Prudence Talbot

My laboratory studies reproductive biology using mammalian systems including the hamster, mouse, and human. We are currently focusing our efforts on characterizing the composition and function of the coats that surround mammalian oocytes before and after fertilization and on identifying factors in cigarette smoke that adversely affect the female reproductive tract. Most of our work on egg coats involves the cortical granule envelope, a coat that forms form cortical granule components in the perivitelline space following fertilization. Our goals are to characterize the cortical granule envelope biochemically and determine its roles in blocking polyspermy and in preimplantation embryonic development. We have recently identified two proteins, p62 and p56, that are present in the cortical granule envelope of hamsters. In vivo experiments with antibodies revealed that these proteins play a role in regulating preimplantation cleavage divisions. We are currently preparing to isolate the genes for p62 and p56 with the goal of creating gene knockouts. These studies may lead to a better understanding of fertilization and preimplantation development and may eventually enable better control of these events.

We are also examining the effect of mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke on the oviduct, uterus, and corpus luteum of hamsters. We have developed an in vitro assay that enables us to study ciliary beat frequency, oocyte cumulus complex pick-up rate, oocyte cumulus complex adhesion to the oviduct, and oviductal muscle contraction in a single preparation. We are currently using these assays in conjunction with HPLC and mass spectroscopy to identify the components in cigarette smoke that inhibit pick-up and transport of oocytes by the oviduct. We have also found that inhalation of cigarette smoke decreases the vascular area of the corpus luteum. To determine if this effect was due to inhibition of angiogenesis, smoke solutions were tested on chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) which provide a classical assay for angiogenesis. Both mainstream and sidestream smoke contain factors that inhibit angiogenesis and alter the formation of the extracellular matrix in CAMs. We are currently identifying the factors that cause this inhibition and how gene expression is affected by these components. These studies may lead to better ways to control reproductive problems experienced by smokers and may help us understand why wound healing is adversely affected in smokers.

Dr. Talbot also participates in the Cell, Molecular Biology and Developmental Biology graduate group and the Environmental Toxicology graduate group.


Recent Publications:

• Hoodbhoy, T. and P. Talbot. 1995. Mammalian cortical granules: their contents, fate and function. Molec. Reprod Dev., 39: 439-448.
• Dandekar, P. Mate, K., and P. Talbot. 1995. The perivitelline space of marsupial oocytes: extracellular matrix of unfertilized oocytes and formation of a cortical granule envelope following the cortical reaction. Molec. Reprod. Devel. 41:363-373.
• Magers, T., Talbot, P., DiCarlantonio, G., Knoll, M., Demers, D., Tsai, I., and T. Hoodbhoy. 1995. Cigarette smoke inhalation affects the reproductive tract of female hamsters. Reprod Toxicol, 9: 513-525.
• Knoll, M. and Talbot, P. 1998. Cigarette smoke inhibits oocyte cumulus complex pick-up by the oviduct in vitro independent of ciliary beat frequency. Reprod Toxicol 12: 57-68.
• Talbot, P., DiCarlantonio, G., Knoll, M., and Gomez, C. 1998. Identification of cigarette smoke components that alter functioning of hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) oviducts in vitro. Biol Reprod. 58: 1047-1053.
• Talbot, P., Gieseke, C., and M. Knoll. 1999. Oocyte pick-up by the mammalian oviduct. Mole Biol Cell 10:5-8.
• DiCarlantonio, G. and P. Talbot. 1999. Inhalation of mainstream or sidestream cigarette smoke retards preimplantation embryo transport and muscle contraction in vivo. Biol Reprod., 61:651-656.
• Rankin, T., Talbot, P. Lee, E. and J. Dean. 1999. Abnormal zonae pellucidae in mice lacking ZP1 results in early embryonic loss. Development, 126:3847-3855.
• Melkonian G., C. Le, W. Zheng, P. Talbot, and M. Martins-Green. 1999. Normal Patterns of Angiogenesis and Extracellular Matrix Deposition in Chick Chorioallantoic Membranes are Disrupted by Mainstream and Sidestream Cigarette Smoke. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology., in press.

• Biology 169, an undergraduate course in Human Growth and Development
• Biology 200A, a graduate course in Cell Biology
• Biology 185, an undergraduate seminar in Developmental Biology
• Biology 281, a graduate seminar in Cell Biology