I am a basic scientist with an interest in the cellular biology of the ovary, and the roles of the matrix between cells of the ovary in controlling fertility and hormone synthesis.
The Importance Of ADAMTS Proteases In Ovulation And Fertility.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,500.00
Summary
In the ovary eggs are matured within a specialised organ called a follicle. Female fertility is dependent on the efficient release of eggs from the follicle as well as transport of the egg to the site of fertilization. During these processes the egg is encased within a mucous-like cushion made of cells, proteins and complex carbohydrates. This cushion or matrix plays an active role in egg release, transport and fertilization. Proper formation of this cushion just before egg release is therefore ....In the ovary eggs are matured within a specialised organ called a follicle. Female fertility is dependent on the efficient release of eggs from the follicle as well as transport of the egg to the site of fertilization. During these processes the egg is encased within a mucous-like cushion made of cells, proteins and complex carbohydrates. This cushion or matrix plays an active role in egg release, transport and fertilization. Proper formation of this cushion just before egg release is therefore essential for efficient female fertility. This project examines the role of newly identified proteins and protease enzymes that are involved in the formation and function of the matrix cushion around eggs. This has important implications for the causes of infertility in women as well as improving the efficacy of IVF techniques.Read moreRead less
Reproductive health critically impacts a woman’s wellbeing, irrespective of her choice to have children. The ovary and its hormones govern physiological events regulating health at puberty, across the menstrual cycle, during the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, and in parturition, lactation and menopause. The major health burdens concerning ovaries that we are studying include polycystic ovarian syndrome and assisted reproductive technologies used to treat infertility.
Why Is Trophoblast Invasion Defective In Human Pregnancies That Develop Pre-eclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$504,500.00
Summary
Pre-eclampsia is the most common serious medical disorder of otherwise healthy young pregnant women. Early in pregnancies destined for pre-eclampsia, placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) do not invade deeply enough into maternal blood vessels within the uterus, with resultant low oxygen levels and reduced blood flow from the mother's circulation to placenta. This causes fetal under-nutrition and growth restriction, which if severe, can cause intrauterine death. To prevent this, the baby may need t ....Pre-eclampsia is the most common serious medical disorder of otherwise healthy young pregnant women. Early in pregnancies destined for pre-eclampsia, placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) do not invade deeply enough into maternal blood vessels within the uterus, with resultant low oxygen levels and reduced blood flow from the mother's circulation to placenta. This causes fetal under-nutrition and growth restriction, which if severe, can cause intrauterine death. To prevent this, the baby may need to be delivered prematurely, with grave risks of complications, both short and longterm. Women with pre-elampsia suffer from hypertension, activation of the clotting system, and generalized constriction of blood vessels. Together, these result in damage to blood vessel lining cells, reduced blood flow to, and disturbed function of many organs. Most commonly affected are kidney, liver, brain, and the uterine circulation. Babies born early and-or small-for-gestational-age have an increased incidence of vascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease in adult life. Improved understanding, and development of preventive and-or therapeutic strategies for pre-eclampsia are urgently needed. There is no satisfactory animal model to address pathogenesis of this peculiarly human disorder, which concurrently causes significant morbidity in two generations of people. Ethical constraints and the need for urgent therapy limit extensive research in affected pregnant women. With our unique in vitro cell co-culture strategy, we have clarified inter-relationships between fetal-placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) and their host maternal vascular cells (decidual endothelial cells) in the clinical syndrome of pre-eclampsia. Building on this work we will now examine maternal-placental intercellular cooperation in regulation of normal placental development, and explore the defective regulation of placental development that precedes pre-eclampsia.Read moreRead less
Regulation of tissue morphogenesis in reproductive function and metastatic cancer. Infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders and reproductive cancers are all increasing medical problems and principal contributors to morbidity and mortality in the Australian community. This research takes the novel approach of investigating the mechanisms of dynamic remodeling in reproductive organs. Novel hormonally controlled mechanisms of tissue remodeling unique to reproductive organs and cancers in ad ....Regulation of tissue morphogenesis in reproductive function and metastatic cancer. Infertility, endocrine and metabolic disorders and reproductive cancers are all increasing medical problems and principal contributors to morbidity and mortality in the Australian community. This research takes the novel approach of investigating the mechanisms of dynamic remodeling in reproductive organs. Novel hormonally controlled mechanisms of tissue remodeling unique to reproductive organs and cancers in adults have been discovered. The results are being applied to new medical alternatives for infertile patients and new diagnostics and therapeutics for patients with metastatic cancers. The information is also being applied to improve reproductive efficiency in animal production industries.Read moreRead less
Interactions between cells and extracellular matrix in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the ovarian follicular stratified epithelium. The lining of many mammalian organs and cavities contain cells that can transform into different cells to bring about organ development or repair but if it goes horribly wrong the cells become metastatic cancers. This project examines the key features of this process especially the roles of matrix that develops around the cells in this process.