Hi! Welcome to the laboratory home page of Dr. Gilbert Pitts. I am a physiologist with training in reproductive neuroendocrinology
and circadian rhythms. My office and laboratory are located in the relatively new Sundquist Science Complex.
In this web site, you can find links to class information. In addition, I've posted information regarding my research interests and links to sites that I think are scientifically useful as well as some that are just for fun. Finally,
I’ve included some pictures of my wife and I.
One of my research interests lies in understanding the regulation of
gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH is a neuropeptide
that is secreted from the hypothalamus in a pulsatile manner.
The frequency of GnRH secretion controls luteinizing hormone and
follicle stimulating hormone secretion from the pituitary gland.
In turn, these two hormones are important regulators of
reproduction. In the lower figure, you can see the episodic
secretion of GnRH from an immortalized cell line (GT1-1; Pitts et
al., 2001). I am using this system to increase our
understanding of the mechanisms controlling GnRH secretion. In the
right hand figure, you can see the expression of a gap junction protein, connexin 26, on the surface of GT1 cells. This image is the
result of the work performed in my laboratory by Kyle Covington.
|
 The Sundquist
Science Complex
Connexin 26 protein expression in GT1-7 cells
|
