ANSC 631 - Reproductive Biology II

ANSC 631 - REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY II Spring 2006
Course Syllabus
Course Description: The embryological, physiological, hormonal, cellular and molecular mechanisms involving the endocrine and reproductive systems of mammals will be studied with an emphasis on domestic livestock, rodents, and humans. Current theories will be evaluated and discussed using information from recent scientific publications.

Course Format: Four (4) credit hours presented as lectures. Lecture hours are 12:40 - 2:30 PM on Monday and Tuesday in Room 200 Kleberg Center.

Prerequisites: ANSC 433 - Reproduction in Farm Animals, BICH 410 -Biochemistry I and BICH 411 - Biochemistry II or equivalent courses.

Professors: Thomas E. Spencer, Ph.D. (coordinator); Fuller W. Bazer, Ph.D.; Greg A. Johnson, Ph.D.

Text: There is no formal text for this class. Pertinent scientific journal articles and reviews will be provided in class to supplement notes.

Reference Material:
A. Reference Texts: These texts will be available in Room 442 Kleberg Center:
a. Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition. Phil Senger, Current Conceptions, Inc., 1998. b. Cell and Tissue Biology: A Textbook of Histology. Leon Weiss, Ed., 6th Edition, Urban and Schwarzenberg, Baltimore, 1988. c. The Physiology of Reproduction. Volumes 1 and 2, J.D. Neill, Editor-in-Chief, Raven Press, 2006. d. Encyclopedia of Reproduction. E. Knobil and J.D. Neill, Editors-in-Chief, Academic Press, 1998. e. Reproduction in Mammals and Man, C.Thibault, M.-C. Levasseur and R.H.F. Hunter, Editors, Edition Marketing, Paris, France. 1993.
B. Papers: Current scientific articles will be distributed to each student. These will form the basis for discussion of each topic. It is expected that these papers will be incorporated into answers on examinations.

Power Point Presentations: Bazer - Lecture I Female Cycle Bazer - PGF and Luteolysis Bazer - Egg and Follicle Bazer - Meiosis and Fertilization Spencer - Lecture I Oviduct Factors and Function Spencer - Lecture II Pre-implantation Embryo Johnson - Implantation Spencer - Pregnancy Recognition Lecture I Spencer - Pregnancy Recognition Lecture II Johnson - Reproductive Immunology Spencer - Placentation Lectures I and II Spencer - Placentation Lecture III Bazer - Maternal Response to Pregnancy Parturition Bazer - Fetal to Neonatal Transition Bazer - Factors Affecting Reproductive Efficiency Bazer - Postpartum Uterus

Website: http://animalscience.tamu.edu/ansc/physiology/teach.html

Grading: Examination I - 25% Examination II - 25% Final Examination - 25% Journal Club - 25% Make-up examinations must be approved and scheduled through the course coordinator.

JOURNAL CLUB The purpose of the journal club will be to provide opportunities to evaluate current scientific literature, develop a working hypothesis and learn the scientific method. Journal club will be held during each group of lectures by each instructor. Scientific journal articles will be distributed beforehand to the class. The topic will be chosen by the instructor and may highlight a new contentious area or classic papers. Each student will be expected to participate in presenting a summary of selected journal articles. Grades will be based on participation and thoroughness of presentation and discussion of the journal article.

American with Disabilities Act Statement: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 in the Koldus Building. The phone number is 845-1637.

Academic Integrity Statement: An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do. Academic misconduct, a violation of the Texas A&M Honor System, involves any of the following: cheating, fabrication, falsification, multiple submission, plagiarism, and complicity. For explanations and examples visit http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor

