Dr. Zeleznik's research interests are focused on the physiology and cell biology of ovarian function. At the physiological level, we are interested in understanding how the events that transpire during the menstrual cycle are precisely regulated by the interactions between hypothalamus, the pituitary and the ovary. At the cellular and molecular level, we are interested in understanding the mechanisms by which the response of the ovary to the gonadotropic hormones changes as a function of the maturational status of the ovary. To this end, we are interested in identifying the intracellular signaling pathways activated by the gonadotropic hormones and whether they change as ovarian cellular differentiation progresses.
Publications
Zeleznik AJ, Ihrig, LL, Ramaswamy S. Administration of IGF-I to rhesus monkeys does not augment gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. In Press augment gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. In Press
Chowdhury I, Xu W, Stiles JK, Zeleznik A, Yao X, Matthews R, Thomas K, Thompson WE. Apoptosis of Rat Granulosa Cells After Staurosporine And Serum Withdrawal Is Suppressed by Adenovirus Directed Overexpression of Prohibitin. Endocrinology. 2007 148:206-217.
Saxena D, Escamilla-Hernandez R, Little-Ihrig L, Zeleznik AJ. Liver receptor homolog-1 and steroidogenic factor-1 have similar actions on rat granulosa cell steroidogenesis. Endocrinology. 2007 148:726-734.
Gubbay O, Rae MT, McNeilly AS, Donadeu FX, Zeleznik AJ, Hillier SG. cAMP response element-binding (CREB) signaling and ovarian surface epithelial cell survival. J Endocrinol. 2006 191:275-285.
Parakh TN, Hernandez JA, Grammer JC, Weck J, Hunzicker-Dunn M, Zeleznik AJ, Nilson JH Follicle-stimulating hormone/cAMP regulation of aromatase gene expression requires beta-catenin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 103:12435-12440.
Bebia Z, Somers JP, Liu G, Ihrig L, Shenker A,. Zeleznik AJ. Adenovirus-Directed Expression of Functional LH Receptors in Undifferentiated Rat Granulosa Cells: Evidence for Differential Signaling Through FSH and LH Receptors. Endocrinology142:2252-2259, 2001.
El-Hefnawy T, Zeleznik AJ. Synergism between FSH and activin in the regulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D2 expression in undifferentiated rat granulosa cells. Endocrinology, 142:4357-4362, 2001.
Somers J, DeLoia JA, Zeleznik AJ Adenovirus-directed expression of a non-phosphorylatable mutant of CREB (cAMP Response Element Binding Protein) adversely affects the survival, but not the differentiation, of rat granulosa cells. Mol Endocrinol, 13:1364-1372, 1999.
Sullivan MW, Stewart-Aikers A, Krasnow JS, Berga SL, Zeleznik AJ. Ovarian responses in women to recombinat follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone: A role for LH in the final stages of follicular maturation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84:228- 232, 1999.
Zeleznik AJ In vivo responses of the primate corpus luteum to luteinizing hormone and chorionic gonadotropin. Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 95:11002-11007,1998.
Benyo DF, Zeleznik AJ. Cyclic AMP signaling in the primate corpus luteum: maintenance of protein kinase A activity throughout the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Endocrinology 138:3452-3458, 1997
Krasnow JS, Berga SL, Guzick DS, Zeleznik AJ, Yeo KT. Vascular permeability factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a preliminary report. Fertil Steril 65:552-555, 1997.
Somers JP, Benyo DF, Little-Ihrig L, Zeleznik AJ. Luteinization in primates is accompanied by a loss of a 43-kilodalton adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate response element-binding protein. Endocrinology 136:4764-4768, 1995.
