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Richburg, John
E-mail: john_richburg@mail.utexas.edu Website: http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/divisions/pharmtox/faculty/richburg.html Main Office: PHR 5.218C Alternate Office: PHR 5.222 Mailing Address: |
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Graduate Students: Post Doc Students: Research Summary: The broad focus of my research is the investigation of the mechanism(s) by which environmental toxicants affect male reproduction. My specific research interests are directed towards thee understanding of the signaling pathways that regulate germ cell death via apoptosis in the testis and how environmental toxicants can disrupt this process to result in disease. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death occurs in the testis normally as a physiologic mechanism to limit the number of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium. Recent evidence suggests that exposure to chemicals found in the environment may play a role in male infertility and the pathogenesis of testicular cancer. However, despite the association of exposure to these agents and infertility, little is known of the mechanisms by which they act on the male reproductive system. Current projects in the lab are centered on revealing paracrine-signaling systems responsible for toxicant-induced germ cell death via apoptosis. Our current focus is on understanding the role of the �death receptors� (e.g., Fas/ DR3, 4, 5 & 6) and their ligands in the testis. Current experimental approaches include: confocal microscopy, laser capture microdissection, northern and western blot analysis, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The ultimate goal of this research is to define the final common mechanism(s) of toxicant-induced germ cell death and provide insights into the role that environmental toxicant exposures play in male infertility and testicular cancer. Research Images:
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