Endocrine Mechanisms in Reproduction

描述（由申请人提供）：波士顿大学生物系动物模型研究中心要求支持生殖内分泌学培训计划（四名博士预科学员）。该学院拥有广泛的实验专业知识和动物模型使用，包括脊椎动物和无脊椎动物。美国国家科学院（National Academy of Science）已经认识到，用比较方法确定适合研究特定问题的动物模型的优点。使用这种方法，通过选择合适的模型，可以有利地研究与人类健康问题有关的特定问题。此外，比较方法通过扩大我们对动物物种特定适应性的理解来揭示新的模型，并增加可用的研究模型。最后，随着物种多样性和种群数量的下降，有必要提供更多与各种动物繁殖有关的信息。具体研究领域包括行为内分泌学和生殖神经内分泌学；神经芳香化酶的调节，雌激素在神经发育和精子发生中的调节作用；c-mos在哺乳动物生殖细胞和体细胞中的转录调控及凋亡的调控雌激素受体的转录调控机制、细胞生长和细胞周期研究；转录因子与癌基因；半胱天冬酶和蜕皮激素在卵子发生中的作用雌激素;黄体酮在脊椎动物卵黄形成中的调控作用及外源性药物的影响生长激素分泌的性别分化模式在肝脏p450基因表达调控中的作用外源性药物和过氧化物酶体增殖剂；胎儿和新生儿肾上腺成熟和瘦素在妊娠期间的作用。培训将包括正式的课堂教学、高级研讨会和使用行为、生理、遗传、细胞、分子和生化方法的实验室研究轮转。实地研究将在将某些物种的自然生殖生物学与环境和实验室研究联系起来方面发挥重要作用。受训者将被波士顿大学生物学博士项目录取，该大学拥有大批研究生。由全体教员代表的广泛学科和实验专业知识、物理设施的质量以及大学对生物科学的普遍承诺，特别是对这个项目的承诺，确保了一个极好的培训环境。此外，现有的神经科学和生物信息学跨学科项目为生殖相关的神经生物学以及基因组学和蛋白质组学的发展领域提供了支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Support is requested by the Animal Models Research Center, Department of Biology, Boston University, for a Training Program (four pre doctoral trainees) in reproductive endocrinology. The faculty represents a wide range of experimental expertise and animal model use, both vertebrate and invertebrate. The merit of a comparative approach for the identification of suitable animal models for investigation of particular questions or problems has been recognized by the National Academy of Science. Using this approach, by the selection of a suitable model, particular problems relative to human health issues can be advantageously investigated. In addition, a comparative approach uncovers new models by expanding our understanding of particular adaptations of animal species and increases the available models for research. Finally, with the decline in species diversity and populations, additional information related to reproduction of a wide range of animal species is warranted. Specific areas of research include behavioral endocrinology, and the neuroendocrinology of reproduction; the regulation of neural aromatase, the role of estrogen in the regulation of neural development and spermatogenesis; the regulation of c-mos transcription in mammalian germ and somatic cells and the regulation of apoptosis; transcriptional control mechanisms for estrogen receptors, cell growth and cell cycle studies; transcription factors and oncogenes; the role of caspases and ecdysone in oogenesis; estrogen; progesterone in the regulation of vertebrate vitellogenesis and the impact of xenobiotics; the role of sex differentiated patterns of growth hormone secretion in the regulation of heptic p450 gene expression; xenobiotics and peroxisome proliferators; fetal and neonatal adrenal maturation and the role of leptin during pregnancy. Training will include formal classroom instruction, upper level seminars and laboratory research rotations using behavioral, physiological, genetic, cellular, and molecular and biochemical approaches. Field research will play an important role in linking the natural reproductive biology of certain species to the environment and to laboratory studies. Trainees will be accepted into the Ph.D. program in Biology at Boston University, which has a large cohort of graduate students. The broad range of disciplinary and experimental expertise represented by the general faculty, the quality of the physical facilities, and the demonstrated commitment of the University to biological sciences in general and to this project in particular ensures a superb training environment. In addition, the available interdisciplinary programs in neuroscience and bioinformatics provide support in reproduction-related neurobiology and the developing fields of genomics and proteomics.