Our laboratory is interested in the regulation of pituitary hormones, particularly the sex regulating hormones, the gonadotropins. The gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), are both produced and secreted from the same cell type however, the secretion of one gonadotropin often predominates. Our laboratory has previously observed that the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) differentially affects LH and FSH secretion and subunit gene production in vitro. We propose that PACAP may be important in the normal maturation and function of the pituitary-gonadal axis. We are presently performing investigations designed to evaluate possible roles for PACAP in the development, maintenance and aging of the mammalian reproductive system.

In addition, I am interested in the growth axis in aging individuals. As humans age, there is a progressive decline in GH production and secretion which has been linked to several adverse changes in body composition. GH replacement therapy in the elderly increases lean tissue mass, and bone mass, and decreases adipose tissue mass, however GH therapy is expensive an is also subject to side effects including carpal tunnel syndrome, breast enlargement, fluid retention, lethargy, joint pains, and headaches. Ideal alternatives to hormone replacement therapies should be prevention of the decline of natural growth hormone levels or therapies to stimulate the natural production of growth hormone within the anterior pituitaries of aging individuals. Regrettably, very little is known about the mechanisms underlying the decline in growth hormone levels during aging. I am interested in pursuing the identification of the mechanisms involved in age related changes in the neuroendocrine regulation of the growth axis in order to isolate potential therapeutics to stimulate endogenous GH production in aged individuals.

Key Publications

J.P. Moore, Jr. and S. Wray. Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) biosynthesis and secretion in embryonic LHRH neurons. Endocrinology. 141(12): 4486-4495, 2000.

J.P. Moore Jr, A. Cai, M.E. Hostettler, L.A. Arbogast, J.L. Voogt and J.F. Hyde. Pituitary hormone gene expression and secretion in human growth hormone-releasing hormone transgenic mice: focus on lactotroph function. Endocrinology 141(1):81-90, 2000.

J.P. Moore, Jr., and J.F. Hyde. Galanin peptide within the normal and hyperplastic anterior pituitary gland: Localization, secretion, and functional analysis in normal and human growth hormone-releasing hormone transgenic mice. Endocrinology, 140:1789-1799. 1999.

A. Cai, R.C. Bowers, J.P. Moore, Jr. & J.F. Hyde. Function of galanin in the anterior pituitary of estrogen-treated Fischer 344 rats: autocrine and paracrine regulation of prolactin secretion. Endocrinology 139:2452-2458, 1998.

J.P. Moore, Jr., D.G. Morrison, and J.F. Hyde. Galanin gene expression is increased in the anterior pituitary gland of the human growth hormone-releasing hormone transgenic mouse. Endocrinology 134: 2005-2010, 1994.

Some Favorite Web Links

The Endocrine Society

The Society for Neuroscience

The National Center for Biotechnology Information