University of New Hampshire
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Rudman Hall Rm 322
46 College Rd
Durham, NH 03824

(phone) 603-862-0044
(fax) 603-862-4013
msilver@cisunix.unh.edu

Research Area

Neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction

Research Emphasis

My research focuses on the neuroendocrine regulation of the reproductive axis using the sea lamprey as a model. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is produced in the anterior hypothalamus, is the central regulator of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, and therefore reproduction, in all vertebrates. Two forms of GnRH have been identified in the sea lamprey, lamprey GnRH-I (peptide and cDNA) and –III (peptide), both of which have been shown to regulate reproductive function in lamprey.

My research is divided into two complimentary investigations that will lead to the better understanding of both the vertebrate GnRH system as a whole and the neuroendocrine system of the sea lamprey:

• 1) Cloning and analysis of the lamprey GnRH-III cDNA
  One application of the cloned lamprey GnRH-III cDNA is to describe the molecular evolution of the GnRH family using a phylogenetic analysis (see figure), which suggests that the GnRH family is broken down into the four paralogous lineages (Silver et al., 2004-General and Comparative Endocrinology).
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• 2) Characterization of cloned lamprey GnRH receptor cDNA
  The characterization of the lamprey GnRH receptor cDNA is necessary to first demonstrate that it encodes a functional product. These studies will be followed up with functional and pharmacological characterization of the lamprey GnRH receptor.