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George W. Smith, Ph.D.

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Physiology Assistant Professor of Animal Science Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia

Research efforts in my laboratory over the past several years have focused on investigation of fundamental mechanisms that regulate ovarian function in farm animals and the physiological mechanisms involved in regulation of the stress response. We have obtained new insight into the hormonal regulation and regulatory role of members of the matrix metalloproteinase gene family in control of follicle rupture and the hormonal regulation and physiological role of various components of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system in promoting the stress response. Recent research efforts in my laboratory utilize functional genomics approaches to identify specific components of the oocyte transcriptome [catalog of genes expressed in the female germ cell] that play a key role in regulation of folliculogenesis, oocyte function and early embryonic development, and to identify objective molecular markers that are predictive of oocyte competence and subsequent potential reproductive success post-fertilization.

Publications:
Bakke, L.B., Q. Li, C.A. Cassar, M.P.D. Dow, J.R. Pursley and G.W. Smith. 2004. Gonadotropin surge induced differential upregulation of collagenase-1 (MMP-1) and collagenase-3 (MMP-13) mRNA and protein in bovine preovulatory follicles. Biology of Reproduction (in press).

Peters, M.W., J.R. Pursley and G. W. Smith. 2004. Inhibition of intrafollicular PGE2 synthesis and ovulation following ultrasound-mediated intrafollicular injection of the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS-398 in cattle. Journal of Animal Science (in press).

Evans, A., J. L.H. Ireland, M.E. Winn, P. Lonergan, G.W. Smith, P.M. Coussens, and J.J. Ireland. 2004. Identification of candidate estradiol target genes involved in apoptosis and dominant follicle development during follicular waves in cattle. Biology of Reproduction 70:1475-1484.

Suchyta, S.P., S. Sipkovsky, R. Kruska, A. Jeffers, A. McNulty, R.J. Tempelman, R. G. Halgren, P.M. Saama, D.E. Bauman, Y.R. Biosclair, J.L. Burton, R.J. Collier, E.J. DePeters, T.A. Ferris, M.C. Lucy, M.A. McGuire, J.F. Medrano, T.R. Overton, T.P. Smith, G.W. Smith, T.S. Sonstegard, J.M. Spain, D.E. Spiers, J. Yao and P.M. Coussens. 2003. Development and testing of a high-density cDNA microarray resource for cattle. Physiological Genomics 15:158-164.

Dow, M.P.D., L.J. Bakke, C.A. Cassar, M.W. Peters, J.R. Pursley and G.W. Smith. 2002 Gonadotropin surge-induced upregulation of the plasminogen activators (tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase plasminogen activator) and the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor within bovine periovulatory follicular and luteal tissue. Biology of Reproduction 66:1413-1421

Bakke, L.B., Dow, M.P.D., Cassar, C.A., Peters, M.W., Pursley, J.R. and G.W. Smith. 2002. Effect of the preovulatory gonadotropin surge on matrix metalloproteinase-14, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 expression within bovine periovulatory follicular and luteal tissue. Biology of Reproduction 66:1627-1634.

Dow, M.P.D., L.J. Bakke, C.A. Cassar, M.W. Peters, J.R. Pursley and G.W. Smith. 2002. Gonadotropin surge-induced upregulation of messenger RNA for plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 and 2 within bovine periovulatory follicular and luteal tissue. Reproduction 123:711-719.

Other Publications
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