| Affiliations: | |
| Project Leader: | Renata Landers r.landers@tamu.edu Animal Science |
| Faculty Mentor: | |
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Meeting Times:
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M 4PM-5PM |
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Team Size:
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7 |
| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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Team Needs:
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Positive attitude as well as willingness to learn. Experience with animals is desired but not required |
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Description:
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The project will investigate the multigenerational effects of prenatal exposure to androgen excess using the sheep as the animal model. Female sheep prenatally treated with testosterone develop reproductive and metabolic alterations that closely recapitulate those seen in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). More specifically, this ongoing project will determine the transfer of the deleterious effects of prenatal testosterone excess on first-generation (F1) to second-generation (F2) females and elucidate the epigenetic, transcriptional and functional changes in the neuroendocrine, ovarian, and metabolic systems to identify the mechanisms mediating the vertical transmission of PCOS-like traits. PCOS is one of the most common infertility disorders, affecting over 100 million women worldwide. Currently, information is limited as to which traits get transmitted from PCOS mothers to their daughters and, importantly, how early reproductive and metabolic perturbations become evident. Therefore, a better understanding of these processes can help develop strategies for preventing not only progression and severity of disease but also transfer of disease to the offspring. Findings from this sheep model will provide crucial biological information for improving reproductive function across generations and are of clinical relevance to women with PCOS and other hyperandrogenic fertility disorders. |