Research interests

Neural pathways that modulate reproduction.

Description

In the neuroendocrine control of the ovulatory cycle is very well known that the LH surge is an event that occurs at specific time of the day. The preovulatory LH surge is initiated on the day of proestrus when estrogen levels are high. Several evidences implicate that environmental clues in association to estrogen levels, and others hormones as prolactin, are responsible for the synchronization of the ovulatory cycle. However, it is still a mystery how such kind of information can be integrated. Our laboratory uses electrophysiological and neuroanatomical tools to investigate the contribution of different hypothalamic neuronal groups, as well as the effects of different neurotransmitters (eg, vasopressin, VIP, etc.) or hormones (eg, leptin, prolactin, etc) onto specific populations to modulate the ovulatory cycle and reproduction.