ANSC 631 - Special Topics in Reproductive Biology II Approximate dates of the lectures are provided below in the outline. The schedule is likely to be adjusted during the semester to accommodate the journal clubs. OUTLINE OF LECTURES January 17, 23, 24 and 30 1-4 Estrous and Menstrual Cycles: Gonadotropin Regulation of Follicular Recruitment and Development; Follicular Steroidogenesis; Growth Factors and Follicular Development; Ovulation; Corpus Luteum Formation, Function and Angiogenesis; Luteal Peptides, Cytokines and Growth Factors; Prolactin and Ovarian Function, Luteolysis. FULLER W. BAZER January 31 and February 6 5-6 Oocyte Maturation, Fertilization and Embryonic Development: Oogenesis and Oocyte Maturation; Fertilization; Early Embryonic Development. FULLER W. BAZER February 7 and 13 7-8 Transport of Embryos and Blastocysts from Oviduct to Uterus and Inter-Uterine Transport and Spacing During Pre-Implantation Period; Oviductal Factors Affecting Fertility. THOMAS E. SPENCER February 20 - Examination I February 14, 21, 27 and 28 9-12 Implantation: Blastocyst Development; Invasive versus Noninvasive Implantation. GREG A. JOHNSON March 6, 7 and 20 13-14 Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy Signals: Biochemical Signals for Pregnancy Recognition in Primate and Subprimate Mammals; Interactions between the Uterus and Conceptus Regulating Signaling. THOMAS E. SPENCER March 13 - 17 Spring break. March 21, 27 and 28 15-17 Immunology of Pregnancy Recognition and Maintenance. GREG A. JOHNSON April 3 - Examination II April 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 18-22 Placentation and Fetal Development: Development and Functions of Fetal Membranes and Fetal Fluids; Fetal Development; Placental Hormones Affecting Fetal-Placental Development and Maternal Metabolism. THOMAS E. SPENCER and FULLER W. BAZER April 24 and 25 and May 1 and 2 23-24 Parturition: Endocrine Regulation of Parturition and Fetal Maturation in Primate and Subprimate Mammals. FULLER W. BAZER May 8 - Final Examination


NAME: Thomas E. Spencer TITLE: Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology and Physiological Genomics, Center for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University OFFICE: 442C Kleberg Center TEL: 979-845-4896 FAX: 979-862-2662 E-MAIL: tspencer@tamu.edu TRAINING: B.S. (Animal Science) 1989, Auburn University, Alabama; M.S. (Animal Science) 1992, Auburn University, Alabama; Ph.D. (Physiology of Reproduction) 1995, Texas A&M University, College Station; Postdoc (Cell Biology) 1997, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH: Long-term research interests are to discover developmental, cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating function of endometrial glands which are present in all mammals. Uterine glands develop during fetal/neonatal life and secrete various molecules that support of conceptus (embryo and associated placental membranes) growth and development during pregnancy. We created a sheep which lacks endometrial glands--an ovine Uterine Gland KnockOut (UGKO) ewe-- which we use to determine how endometrial glands develop in the fetus/neonate and their role(s) in mammalian uterine functions. High rates of embryonic loss occur during pregnancy in both humans and livestock that may involve insufficient support of conceptus growth and development by genes expressed by endometrial glands. Studies with the unique UGKO ewe model will advance our understanding of endometrial functions and provide a basis for the rational design and application of clinical and genetic therapies to ameliorate embryo deaths during pregnancy in humans and livestock. SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (from 100 papers in refereed scientific journals): Gray CA, Burghardt RC, Johnson GA, Bazer FW, Spencer TE. Evidence that an absence of endometrial gland secretions in uterine gland knockout (UGKO) ewes compromises conceptus survival and elongation. Reproduction 2002; 124:289-300. Carpenter KD, Gray CA, Noel S, Bazer FW, Gertler A, Spencer TE. Prolactin regulation of neonatal ovine uterine gland morphogenesis. Endocrinology 2003; 144:110-120. Dunlap K, Palmarini MA, Adelson DL, Spencer TE. Sheep endogenous betaretroviruses (enJSRVs) and the hyaluronidase 2 (HYAL2) receptor in the ovine uterus and conceptus. Biol Reprod 2005; 73:271-279. Gray CA, Adelson DL, Bazer FW, Burghardt RC, Meeusen EN, Spencer TE. Discovery and characterization of an epithelial-specific galectin in the endometrium that forms crystals in trophectoderm. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004; 101:7982-7987. Hu J, Spencer TE. Carbonic anhydrases regulate endometrial gland development in the neonatal uterus. Biol Reprod 2005; 73:131-138.



