Fluorescent tissue imageRamaley N384
Department of Integrative Physiology
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0354
phone: 303-735-4364

Research Interests

  • The Reproductive Endocrinology LaboratoryÌýis interested in understanding how hormones from the brain and pituitary control puberty, male and female reproduction, and reproductive senescence. We are particularly interested in the function of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and the developmental regulation of neurons that produce GnRH, since developmental abnormalities in these neurons lead to absent puberty and infertility in all vertebrates including humans. Additional projects include investigating (1) the evolutionary pattern of GnRH using molluscan models, and (2) the developmental regulation of the endocrine hypothalamus.

Personnel

  • Laboratory Director: Pei-San Tsai, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Students: Tyler Akonom, M.S.,ÌýSurayut Kluaiphanngam, B.S., Nora Want, B.A.
  • Undergraduate Students:ÌýLeah Carter, Adriana Espinoza, McKenzie Jones,ÌýKylie Turner.
  • Collaborators: Seth Finklestein, M.D., Recovery Therapeutics,ÌýInc.; Dan Medeiros, Ph.D., Â鶹ÊÓƵ; Nelly Pitteloud, M.D., University of Lausanne; Stacia Sower, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire at Durham.

Tsai lab personnel 2018

From left to right. Front row: Rebecca Bolen, Cassie Horton, Pei-San Tsai, Cynthia Dela Cruz, Michaela Deck.
Second row: Anthony Martillotti, Nate Anderson, Tyler Akonom, Samantha Bonelli, Amanda Brown, Phaivit Laphyai, Hugh Zhang.

Current Research Projects

  • Development and maintenance of the reproductive brain.
  • Functional and structural evolution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone superfamily.
  • Etiology of infertility in humans.
  • Embryonic development of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus.

Opportunities for Undergraduates

  • The requirements for undergraduate research in the Tsai lab are includedÌýbelow.ÌýWe encourage highly motivated students, includingÌýunderrepresented and underserved students, to apply.
    • Junior or senior status.
    • Minimum commitment of one year.
    • Be able to work at least 8 hours per week.
    • Either have completed or be concurrently enrolled in IPHY 3410 (Human Anatomy) or IPHY 3470/3480 (Human Physiology).
    • Participate in a funding mechanism (such as UROP, Uplift, or IPHY Research Award)Ìýor enroll in independent study (IPHY 4860).
  • For more information, contact Prof. Tsai (pei-san.tsai@colorado.edu).

Recent Publications

  • Fodor I, Zrinyi Z, Horváth R, Urbán P, Herczeg R, Büki G, Koene JM,Ìý°Õ²õ²¹¾±Ìý±Ê-³§, Pirger Z. Identification, presence, and possible multifunctional regulatory role of invertebrate gonadotropin-releasing hormone/corazonin molecule in the great pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis).ÌýGeneral and Comparative EndocrinologyÌý299: 113621, 2020.
  • Dela Cruz C, Horton CA, Sanders KN, Andersen ND,ÌýTsai P-S.ÌýConditional Fgfr1 deletion in GnRH neurons leads to minor disruptions in the reproductive axis of male and female mice.ÌýFrontiers inÌýEndocrinologyÌý11: 588459, 2021
  • Laphyai P, Kruangkum T, Chotwiwatthanakun C, Semchuchot W, Thaijongrak P, Sobhon P,ÌýTsai P-S, Vanichviriyakit R.ÌýSuppression of a novel vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone significantly increases ovarian vitellogenesis in the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon.ÌýFrontiers inÌýEndocrinologyÌý12: 760538, 2021
  • Chung WC,ÌýTsai P-S.ÌýThe initiation and maintenance of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron identity in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.ÌýFrontiers inÌýEndocrinologyÌý14: 1166132, 2023
  • Tsai P-S, Sanders KN, Dai X, Plachetzki D. Authentication of a lophotrochozoan adipokinetic hormone receptor in a gastropod, Aplysia californica.ÌýGeneral and Comparative EndocrinologyÌý345:114393, 2024

Funding

  • 2016-2023, NIH, "Postnatal Plasticity in the GnRH System"