Kelly J. