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RESEARCH INTERESTS: Hypothalamic/Pituitary Function RESEARCH SUMMARY: Our research involves basic and applied studies of hormones and their receptors in domestic animal reproduction. A model for endocrine control of lactational anestrous in the postpartum beef cow has been developed by this laboratory and is based on nursing intensity, increasing hypothalamic sensitivity to the negative feedback of estrogen. Our goals are to use this model to develop practical techniques to decrease the postpartum interval in the cow and increase her overall productivity. Our laboratory has also been working on the development of
sterilization vaccines that can be used either in domestic species
or pet animals. We are working on developing an immunogenic chimeric
ovalbumin-LHRH molecule using genetic engineering. We have used
the cDNA of ovalbumin as a structural gene in which 7 LHRH inserts
were constructed into this gene by cassette mutagenesis and oligonucleotide
mismatch mutagenesis. These chimeric proteins were over-expressed
in the E. coli strain BL21 using a pET expression system, which
expresses a target protein with a C-terminal His-Tag. The C-terminal
His-Tag allows purification by metal chelation chromatography.
This ovalbumin LHRH chimeric protein has then been tested in
mice for its ability to produce an antibody against LHRH, as
well as its effects on biological action or decreasing reproductive
tract weight in the mouse. This vaccine appears to be effective
at least in mice and is presently being tested in cattle and
pigs. This particular type of vaccine also has potential in human
medicine, as it may apply to decreasing androgens in prostate
cancer patients.
Brodrick Gant, a Graduate Student in Dr. Reeves' laboratory, is collecting blood to measure hormone concentrations for his thesis.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS: Geary TW, Gings EE, MacNeil MD, de Avila DM, Reeves JJ. 2006 Use of recombinant gonadotropin-releasing hormone antigens for immunosterilizatoin of beef heifers. J Anim Sci. 84(2):343-50. Hernandez JA, Zanella EL, Bogden R, de Acila DM, Gaskins CT, Reeves JJ. 2005 Reproductive characteristics of grass-fed, lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone-immunocastrated Bos indicus bulls. J Anim Sci. 83(12):2901-7.
Sosa JM, Senger PL, Reeves JJ. (2002) Evaluation of American Wagyu
sires for scrotal circumference by age and body weight. J Anim Sci. 80(1):19-22. Ulker H, Gant BT, de Avila DM, Reeves JJ. (2001) LHRH
antagonist decreases LH and progesterone secretion but does not
alter length of estrous cycle in heifers. Ulker H, Kanter M, Gokdal O, De Avila DM, Reeves JJ. (2001) The effects of recombinant LHRH fusion proteins on testicular development and histology in ram lambs. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 108(11):459, 462-4. Elias Calles, J.A., Gaskins, C.t., Busboom, J.R., Duckett,
S.K., Cronrath, J.D., Reeves, J.J., Wright R.W. (2000)
Differences among Wagyu sires for USDA carcass traitsand palatability
attributions of cooked ribeye steaks. J. Anim. Sci. 78:1710-1715. Quesnell, M.M., Zhang, Y., de Avila, D.M. bertrand, K.P.,
Reeves, J.J. (2000) Immunization of male mice with luteinizing
hormone-releasing hormone fusion proteins reduces testicular
and accessory sex gland function. Biol Reprod. 63:347-353. Sosa, J.M., Zhang, Y., de Avila, D.M., ertrand, K.P., Reeves,
J.J. (2000) Technical nte: recombinant LHRH fusion protein
suppressses estrus in heifes. J. Anim. Sci. 78:1310-1320. Barrington, G.M., Besser, T.E., Gay, C.C., Davis, W.C., Reeves,
J.J., McFadden, T.B., Akers, R.M. (1999) Reulation opf the
immunoglobulin 1 receptor effect of prolactin on in vivo expression
of the bovine mamary immunoglobulin G1 receptor. J. Endocrinol.
163:25-31. Zhang Y, Rozell TG, deAvila DM, Bertrand KP, Reeves JJ
1999. Development of recombinant ovalbumin-luteinizing hormone
releasing hormone as a potential sterilization vaccine. Vaccine.
17:2185-91. Yavas, Y., D.M. de Avila, and J.J. Reeves (1996). Stress does not lower conception in heifers. Theriogenology 45: 623-632. Smith, G.D., H.R. Sawyer, M.A. Mirando, M.D. Griswold, A. Sadhu, and J.J. Reeves (1996). Steady-state luteinizing hormone receptor mRNA levels and endothelial cell composition in bovine normal- and short-lived corpora lutea. Biol. Reprod. (Accepted). Geary, T.W. and J.J. Reeves (1996). Production of a genetically engineered inhibin vaccine. Vaccine 14(13):1273. Harting, M.A., D.M. de Avila, K.A. Johnson, and J.J. Reeves (1996). Late-gestation treatment of pregnant cows with trenbolone acetate does not increase subsequent growth of heifer calves. J. Anim. Sci. (Accepted). Schramm, R.D., M.B. Briggs, and J.J. Reeves (1994). Spontaneous and Induced Ovulation in the Lion (Panthera Leo). Zoo. Biol. 13:301-307. Roberge S., J.L. Brown, and J.J. Reeves (1993). Elevated inhibin concentration in follicular fluid of chronic cystic ovarian diseased dairy cows. Theriogenology 40:809-818. Standaert, F.E., B.P. Chew, D. deAvila, and J.J. Reeves (1992). Presence of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone binding sites in cultured porcine lymphocytes. Biol. Reprod. 46:997-1000. Geary, T.W. and J.J. Reeves (1992). Relative Importance of Vision and Olfaction for Detection of Estrus by Bulls. J. Anim. Sci. 2726-2731. |
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