Normal female reproductive function requires precise quantitative and temporal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The overall objective of our laboratory is to understand the neuroendocrine control of reproduction with a focus on the pituitary gonadotrope cells which produce the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). A long-standing project focuses on molecular mechanisms which mediate basal and hormonal regulating of the LH? subunit. Recent data have demonstrated that gonadotropes also secrete a peptide known as PACAP which regulates gonadotrope function in an autocrine manner. As a second project, we are investigating the regulation of this peptide by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadal steroids. A third project focuses on changes in pituitary function with female reproductive aging.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Anterior Pituitary Gland Function
Reproductive Aging
PACAP in Reproduction
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Agarwal A, Legrad G, Halvorson LM, "Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) mimics neuroendocrine and behavioral manifestations of stress." Brain Research Mol Brin Res, 32(1):45-57, July 2005
Jiang Q, Jeong KH, Horton CD, Halvorson LM, "Pituitary homeobox 1 (Pitx1) stimulates rat LHbeta gene expression via two functional DNA-regulatory regions." J Mol Endocrinol, 35(1):145-158, August 2005
Zheng W, Yang J, Jiang Q,, He Z, Halvorson LM, "Liver receptor homologue-1 regulates gonadotrope function." Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, volume 38:207-219
Zheng W, Jimenez-Linan M, Rubin BS, Halvorson LM, "Anterior pituitary gene expression with reproductive aging in the female rat." Biology of Reproduction, 76(6):1091-1102, March 2007
Grafer CM, Thomas R, Lambrakos L, Montoya I, White S, Halvorson LM>, "Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the pituitary gonadotropes via both the PKA and PKC signaling systems." Mol Endocrinol, In Press July 2009
SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONS
Horton CD and Halvorson LM, "The CAMP signaling system regulates LHbeta gene expression: roles of early growth response protein-1, SP1 and steroidogenic factor-1." J Mol Endocrinol, 32(1):291-306, February 2004
Agarwal A, Legradi, G, and Halvorson, LM, "Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) mimics neuroendocrine and behavioral manifestations of stress: evidence for PKA-mediated expression of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene" Brain Res Mol Brain Res, 138(1):45-57, July 2005
Zheng W, Yang J, Jiang Q, He Z, Halvorson, LM, "Liver receptor homologue-1 regulates gonadotrope function" J Mol Endocrinol, 38(102):207-219, February 2007
Zheng W, Jimenez-Linan M, Rubin BS, Halvorson LM, "Anterior pituitary gene expression with reproductive aging in the female rat." Biol Reprod, 76(6):1091-1102, March 2007
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