CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RESEARCH

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 西北大学生殖研究中心支持一个多学科的科学家小组，他们使用创新的方法来理解正常女性生育的机制。该中心的研究重点将是了解卵巢细胞和调节卵泡成熟的激素之间存在的结构-功能关系。该项目在开发最先进的生物材料以及先进的生物物理和结构方法方面是独一无二的，以实现对卵巢功能的更全面的了解。推动这项研究的主要假设是，正常的卵泡发育取决于细胞-细胞接触信号的适当整合，以及以周期依赖的方式提供给卵泡结构的激素和生长因子。四个项目将利用创新的研究策略以及基础生物学家、结构生物学家、化学工程师和临床研究人员之间紧密而高效的伙伴关系来解决这一中心假设。专门为该中心开发的项目包括：建立单个卵母细胞-卵丘复合体可以生长并可应用内分泌因子的人工三维环境；调查促黄体生成素受体及其在卵泡信号转导途径中的作用；分析卵巢辅助激活因子之间的相互作用，这是整合基因激活和沉默所必需的；以及卵泡调节激素、抑制素和激活素与其信号受体之间的结构关系。建立这样一个中心的理由是，阐明卵泡内细胞与控制卵巢功能的激素、受体和信号分子之间的结构-功能关系将极大地促进我们对女性生殖生理的了解，从而直接影响女性的健康。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The Center for Reproductive Research at Northwestern University supports a multidisciplinary group of scientists who use innovative approaches toward an understanding of the mechanisms governing normal female fertility. The research focus of the Center will be to understand the structure-function relationships that exist between cells in the ovary and the hormones that regulate follicle maturation. The program is unique in its development of state-of-the-art biomaterials and advanced biophysical and structural approaches to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of ovarian function. The major hypothesis driving the proposed research is that normal follicle development depends upon the appropriate integration of signals derived from cell-cell contact and from the hormones and growth factors that are provided to the follicle structure in a cycle-dependent manner. Four projects will address this central hypothesis using innovative investigative strategies and a cohesive and highly effective partnership between basic biologists, structural biologists, chemical engineers, and clinical investigators. The projects that have been developed specifically for the Center include the derivation of an artificial three-dimensional environment in which individual oocyte-cumulus complexes can grow and to which endocrine factors can be applied; an investigation of the LH receptor and its role in follicular signal transduction pathways; an analysis of the interactions between ovarian co-activators, which are necessary for integrated gene activation and silencing; and the structural relationships between the follicle regulating hormones, inhibin and activin, and their signaling receptors. The rationale for creating such a Center is that elucidating the structure-function relationships between cells within the follicle and the hormones, receptors, and signaling molecules that control ovarian function will greatly advance our understanding of female reproductive physiology and thereby directly impact women's health.