Ei Terasawa

 

 

Study of Hypothalamic GnRH Neurons

E-mail: terasawa@primate.wisc.edu

Office Phone: (608) 263-3579, (608) 263-3528

Research Strengths: Neuroendocrinology; Development: Plasticity and Repair, Membrane Excitability and Synaptic Transmission

Many types of neuroendocrine neurons in the hypothalamus release neurohormones
into the pituitary portal circulation in an oscillatory manner, which is essential for
normal pituitary function. My research focuses on the study of one of these
neurons--the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurosecretory system.
The aims of current studies are: 1) to determine the mechanism of the onset of puberty, which requires an increase in GnRH pulse frequency; 2) to investigate the mechanism of ovarian steroid action on GnRH neurons, which modulate pulsatile GnRH release with different time domains, and 3) to investigate the cellular mechanism of pulsatile LHRH neurosecretion.

My research is being conducted on the rhesus monkey, as an important model for
humans. I take a multidisciplinary approach to accomplishing the research aims, and
use a variety of techniques including a microdialysis method to determine in
vivo release of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters; Ca2+ imaging in cultured
LHRH neurons; patch clamp recording; in vitro perfusion of hypothalami and
cultured LHRH neurons; identification of neuroendocrine neurons with
immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization; and assessment of quantitative neuronal gene expression and DNA methylation status with various molecular biological approaches.

Selected Publications:

• Kurian J.R., Keen, K.L. and Terasawa,  E. 2010. Epigenetic changes coincide with in vitro primate GnRH neuronal maturation. Endocrinology. In press.
• Terasawa,  E., Kurian J.R., Guerriero K.A., Kenealy B.P., Hutz, E.D., and Keen, K.L. 2010. Recent discoveries on the control of GnRH neurons in nonhuman primates. J. Neuroendocrinol. 22: 630-638.
• Terasawa,  E., Noel, S.D., and Keen, K.L. 2009. Rapid action of estrogen in LHRH neurons: The role of GPR30. J. Neuroendocrinol. 21: 316-321.
• Noel, S.D., Keen, K.L., Baumann,  D.I., Filardo, E.J.,  and Terasawa,  E. 2009. Involvement of G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in rapid action of estrogen in primate LHRH neurons. Mol. Endocrinol.  23: 349-359.
• Keen, K.L., Wegner, F.H., Bloom, S.R., Ghatei, M.A., and Terasawa, E. 2008. An increase in kisspeptin-54 release occurs with the pubertal increase in LHRH release in the stalk-median eminence of female rhesus monkeys in vivo. Endocrinology  49:4151-4157.
• Abe, H., and E. Terasawa. 2005. Firing pattern and rapid modulation of activity by estrogen in primate LHRH-1 neurons. Endocrinology 146: 4312-4320.
• Terasawa, E., K.L. Keen, R.L. Grendell, and T.G. Golos. 2005. Possible role of ATP in synchronization of Ca2+ oscillations in primate luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons. Mol. Endocrinol. 19: 2736-2747.
• Terasawa, E. and D.L. Fernandez. 2001. Neurobiological mechanisms of the onset of puberty in primates. Endocrinol. Rev. 22: 111-151.
• Terasawa, E. 2001. Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons: Mechanism of pulsatile LHRH release. Vitam. Horm. 63: 91-129.
• Terasawa, E., W.K. Schanhofer, K.L. Keen, and L.L. Luchansky. 1999. Intracellular Ca2+ oscillation in luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) cells derived from the embryonic olfactory placode of the rhesus monkey. J. Neurosci. 19: 5898-5909.
• Terasawa, E., K.L. Keen, K. Mogi, and P. Claude. 1999. Pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in cultured LHRH neurons derived from the embryonic olfactory placode of the rhesus monkey. Endocrinology 140: 1432-1441.
• Keen, K.L., Burich, A.J., Mitsushima, D., Kasuya, E., and Terasawa, E. 1999. Effects of pulsatile infusion of the GABAA receptor blocker bicuculline on the onset of puberty in female rhesus monkeys. Endocrinology 140: 5257-5266.