Establishment of a Methods Development Core Laboratory within our Center is the most economical, efficient, and quality way to consolidate our development efforts. Validated assays of proven utility for testing normals and patients with infertility are critical to the ongoing support of the clinical and laboratory investigations whose goals are to precisely define the normative physiology in an area; to distinguish new pathophysiologic abnormalities; and to devise rational therapies. The strategic goals of this Methods Development Core are: a) to develop new reagents and assays useful to Center Investigators within their individual research Projects; b) to perform the biochemical and physiologic validation of these assays; and c) to transfer proven tests to high quality, high volume cores for performance. Thus, the Methods Development Core plays a critical role in the translational process between early investigative discoveries and the cost efficient performance of centralized clinical laboratory testing; in essence to facilitate bench to bedside transfer of U54 research progress. Given the Center's current focus on FSH regulation in the human, our current methods development will initially be brought to bear on providing 10 new assays for the clinical measurement of proteins comprising the inhibin/activin/follistatin system. Using a combination of whole molecule monoclonal antibodies already generated as well as sequence-specific antibodies directed at selected epitopes identified by structural analysis will be utilized to achieve specific double antibody 2-site assays for such closely related antigens. These assays will be designed and validated for measuring these proteins in serum, follicular fluid, and primary cell cultures. In close collaboration with Center investigators, the validity of these assays will be tested and normative databases established critical to the execution of the Specific Aims of the individual research projects. Subsequently, these assays will be made available to investigators of the collaborating Center within the Cooperative Research Program and to other NICHD-funded investigators.

Project Start
1999-12-01
Project End
2000-11-30
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02199
Glister, Claire; Sunderland, Simon J; Boland, Maurice P et al. (2015) Comparison of bioactivities, binding properties and intrafollicular levels of bovine follistatins. Reproduction 150:85-96
Evans, William S; Taylor, Ann E; Boyd, David G et al. (2007) Lack of effect of short-term diazoxide administration on luteinizing hormone secretion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 88:118-24
Hansen, Karl R; Thyer, Angela C; Sluss, Patrick M et al. (2005) Reproductive ageing and ovarian function: is the early follicular phase FSH rise necessary to maintain adequate secretory function in older ovulatory women? Hum Reprod 20:89-95
Welt, Corrine K; Taylor, Ann E; Fox, Janis et al. (2005) Follicular arrest in polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with deficient inhibin A and B biosynthesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:5582-7
Hall, Janet E; Sullivan, Jason P; Richardson, Gary S (2005) Brief wake episodes modulate sleep-inhibited luteinizing hormone secretion in the early follicular phase. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:2050-5
Welt, Corrine K; Falorni, Alberto; Taylor, Ann E et al. (2005) Selective theca cell dysfunction in autoimmune oophoritis results in multifollicular development, decreased estradiol, and elevated inhibin B levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:3069-76
Klein, Nancy A; Houmard, Brenda S; Hansen, Karl R et al. (2004) Age-related analysis of inhibin A, inhibin B, and activin a relative to the intercycle monotropic follicle-stimulating hormone rise in normal ovulatory women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89:2977-81
Welt, Corrine K (2004) Regulation and function of inhibins in the normal menstrual cycle. Semin Reprod Med 22:187-93
Adams, Judith M; Taylor, Ann E; Crowley Jr, William F et al. (2004) Polycystic ovarian morphology with regular ovulatory cycles: insights into the pathophysiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89:4343-50
Barbieri, Robert L (2003) Metformin for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. Obstet Gynecol 101:785-93

Showing the most recent 10 out of 126 publications