Metabolic control of reproductive maturation

There is a critical period during late gestation in humans and perinatally in atricial animals like rats and mice , during which the building blocks of energy homeostasis, including the hypothalamic regulation of food intake and energy balance become established. During this early postnatal period, neuronal dendritic and axonal elongation as well as pruning takes place, creating the circuits involved in the control of metabolism and reproduction. The proposed project will study how early life alterations of metabolic status affect the developmental trajectories of hypothalamic neurons resulting in alterations of the timing of puberty and increased susceptibility to metabolic disease and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) during puberty and adulthood. This is part of an ongoing international collaboration between Dr Lomniczi’s lab (in Halifax) and Drs Solari and Peluffo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The participating institutions will benefit of reinforcing collaboration by the exchange of students, accelerating the discovery process as well as enhancing recruitment of students to our Graduate Programs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Alejandro Lomniczi

Student:

Partner:

Universidad de Buenos Aires

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Dalhousie University

Program: