Control mechanisms of reproductive processes

该项目研究了一些影响男性生育能力的重要生殖问题，前列腺癌以及母亲在怀孕期间养育和保护婴儿的方式。精子的成功发育需要一系列生物学过程的正常功能。这项资助研究了精子产生的方式，控制精子发育所需的基因，以及精子推动自身并使卵子受精的方式。这项研究还调查了精子在发育过程中是如何免受感染和免疫排斥的，这在一定程度上是由于精子生长的睾丸管道内的特殊环境。人体用来对抗感染的一般机制似乎在睾丸内发生了改变，而这种改变发生的方式可能为预防移植器官的排斥反应提供线索。一些控制这些过程的物质似乎在人体抵御感染方面起着重要作用。该基金还研究了与前列腺癌发展有关的过程。这些变化可能持续多年，该基金将研究一些似乎与之有关的物质。这项工作将提供新的知识，可能有助于新的测试，以确定癌症是缓慢还是快速增长，从而帮助每个人决定最明智的治疗方式。该基金将研究一组蛋白质（也参与上述过程的控制）如何在怀孕期间帮助母亲保护婴儿。结果将有助于管理可能使胎儿处于生存危险的妊娠障碍。

This Program Grant investigates a number of important reproductive problems that affect the fertility of men, prostate cancer and the way the mother nurtures and protects the baby during pregnancy. The successful development of sperm requires the proper function of a number of biological processes. This grant investigates the way in which sperm are produced, the genes that are needed to control their development, and the way sperm propel themselves and fertilize the egg. The research also investigates how sperm are protected during their development from infection and immunological rejection, achieved in part by a special environment within the tubes in the testis where they grow. It appears that the general mechanisms that the body uses to combat infections are modified within the testis and the way in which this occurs may provide clues that could be applied to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs in general. Some of the substances that control these processes appear to play an important role in the body�s defense against infection. The grant also investigates the processes that are involved in the development of prostate cancer. These changes can occur over many years and the grant will study some substances that appear to be involved. The work will provide new knowledge that may assist in new tests to identify whether a cancer is slow or fast growing, thereby helping each man to decide the most sensible form of treatment. The grant will investigate how a group of proteins, that also are involved in the control of processes discussed above, assist the mother in protecting her baby during pregnancy. The outcomes will assist in the management of disturbances of pregnancy that may put the fetus at risk of survival.