64 research outputs found

    Cytokine knockouts in reproduction: The use of gene ablation to dissect the roles of cytokines in reproductive biology

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    © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.Cytokines play many diverse and important roles in reproductive biology, and dissecting the complex interactions between these proteins and the different reproductive organs is a difficult task. One approach is to use gene ablation, or ‘knockout’, to analyse the effect of deletion of a single cytokine on mouse reproductive function. This review summarizes the essential roles of cytokines in reproductive biology that have been revealed by gene knockout studies, including development and regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gondal axis, ovarian folliculogenesis, implantation and immune system modulation during pregnancy. However, successful utilization of this approach must consider the caveats associated with gene ablation studies, e.g. embryonic lethality, systemic effects of cytokine ablation on local reproductive processes and the limited exposure to pathogens in mice housed in laboratory conditions. New sophisticated technology that temporally or spatially regulates gene ablation can overcome some of these limitations. Discoveries on the roles of cytokines in reproductive function uncovered by gene ablation studies can now be applied to improve in vitro fertilization for infertile couples and in the development of contraceptive therapies.Wendy V. Ingman and Rebecca L. Jone

    Universities and Community-Building Activities Across the Globe: Responding to Economic and Ethical Crises

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    Global concerns regarding economic stability and sustainable communities are exacerbated by unethical business practices and the growing gap between rich and poor. Changes in the role of universities and scholarship may help address some of these challenges through partnerships for research, education, and problem-solving. Exploration of the role of higher education in community-building is not unique to the United States. The authors offer examples of collaborative efforts involving universities and communities working together in Switzerland, Northern Ireland, and Mexico
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