994 by Dr.
Fuller W. Bazer. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Berry’s daughters,
Dorothy McLemore and Margaret Thompson and family members
have attended the Lecture as guests. This year, Dr. Joe McLemore,
son-in-law of Dr. Berry and husband of his daughter, Dorothy,
joined the IFRB for the Lecture, Social and Dinner that followed.
Dr. Duane C. Kraemer, worked with Dr. Berry during his early
years as a graduate student. Dr. Kraemer led off the Lecture by
providing an entertaining presentation that included memories of
Dr. Berry.
Wu G, Bazer FW, Cross HR. Land-based production of animal protein: impacts, efficiency, and sustainability. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2014 Nov;1328(1):18
-28.
Ying W, Kanameni S, Chang CA, Nair V, Safe S, Bazer FW, Zhou B. Interferon tau alleviates obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation and insulin
resistance by regulating macrophage polarization. PLoS One 2014; 9
(6):e98835.
Ying W, Bazer FW, Zhou B. Pregnancy-secreted Acid phosphatase, uteroferrin enhances fetal erythropoiesis at terminal stages. Endocrinology 2014
Nov;155(11):4521-30.
Zhang Z, Kim K, Li X, Moreno M, Sharp T, Goodheart MJ, Safe S, Dupuy AJ,
Amendt BA. MicroRNA-26b represses colon cancer cell proliferation by
inhibiting lymphoid enhancer factor 1 expression. Mol Cancer Ther. 2014
Jul;13(7):1942-51.
IFRB Committee Structure & Membership
Nominating Committee
Graduate Programs Committee
Carey Satterfield, Chair
Duncan MacKenzie
Greg Johnson
Martha Voglesang
Seminar Committee
Michael Golding, Chair
Sakhila Banu
Robert Burghardt
Gary Newton
Executive Committee
Charles Long, Chair
Fuller Bazer
Qinglei Li
Rajesh Miranda
Thomas H. Welsh, Jr.
Gary Williams
Jacob Brown, Trainee Rep
Joe Arosh, Chair
Marcel Amstalden
Michael Golding
Gary Williams
Shannon Washburn
Membership Committee
Kathrin Dunlap, Chair
Katrin Hinrichs
Nancy Ing
Farida Sohrabji
Thomas H,.Welsh, Jr.
IFRB RESEARCH AND TRAINING MISSION:
Mail Stop 2471
College Station, TX 77843-2471
Phone: 979-845-5929
Fax: 979-862-2662
Email: ifrb@tamu.edu
The IFRB Newsletter is
published semiannually
by the Interdisciplinary
Faculty of Reproductive
Biology, Texas A&M
University,.
Reproductive Biology is at the epicenter of the life sciences.
Focal areas of research and graduate/postdoctoral training
in the IFRB are interdisciplinary and cover both genders,
encompass humans, domestic animals, laboratory animals
and wildlife, and include: assisted reproductive techniques,
biological clocks, cloning, conservation of endangered species, contraception, developmental biology, diseases of the
reproductive tract, endocrinology, fertilization, fetal growth
retardation, gametogenesis, gender-biased diseases and
health issues, immunology, infertility, lactation, pregnancy
and pregnancy-related disorders, premature labor, recovery
of function, science and health policy, stem cell biology, systems biology and functional genomics, toxicology, and uterine biology. The outcomes of this research are impacting
Texas, our nation and the world.