This program area, directed by Dr. Tracy L. Rankin , supports research on the physiology and pathophysiology of human male reproduction. Studies in this portfolio focus on the functions of the hypothalamus, pituitary, testes, and reproductive tract needed in the male for successful reproduction and the perturbations in this axis that compromise virilization and fertility. Special emphasis is placed on endocrine and paracrine mechanisms governing spermatogenesis, the acquisition of sperm structure and functional characteristics associated with normal fertility, and the use of novel mouse mutants to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing these processes. Recent interest has centered on clinical and translational aspects of male reproductive biology. Additionally, Dr. Rankin’s portfolio also encompasses the molecular mechanisms of fertilization with an emphasis on gamete interactions
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