Ruben Rene Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Instructor
Fertility, contraception, embryo implantation, endometrium, leptin, cytokines, integrins
Email: gonzalezr at bbri dot org

Research Summary
Several hormones, cytokines and growth factors regulate embryo-maternal molecular cross talk,  "the first words between the mother and the preimplantation embryo", and are also involved in disease states of the reproductive system. Our research has focused on the role of leptin in human reproduction, specifically in the regulation of embryo implantation and placentation.  Leptin and its receptor (Ob-R) are expressed by both the embryo and endometrium. Leptin regulates the IL-1 system, enhances endometrial receptivity and the trophoblast invasive phenotype. Currently, we are designing and investigating novel leptin peptide antagonists (LPAs) to regulate Ob-R function. LPAs might be useful as drugs for fertility control and might shed light on disease states such as endometriosis, endometrial cancer, preeclampsia, diabetes mellitus and obesity. More.

Selected Publications
Ramos, M. P., Rueda, B. R., Leavis, P. C. & R. R. Gonzalez. Leptin serves as an upstream activator of an obligatory signaling cascade in the embryo-implantation process. Endocrinology. In press. [abstract]

Gonzalez RR, Rueda BR, Ramos MP, Littell RD, Glasser S, Leavis PC. (2004) Leptin induced increase in leukemia inhibitory factor and its receptor by human endometrium is partially mediated by interleukin 1 receptor signaling. Endocrinology 145(8):3850-7.

Gonzalez, R. R., Leavis, P. C. (2003) A peptide derived from the human leptin molecule is a potent inhibitor of the leptin receptor function in rabbit endometrial cells. Endocrine 21(2), 185-95.

Gonzalez, R. R., Leary, K., Petrozza, J. C. & P. C. Leavis. (2003) Leptin regulation of interleukin-1 (IL-1) system in endometrial cells. Mol Hum Reprod 9(3), 151-8.

Devoto, L., Kohen, P., Vega, M., Castro, O., Gonzalez, R. R., Retamales, I., Carvallo, P., Christenson, L. K. & J. F. Strauss. (2002) Control of human luteal steroidogenesis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 186, 137-41.

PubMed:
Click here for a list of publications (searches the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database.)