Graduate Programs in the Life Sciences

Research Focus

• events surrounding fertilization in mammalian species, particularly the horse

• elucidate in vitro conditions to support stallion sperm capacitation
• "My laboratory is doing research in the basic events surrounding fertilization in the horse. For instance, we are studying the molecular mechanism that signals the equine oocyte that it has been fertilized, also termed oocyte activation. This is achieved by transient calcium elevations within the cytoplasm of the oocyte. We hope that this will help us improve the success of assisted reproduction and cloning in the horse. We are also interested in the mechanisms that prepare stallion sperm for fertilization, or sperm capacitation. Understanding this process may allow the successfully application of in vitro fertilization in the horse.

  Additionally we are researching the molecular factors that make the aged equine oocyte less apt for embryonic development. We have evidence that apoptosis occurs when aged oocytes are fertilized. We hope to eventually apply this knowledge to understand why older mares have decreased fertility."