Paul F. Terranova, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor
Professional Background
Emeritus Professor
Vice Chancellor for Research
Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education
Louisiana State University, 1975
Research Interests
My research focuses on factors regulating follicular development and ovulation. Currently, we have projects determining the molecular mechanism by which tumor necrosis factor inhibits gonadotropin stimulated ovarian granulosa cell aromatase activity and estradiol secretion. In addition, we have found that a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Src, regulates the responsiveness of the ovary to LH and FSH and are tracking the mechanism by which that regulation occurs. Recently we have found that an environmental contaminant, dioxin, prevents follicular rupture and are assessing the endocrine and molecular mechanisms by which this blockage occurs. Lastly, we have developed a mouse model of ovarian cancer and are determining which growth regulators are involved in the spontaneous transformation of the ovarian surface epithelial cells into a malignant phenotype.
Recent Publications
Roby, K.F., Son, D.S., Terranova, P.F. Alterations of events related to ovarian function in tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 knockout mice, Biol Reprod, 61:1616-1621, 1999.
Son, D.S., Ushinohama, K, Gao, X, Taylor, C.C., Roby, K.F., Rozman, K.K. Terranova, P.F. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) blocks ovulation by a direct action on the ovary without alteration of ovarian steroidogenesis: lack of a direct effect on ovarian granulosa and thecal-interstitial cell steroidogenesis in vitro. Reprod Toxicol, 13:521-530, 1999.
Gao, X, Terranova, P.F., and Rozman K.K. Effects of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), biphenyls (PCBs) and their mixture with dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) on ovulation in the gonadotropin primed immature rat: support for the toxic equivalency (TEQ) concept, Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 163:115-124, 2000.
Roby, K.F., Taylor, C.C., Cheng, Y., Pace, J.L., Tawfik, O., Persons, D.L., Smith, P.G., and Terranova, P. F. Development of a syngeneic mouse model for events related to ovarian cancer, Carcinogenesis 21: 585-591,2000.