The Faculty in Reproductive Biology at Illinois

Janice M. Bahr

Animal Sciences and Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Ph.D., University of Illinois

To e-mail Dr. Bahr use: j-bahr@uiuc.edu

Dr. Bahr's CV.

A question that has intrigued reproductive scientists for years is whether the female gamete participates in the proliferation and differentiation of the ovarian follicle. Our interest in the female gamete or germinal disc in the chicken stems from the discovery that the germinal disc region (germinal disc and its overlying granulosa cells) (GDR) is essential for proper follicular development. Our overall goal is to establish that the GDR is the proliferative center of the follicle, to determine the mechanism by which the GDR assumes that role, and to examine whether gonado-tropins influence the function of the GDR as a center of proliferation.

Our recent discovery of the presence of aromatase, the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogen and its mRNA in germ cells of male mice, rats, and roosters suggests that germ cells synthesize estrogen. A very exciting discovery was the localization of estrogen receptors in the epididymis of the rooster which indicated that the epididymis is a target for estrogen. Future studies will address the role of estrogen in regulating epididymal function and ultimately fertility. This research is being done in collaboration with David Bunick and Rex Hess.

News Items

Chickens may help aid in early detection of ovarian cancer

Isolation of ferret protein promising for cancer, reproductive studies

Estrogen, soy boost recovery in hearts after surgery, studies show

Selected Publications:

Howell-Skalla L, Bunick D, Nelson RA, Bahr JM 2000 Testicular recrudescence in the male black bear (Ursus americanus): Changes in testicular luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and prolactin receptor ribonucleic acid abundance and dependency on prolactin. Biol Reprod 63:440-447.

Yao H-C, Bahr JM 2001 Germinal disc-derived epidermal growth factor: Basis for phenotypic differences in granulosa cells. Biol Reprod 64: 1790-1796.

Lee K-H, Finnigan-Bunick C, Bahr JM, Bunick D 2001 Estrogen regulation of ion transporter mRNA levels in mouse efferent ductules are mediated differentially through ERa and ERb. Biol Reprod 65:1534-1541.

Hernandez AG, Bahr JM 2003 Role of FSH and EGF in the initiation of steroidogenesis in granulosa cells associated with follicular selection in the chicken ovary. Reproduction 125:683-691.

Schulz LC, Bahr JM 2003 Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase stimulates embryo implantation in the domestic ferret. PNAS 100:8561-8566.

View Publications by Janice M. Bahr listed on the National Library of Medicine (PubMed)

Last updated July 31, 2003

Home  |  The Program  |  The Faculty  |  The Departments and How To Apply
Seminars, Lectures and Conferences  |  News and Announcements  |  Current Trainees