NAME: Fuller W. Bazer OFFICE: 442D Kleberg Center TEL: 979-862-2659 E-MAIL: fbazer@cvm.tamu.edu TITLE: Distinguished Professor of Reproductive Biology, Departments of Animal Science; joint appointments in Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and Human Anatomy and Medical Neurobiology, Texas A & M University and Texas A&M University System Health Science Center TRAINING: B.S., Biology, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, LA, 1960; M.S., Animal Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 1963; Ph.D. Animal Science (Reproductive Biology), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 1969 RESEARCH INTERESTS: Reproductive biology with emphasis on uterine biology and pregnancy. Mechanisms of action of pregnancy recognition signals from the conceptus to the maternal uterus, including interferon tau and estrogen from ruminant and pig conceptuses, respectively, are studied at the molecular and cellular levels. The roles of uterine secretions as transport proteins, regulatory molecules, growth factors and enzymes and endocrine regulation of their secretion is another major research interest. The endocrinology of pregnancy, especially the roles of lactogenic and growth hormones in fetal-placental development and uterine functions are being studied. The mechanism(s) of action and potential therapeutic value of conceptus interferons and uterine-derived hematopoietic growth factors are areas of research with both pigs and sheep as models for human disease. Selected Publications (2004-2005) from total of 381 in Peer-Reviewed Journals Bazer FW, Spencer TE. Reproductive biology in the era of genomics biology. Theriogenology 2005; 64:442-456. Wu G, Bazer FW, Hu J, Johnson GA, Spencer TE. Polyamine synthesis from proline in the developing porcine placenta. Biol Reprod 2005; 72:842-850. Spencer TE, Bazer FW. Conceptus signals for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2004; 2:49 Spencer TE, Johnson GA, Bazer FW, Burghardt RC. Implantation Mechanisms: Insights from the Sheep. Reproduction 2004;128:657-668. Spencer TE, Johnson GA, Burghardt RC, Bazer FW. Progesterone and placental hormone actions on the uterus:insights from domestic animals.Biol Reprod.2004;71:2-10. Wu G, Bazer FW, Cudd TA, Meininger CJ, Spencer TE. Maternal nutrition and fetal development. J Nutrition 2004: 134:2169-2172 Gray CA, Adelson DL, Bazer FW, Burghardt RC, Meeusen EN, Spencer TE. Discovery and characterization of an epithelial-specific galectin in the endometrium that forms crystals in trophectoderm. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004; 101:7982-7987.


NAME: Greg A. Johnson OFFICE: 316 Veterinary Medicine Administration Building TEL: 979-845-7249 E-MAIL: gjohnson@cvm.tamu.edu TITLE: Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology, Department of Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A & M University. TRAINING: B.S., Zoology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 1984; M.S., Microbiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 1988; Ph.D. Animal Science (Reproductive Biology), University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 1997; Postdoc (Biology of Reproduction), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2001. RESEARCH INTERESTS: Research is to understand the physiological, cellular and molecular interactions between the developing embryo and its associated placental membranes, and the maternal uterine endometrium that are essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The long-range goal is the application of new knowledge towards clinical strategies to prevent pregnancy loss in companion animals, domestic livestock, and women. His laboratory utilizes mice, sheep, pigs and cell-lines to study: (1) the biological roles of the extracellular matrix protein, osteopontin, and its integrin receptors during mammalian implantation and placentation; and (2) the induction, expression and biological roles of conceptus interferons and the genes they upregulate within the uterus during the peri-implantation period. Selected Publications from total of 68 in Peer-Reviewed Journals MuZiz JJ, Joyce MM, Taylor JD, Burghardt JR, Burghardt RC, Johnson GA. Glycosylation Dependent Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (GlyCAM-1)-like protein and L-Selectin expression in sheep interplacentomal and placentomal endometrium. Reproduction, submitted. White FJ, Ross JW, Joyce MM, Geisert RD, Burghardt RJ, Johnson GA. Steroid regulation of cell specific secreted phosphoprotein 1 (osteopontin) expression in the pregnant porcine uterus. Biol Reprod 2005; 73:1294-1301. Joyce MM, González JF, Lewis S, Woldesenbet S, Burghardt RC, Newton GR, Johnson GA. Caprine uterine and placental osteopontin expression is distinct among epitheliochorial implanting species. Placenta, 2005; 26:160-170. Joyce MM, White FJ, Burghardt RC, Muniz JJ, Spencer TE, Bazer FW, Johnson GA. Interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) conjugates to cytosolic proteins and is expressed at the uterine-placental interface throughout ovine pregnancy. Endocrinology 2005; 146:675-684. Spencer TE, Johnson GA, Bazer FW, Burghardt, RC. Implantation mechanisms: Insights from the sheep. Reproduction, 2004; 128:656-668. Johnson GA, Burghardt RC, Bazer FW and Spencer TE. Minireview: Osteopontin: roles in implantation and placentation. Biol Reprod 2003; 69:1458-1471.