Abstract #1
Section: Triennial Reproduction Symposium
Session: Triennial Reproduction Symposium: Developmental programming of fertility
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Sunday 8:00 AM–8:30 AM
Location: Gatlin A-3
Session: Triennial Reproduction Symposium: Developmental programming of fertility
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Sunday 8:00 AM–8:30 AM
Location: Gatlin A-3
# 1
The importance of understanding the impacts of developmental programming on fertility: An overview.
Lawrence Reynolds*1, 1North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND.
Key Words: Triennial Reproduction Symposium, developmental programming of fertility, overview
Speaker Bio
The importance of understanding the impacts of developmental programming on fertility: An overview.
Lawrence Reynolds*1, 1North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND.
Increasing evidence supports the idea that reproductive efficiency may be “programmed” during prenatal or early postnatal life. Developmental programming is the concept that an “insult” during any developmental stage can result in programming of organ/organismal function in the short or long term. Insults that result in developmental programming include external factors such as (1) malnutrition pre-mating, during pregnancy, or during infancy; and (2) exposure to environmental factors such as social stress, high temperature-humidity, smoke, herbicides, pesticides, or phytosteroids. Intrinsic factors that result in developmental programming include (1) maternal age, (2) multiple fetuses, and (3) maternal and embryonic genetic background. Based on large epidemiological studies primarily in humans, as well as controlled studies in animal models including livestock, developmental programming affects the function of various organ systems in the offspring, resulting in altered growth, body composition, metabolism, and behavior. The organ systems that have been shown to be affected include, among others, adipose tissue, brain, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, muscle, and reproductive system, including the ovary, utero-placenta, testis, and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. In addition, the effects of developmental programming have been shown to be transmissible across generations. The 2015 Triennial Reproduction Symposium will focus on how developmental processes and systems can affect reproductive success in males and females in livestock and other species.
Key Words: Triennial Reproduction Symposium, developmental programming of fertility, overview
Speaker Bio
For more than 35 years, Dr. Reynolds’ research program has focused on improving both fertility (the ability to conceive and to maintain pregnancy) and pregnancy outcomes (i.e., birth weights and postnatal health) in livestock. These problems have major scientific, socioeconomic, and health implications for humans as well.
Dr. Reynolds and collaborators in the U.S., Australia, Europe, and South America helped establish that placental (uterine and umbilical) blood flows are key to normal placental function (i.e., transport capacity) throughout gestation. Subsequently, they were the first to show that the placenta produces angiogenic factors, which drive its dramatic vascular development. Recognizing that placental growth also is critical, they were among the first to develop methods to evaluate the rate of cell turnover (cell proliferation and apoptosis) in tissues in vivo. More recently, Dr. Reynolds and co-workers have shown that placental vascular development and function are key mediators by which maternal stressors such as malnutrition, environmental factors, age, etc., affect pre- and postnatal well-being, and were among the first to recognize and investigate the potential impact of ‘developmental programming’ in livestock. They also have shown profound effects of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization on placental vascular development very early in pregnancy. They currently are investigating therapeutic and management strategies to improve fertility and pregnancy outcomes, and also are investigating the role of fetal and maternal steroids in the processes of fetal organ maturation and birth.
Dr. Reynolds has been PI or Co-PI on 35 federal grants from NIH, NSF, and USDA, totaling more than $10 million. He has published more than 200 book chapters and journal articles including 26 invited reviews. His publications have been cited more than 8,200 times. He has received the American Society of Animal Science’s Animal Growth and Development Award, the American Society of Animal Science’s Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award, the Eugene R. Dahl Excellence in Research Award at NDSU, and the 51st NDSU Faculty Lectureship.
Dr. Reynolds has taught more than 20 different undergraduate and graduate courses in cell biology, endocrinology, growth biology, and reproductive biology, and mentored more than 35 undergraduate research interns, 13 graduate students, and 30 postdoctoral fellows, visiting scientists and junior faculty. He also is Co-Director of the Frontiers in Reproduction advanced summer course at the Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole, MA.
Dr. Reynolds has co-organized or spoken at 45 national/international symposia and held 15 Visiting Professorships and Keynote Speakerships throughout the world. Since 1986, he has served on or chaired more than 50 federal grant-review panels for NIH and USDA. He also is involved with a national effort promoting farm animals as dual-use models for agricultural and biomedical research. From 2005 to 2008, Dr. Reynolds served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Animal Science, the world’s top-ranked Animal Science journal. He was named ‘University Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences’ at NDSU in 2008.
Dr. Reynolds is a founding Director of the Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy at NDSU, which has extensive national and international research and educational efforts to address issues critical to long-term health, well-being, and productivity of both livestock and humans.
Dr. Reynolds and collaborators in the U.S., Australia, Europe, and South America helped establish that placental (uterine and umbilical) blood flows are key to normal placental function (i.e., transport capacity) throughout gestation. Subsequently, they were the first to show that the placenta produces angiogenic factors, which drive its dramatic vascular development. Recognizing that placental growth also is critical, they were among the first to develop methods to evaluate the rate of cell turnover (cell proliferation and apoptosis) in tissues in vivo. More recently, Dr. Reynolds and co-workers have shown that placental vascular development and function are key mediators by which maternal stressors such as malnutrition, environmental factors, age, etc., affect pre- and postnatal well-being, and were among the first to recognize and investigate the potential impact of ‘developmental programming’ in livestock. They also have shown profound effects of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization on placental vascular development very early in pregnancy. They currently are investigating therapeutic and management strategies to improve fertility and pregnancy outcomes, and also are investigating the role of fetal and maternal steroids in the processes of fetal organ maturation and birth.
Dr. Reynolds has been PI or Co-PI on 35 federal grants from NIH, NSF, and USDA, totaling more than $10 million. He has published more than 200 book chapters and journal articles including 26 invited reviews. His publications have been cited more than 8,200 times. He has received the American Society of Animal Science’s Animal Growth and Development Award, the American Society of Animal Science’s Animal Physiology and Endocrinology Award, the Eugene R. Dahl Excellence in Research Award at NDSU, and the 51st NDSU Faculty Lectureship.
Dr. Reynolds has taught more than 20 different undergraduate and graduate courses in cell biology, endocrinology, growth biology, and reproductive biology, and mentored more than 35 undergraduate research interns, 13 graduate students, and 30 postdoctoral fellows, visiting scientists and junior faculty. He also is Co-Director of the Frontiers in Reproduction advanced summer course at the Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole, MA.
Dr. Reynolds has co-organized or spoken at 45 national/international symposia and held 15 Visiting Professorships and Keynote Speakerships throughout the world. Since 1986, he has served on or chaired more than 50 federal grant-review panels for NIH and USDA. He also is involved with a national effort promoting farm animals as dual-use models for agricultural and biomedical research. From 2005 to 2008, Dr. Reynolds served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Animal Science, the world’s top-ranked Animal Science journal. He was named ‘University Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences’ at NDSU in 2008.
Dr. Reynolds is a founding Director of the Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy at NDSU, which has extensive national and international research and educational efforts to address issues critical to long-term health, well-being, and productivity of both livestock and humans.
