Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2005

Mentor: Lisa Halvorson, MD
Department: OB/GYN
Room number: F2.302
Mail Code: 9032
Phone number: 214-648-2309
E-mail: Lisa.Halvorson@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title:

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): not applicable

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0980-03-01-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) basic research

Brief Description of Project:
Our research focuses on the physiology of the gonadotropin-producing cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Recent data has suggested that these cells (gonadotropes) produce PACAP (pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating peptide). As suggested by its name, PACAP stimulates the cAMP/protein kinase A system, thereby increasing expression of pituitary genes, including luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Thus, PACAP may act as an autocrine factor in gonadotropes (ie., PACAP is produced by and acts on gonadotrope cells).
We have begun to identify and characterize factors which regulate expression of the PACAP gene, focusing on hormones with known importance to reproduction such a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), steroids, and PACAP itself. Techniques include cell culture of gonadotrope-like cell lines, transient transfection of DNA constructs, gel shift analysis, and DNA subcloning and mutagenesis. We are also interested in the regulation of pituitary PACAP across the female reproductive cycle, a project which will entail analysis of PACAP protein (Western blot) and mRNA (RT-PCR) levels in rat pituitary glands.
Other projects in the laboratory include: 1) studies on the transcriptional regulation of LHbeta gene expression (transfection and gel shift approaches) and, 2) the effects of aging on anterior pituitary function (quantitative RT-PCR and microarray analysis).

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Ignacio Montoya - Transcriptional regulation of the PACAP gene by GnRH. Summer and Fall 2003. Society for Gynecologic Investigation (abstract)

Po Tsai - Development of a semi-quantitative RT-PCR system to compare expression levels of various transcription factors in young and middle-aged female rat pituitary glands. Summer and Fall 2001.

Jill Swartz - Analysis of PACAP effects on LHbeta gene transcription. Funded through a Society for Gynecologic Investigation Summer Research Stipend. Summer 2001.

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