Gerald J. Pepe, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Developmental and Perinatal Endocrinology
In collaboration with faculty at the University of Maryland, this laboratory uses a multidisciplinary approach to determine the factors regulating maturation of and steroidogenesis in the maternal/fetal adrenal, the maternal/fetal ovary and the placenta of the baboon. Elucidation of the dialogue that occurs between the mother, placenta and fetus is integral to furthering our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of pregnancy, the initiation of labor, and the development of fetal pituitary-adrenocortical self-sufficiency in the perinatal period and reproductive competency as an adult.
Recent Publications:
Pepe GJ, Babischkin JS, Burch MG, Leavitt MG, Albrecht ED 1996 Developmental increase in expression of the messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels of 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydro-genase types 1 and 2 in the baboon placenta. Endocrinology 137:5678-5684.
Babischkin JS, Pepe GJ, Albrecht ED 1997 Estrogen regulation of placental P-450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme messenger ribonucleic acid levels and activity during baboon pregnancy. Endocrinology 138:452-459.
Davies WA, Luo H, Dong K, Albrecht ED, Pepe GJ 1997 Cloning and expression of the 11b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 gene in the baboon. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 127:201-209.
Leavitt MG, Aberdeen GW, Burch MG, Albrecht ED, Pepe GJ 1997 Inhibition of fetal adrenal adrenocorticotropin receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression by betamethasone administration to the baboon fetus in late gestation. Endocrinology 138:2705-2712.
