Semin Reprod Med 2017; 35(02): 119-120
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1599082
Preface
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Innovations in Reproductive Sciences

T. Rajendra Kumar
1   Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
09 March 2017 (online)

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T. Rajendra Kumar, PhD

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

– Steve Jobs

The past decade has witnessed major innovative advances in reproductive science and medicine. These breakthroughs occurred at the level of all three major centers of the axis, namely, the hypothalamus, pituitary, and gonads and in reproductive tracts of both sexes. A direct impact of these innovations reflects on numerous clinical applications and further advancing translational aspects of many basic science discoveries. Focus on any single specialized topic or a reproductive axis center or either male or female reproductive tract will not give the reader the “flavor” of the advances made all along the axis as a whole in both sexes. Hence, a balanced effort has been made to illustrate some of the recent advances throughout the reproductive axis in this special issue of Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, entitled “Innovations in Reproductive Sciences.” It has been an arduous task to bring together these diverse topics into a single specialized volume. A total of nine state-of the art reviews written by leaders in the corresponding thematic research areas were organized into this special issue. These are as follows: (1) developmental origins of hypothalamic cells controlling reproduction, (2) novel insights into gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) action in the pituitary gonadotrope, (3) of mice and men: in vivo and in vitro studies of primordial germ cell specification, (4) genetics of reproductive aging from gonadal dysgenesis through menopause, (5) fertility preservation in 2016: where are we?, (6) transcription and splicing factor TDP-43: role in regulation of gene expression in testis, (7) microRNAs and endometriosis: distinguishing drivers from passengers in disease pathogenesis, (8) recent advances in uterine fibroid etiology, and (9) distinct roles of cervical epithelia and stroma in pregnancy and parturition.

Biehl and Raetzman highlight factors and pathways involved in the specification and ultimate differentiation of neuronal and other cellular subtypes of the hypothalamus contributing to the reproductive axis. They further explain how treatments could be developed in cases where developmental disruptions of this cellular differentiation program result in infertility. Brown and Roberson provide novel fundamental insights into GnRH action with a focus on spatially restricted Ca2+ signaling downstream of the GnRH receptor in the pituitary gonadotrope. Kumar and DeFalco discuss the current status of research work on specification of primordial germ cells and recent breakthroughs in the area of in vitro derivation and propagation of these cells and gametes derived from them. Desai and Rajkovic focus on recent advances in the genetics of premature ovarian insufficiency and its impact on overall health. They also provide an insight based on the remarkable genome-wide association studies, which recently identified several loci that harbor DNA damage response genes. David, Green and Shikanov summarize the recent advances in the field of fertility preservation and describe the limitations and new methodologies. Obviously, the main goal of fertility preservation is to assist young cancer survivors retain their fertility by restoring either their ability to procreate or simply their reproductive endocrine function. Reddi takes us in to the world of insulators and how they regulate testis-specific gene expression using innovative mouse models with mutations in the well-known transcription and splicing factor TDP-43. The emerging role of TDP-43 in male infertility and various neurological diseases is also beautifully illustrated. Nothnick explains the conflicting reports on roles of microRNAs in human endometriosis. He identifies and nicely summarizes the deficiencies in the existing literature with regard to the experimental design, human tissue source, and sample heterogeneity. McWilliams and Chennathukuzhi summarize the recent advances in uterine fibroid etiology. They emphasize the need to develop novel preclinical animal models that faithfully recapitulate this most common disease affecting millions of women of the reproductive age. Finally, Nallasamy and Mahendroo highlight the importance of barrier function in the lower female reproductive tract that safeguards infections, and factors that influence the mechanical function of the cervix. They also discuss molecular causes of preterm birth and recent clinical tools to approach this problem.

I want to thank all the authors for their timely contributions to this special issue on Innovations in Reproductive Sciences. This special issue would not have taken its shape without the constant support provided by Dr. Serdar Bulun, editor, Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. I owe my sincere thanks to him for giving me an opportunity to edit this special issue, for his enthusiasm and excellent guidance throughout the course of editing this special issue.