Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences received a $443,348 Project Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), effective July 1, 2026, through April 30, 2031. This award supports investigator-initiated research examining paracrine and endocrine influences on gonadotrope development and function in female mice. The project aims to define the role of the adipokine leptin in gonadotrope network development and coordination during postnatal and adult stages, with specific focus on identifying molecular pathways, transcriptional regulators, and developmental windows critical for normal female reproduction.

The research deliverables include molecular and cellular analyses of gonadotrope function through single-cell analysis, calcium imaging, and reproductive capacity assessments using animal models with selectively deleted gonadotrope leptin receptors at different developmental stages. Additionally, the project will elucidate key secreted factors mediating lactotrope-gonadotrope paracrine and gonadotrope autocrine regulation, with particular emphasis on defining mechanisms by which secretoneurin regulates gonadotrope behavior. These research outputs are expected to advance understanding of reproductive biology and identify potential therapeutic targets for female reproductive health disorders.