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The Center for Reproductive Sciences

Faculty

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David Albertini, PhD
Hall Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Research Description

Our laboratory employs genetic, molecular and imaging strategies to study basic aspects of the process of reproduction that bear on human disease and its clinical management by stem cell therapy. The overall emphasis is on Women’s Health in relation to causes of human infertility, ovarian cancer, and the deployment of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTS) for improving egg and embryo quality in human and animal models. Three project areas are actively under study:

  • Ovarian Physiology-the basis of signaling between the somatic and germ cell compartments of the mammalian ovary is studied using mouse knockout models of TGF-beta and gap junctional communication as related to the regulation of oogenesis and folliculogenesis.
  • Oocyte Meiotic Cell Cycle Regulation-how modifications in checkpoint control of somatic cells are adapted to ensure chromosome balance during meiosis in oocytes is being approached by live cell imaging techniques that permit simultaneous visualization of microtubule and chromosome dynamics during cell cycle progression. This problem bears directly on the effects of maternal aging and environmental exposure on reproductive fitness in aging women and is especially pertinent to the cause of Trisomy 21 or Downs Syndrome.
  • Embryonic Origins of Stem Cells- the low efficiency and poor development manifest after in vitro embryo production in most mammals is thought to be the result of both maternal environment and culture conditions that influence generation of placental and embryonic progenitors. Live imaging, genetic marking, and gene expression studies are aimed at understanding these methodological deficiencies to improve the quality of embryos from which stem cells can be isolated. Cell polarity and cell cycle regulation, in addition to chromatin remodeling, are being focused on as likely targets for disruption in the normal cascade of developmental events that compromise embryogenesis and the ability of embryonic stem cells to retain self renewal and differentiative capacities.

Representative Publications

Ibanez E, Sanfins A, Combelles CC, Overström EW, Albertini DF. Genetic strain variations in the metaphase-II phenotype of mouse oocytes matured in vivo and in vitro. Reprod 2005; 129:27-38.

Fischer Russell D, Ibanez E, Albertini DF, Overstrom EW. Activated bovine cytoplasts prepared by demecolcine-induced enucleation support development of nuclear transfer embryos in vitro. Molec Reprod Devel 2005; 72:161-170.

Telfer E, Gosden RG, Byskov AG, Spears N, Albertini DF, Andersen CY, et al. On regenerating the ovary and generating controversy. Cell 2005; 122:821-822.

Ibanez E, Sanfins A, Combelles CMH, Overstrom EW, Albertini DF. Genetic strain variations in the metaphase-II phenotype of mouse oocytes matured in vivo and invitro. Reproduction 2005; 130:1-12.

Dai Y, Wang l, Wang H, Liu Y, Li N, Lyo Q, Keefe DL, Albertini DF, Liu L. Fate of centrosomes following somatic cell nuclear transfer(SCNT) in bovine oocytes. Reproduction 2006; 131:1051-1061.

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