Faculty Profiles

 

Current Research: 

 
Dr. Padmanabhan's research is translational and centers on understanding the fetal origin of pubertal and adult reproductive and metabolic disorders and the impact of steroids and estrogenic environmental pollutants in programming such defects. Utilizing integrative approaches ranging from cell and molecular biology as well as in vitro systems to whole animal physiology the emphasis is to understand the fundamental processes controlling reproductive cyclicity in the female, the mechanisms by which environmental / hormonal influences in early fetal life program reproductive failures and insulin resistance such as that seen in hyperandrogenic disorders like Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and to identify prevention and treatment strategies.  Research also centers on understanding the neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in the control of follicle-stimulating hormone, a key regulator of ovarian follicular development and fertility in women, its structure function relationships and the neuroendocrine and paracrine mechanisms controlling ovarian folliculogenesis, delineation of which will aid in overcoming infertility problems as well as in developing contraceptive approaches.

 

Representative Publications:

Manikkam, M, Crespi EJ, Doop, DD, Herkimer C, Lee JS, Yu S, Brown MB, Foster DL, Padmanabhan V.  2004  Fetal Programming: Prenatal Testosterone Excess Leads to Fetal Growth Retardation and Postnatal Catch-up Growth in Sheep.  Endocrinology 145:790-798.

 

Steckler T, Wang J, Bartol F, Roy SK, Padmanabhan V.  2005  Fetal programming: prenatal testosterone treatment causes intrauterine growth retardation, reduces ovarian reserve and increases ovarian follicular recruitment.  Endocrinology 146:3185-3193

 

Sarma HN, Manikkam M, Herkimer C, Dell'Orco J, Foster DL, Padmanabhan V.  2005 Fetal programming:  excess prenatal testosterone reduces postnatal LH, but not FSH responsiveness to estradiol negative feedback in the female.  Endocrinology 146:4281-4291

 

Manikkam M, Steckler TS, Welch KB, Inskeep EK, Padmanabhan V.  2006 Fetal Programming: Prenatal Testosterone Treatment Leads to Follicular Persistence / Luteal Defects. Partial Restoration of Ovarian Function by Cyclic Progesterone Treatment. Endocrinology.147:1997-2007

 

Crespi EJ, Steckler T, Mohankumar PS, Padmanabhan V.  2006  Prenatal testosterone excess and IGF bioavailability during intrauterine growth retardation and postnatal catch-up growth in sheep.  J Physiology 572: 119-130 105

 

Savabieasfahani M,  Kannan K, Astapova O, Evans NP, Padmanabhan V.  2006  Developmental programming:  differential effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol-A or methoxychlor on reproductive function. Endocrinology 147:5956-5966

Padmanabhan V, Manikkam, Recabarren S, Foster DL  2006 Prenatal Testosterone Programs Reproductive and Metabolic Dysfunction in the Female.  Mol Cell Endocrinology 246: 165-174

 

Steckler TL, Roberts EK, D.D. Doop DD, Lee TM V, Padmanabhan V.  2007 Developmental programming in sheep: Administration of testosterone during 60 to 90 days of pregnancy reduces breeding success and pregnancy outcome. Theriogenology. 67:459-467

 

Steckler T, Manikkam M, Inskeep EK, Padmanabhan V.   2007 Developmental Programming: Follicular persistence in prenatal testosterone-treated sheep is not programmed by androgenic actions of testosterone. Endocrinology 148: 3532-3540

 

Padmanabhan V, Veiga_Lopez, Abbott DH, Dumesic DA  2007  Developmental programming of ovarian disruption.   In:  Novel concepts in ovarian endocrinology; A. Gonzalez-Bulnes (ed); Research Signpost, India p 1-24

 

Veiga-Lopez A, Ye W, Phillips DJ, Herkimer C, Knight PG, Padmanabhan V.  Developmental Programming: Deficits in Reproductive Hormone Dynamics and Ovulatory Outcomes in Prenatal, Testosterone-Treated Sheep. Biol Reprod. 2007 Dec 19; [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 18094354

 

Manikkam M, Thompson RC, Herkimer C, Welch KB, Flak J, Karsch FJ, Padmanabhan V.  Developmental Programming: Impact of Prenatal Testosterone Excess on Pre- and Postnatal Gonadotropin Regulation in Sheep.Biol Reprod. 2007 Dec 19; [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 18094361

 

Padmanabhan V, Siefert K, Ransom S, Johnson T, Pinkerton J, Anderson L, Tao L, Kannan K. Maternal bisphenol-A exposure:  an environmental risk?   J of Perinatology 2008 Feb 14; [Epub ahead of print]  PMID: 18273031

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