Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratory

Fluorescent tissue image

Ramaley N384
Department of Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado
ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, CO 80309-0354
phone: 303-735-4364

Research Interests

  • The Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratory is interested in understanding how hormones from the brain and pituitary control puberty, male and female reproduction, and reproductive senescence. We are particularly interested in the function of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and the developmental regulation of neurons that produce GnRH, since developmental abnormalities in these neurons lead to absent puberty and infertility in all vertebrates including humans. Additional projects include investigating (1) the evolutionary pattern of GnRH using molluscan models, and (2) the developmental regulation of the endocrine hypothalamus.

Personnel

  • Laboratory Director: Pei-San Tsai, Ph.D.
  • Visiting Scholar: Manas Patra, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Students: Tyler Akonom, M.S., Chimere Ndudim, B.S.
  • Undergraduate Students: Adriana Espinoza, Devika Jagadish, McKenzie Jones, Leonard Kogan, Claire Maloney

Current Research Projects

  • Development and maintenance of the reproductive brain.
  • Functional and structural evolution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone superfamily.
  • Etiology of infertility in humans.
  • Embryonic development of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus.

Opportunities for Undergraduates

  • The requirements for undergraduate research in the Tsai lab are included below. We encourage highly motivated students, including underrepresented and underserved students, to apply.
    • Junior or senior status.
    • Minimum commitment of one year.
    • Be able to work at least 8 hours per week.
    • Either have completed or be concurrently enrolled in IPHY 3410 (Human Anatomy) or IPHY 3470/3480 (Human Physiology).
    • Participate in a funding mechanism (such as UROP, Uplift, or IPHY Research Award) or enroll in independent study (IPHY 4860).
  • For more information, contact Prof. Tsai (pei-san.tsai@colorado.edu).

Recent Publications

  • Fodor I, Zrinyi Z, Horváth R, Urbán P, Herczeg R, Büki G, Koene JM, Tsai P-S, Pirger Z. Identification, presence, and possible multifunctional regulatory role of invertebrate gonadotropin-releasing hormone/corazonin molecule in the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis). General and Comparative Endocrinology 299: 113621, 2020.
  • Dela Cruz C, Horton CA, Sanders KN, Andersen ND, Tsai P-S. Conditional Fgfr1 deletion in GnRH neurons leads to minor disruptions in the reproductive axis of male and female mice. Frontiers in Endocrinology 11: 588459, 2021
  • Laphyai P, Kruangkum T, Chotwiwatthanakun C, Semchuchot W, Thaijongrak P, Sobhon P, Tsai P-S, Vanichviriyakit R. Suppression of a novel vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone significantly increases ovarian vitellogenesis in the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Frontiers in Endocrinology 12: 760538, 2021
  • Chung WC, Tsai P-S. The initiation and maintenance of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron identity in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Frontiers in Endocrinology 14: 1166132, 2023
  • Tsai P-S, Sanders KN, Dai X, Plachetzki D. Authentication of a lophotrochozoan adipokinetic hormone receptor in a gastropod, Aplysia californica. General and Comparative Endocrinology 345:114393, 2024