Ei Terasawa, PHD
Position title: Professor, Pediatrics / Primate Center
Email: terasawa@primate.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-263-3579
- Organ System/Disease Focus:
- Hypothalamus, Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
- Aligned Research Focus:
- Generation of GnRH neurons
More information:
- Dr. Terasawa’s Neuroscience Training Program webpage
- Dr. Terasawa’s Endocrinology & Reproductive Physiology Program webpage
- Dr. Terasawa’s Wisconsin National Primate Research Center webpage
Research Description:
My research focuses on cellular and molecular properties of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus and the mechanism of puberty onset. The absence of GnRH neurons or an abnormality in the control system results in diseases, such as idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH). Although we have an excellent non-human primate model with a primary cell culture system derived from embryonic monkey olfactory placode in vitro, and a measurement of GnRH release in vivo, generation of GnRH neurons from human ESCs and iPSCs provides a tool for studying the mechanism of GnRH pulse-generation, the rapid actions of steroid hormones, and epigenetic control of neuronal maturation in human GnRH neurons. Accordingly, we will first generate GnRH neurons and then investigate the cellular and molecular properties of GnRH neurons with multidisciplinary approaches. It is my hope that generation of GnRH neurons from human will provide a potential treatment tool for IHH patients.
Selected References:
- Noel, S.D., Keen, K.L., Baumann, D.I., Filardo, E.J., and Terasawa, E. Involvement of G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in rapid action of estrogen in primate LHRH neurons. Mol. Endocrinol. 23: 349-359, 2009. PMCID: PMC2654512
- Kurian J.R., Keen, K.L., and Terasawa, E. Epigenetic changes coincide with in vitro primate GnRH neuronal maturation. Endocrinology 151: 5359-5368, 2010. PMCID: PMC2954729
- Fuenzalida, L.C., Keen, K.L., and Terasawa, E. Colocalization of FM1-43, Bassoon and GnRH-1: GnRH-1 release from cell bodies and their neuroprocesses. Endocrinology 152: 4310-4321, 2011. PMCID: PMC3199012
- Kenealy, B.P., Kapoor, A., Guerriero, K.A., Keen, K.L., Garcia, J.P., Kurian, J.R., Ziegler, T.E., and Terasawa, E. Neuroestradiol in the hypothalamus contributes to the regulation of gonadotropin releasing hormone release. J. Neurosci. 33: 19071-19085, 2013. PMCID: PMC3850033
- Kenealy BP, Keen KL, Garcia JP, Kohlenberg LK, Terasawa E. Obligatory role of hypothalamic neuroestradiol during the estrogen-induced LH surge in female ovariectomized rhesus monkeys. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 114:13804-13809, 2017. PMCID: PMC5748216