- Department
- Email Address
- [email protected]
- Research Areas
- Research Keywords
- Research Description
We study the hormonal control of ovarian development in fish and amphibians. This work examines fundamental questions of how multiple hormones cooperate in controlling the growth, maturation and ultimately the ovulation of the ovarian follicle. We also study reproductive toxicology and try to understand how chemicals released to the environment can impair reproduction.
- Research Summary
My research focuses on the reproductive physiology of fish. We study which hormones affect ovarian follicle development and if there are hallmark responses (changes in hormone biosynthesis, receptor abundance, recruitment of downstream activators) that determine whether an ovarian follicle is destined to mature and ovulate. This research is fundamental to defining spawning success which is a prime measure of reproductive fitness and provides the toolbox that we use to examine the mechanisms by which endocrine disrupting compounds (pharmaceuticals; ammonia) and complex environmental effluents (municipal waste water, pulp mills; oils sands process affected water) affect ovarian physiology.
- Techniques Used
Measurement of reproductive success in zebrafish in vivo; functional assays of ovarian and testicular and liver physiology; hormone measurement by radioimmunoassay and ELISA, gene expression using quantitative PCR; assessment of stress in fish, quantification of cell death.
- Lab Equipment
Western blotting, Q-PCR, incubators, scintillation counter, gamma counter, centrifuges, spectrophotometer.
- Locations of international collaborators
Brazil, Iran, United States.
- Links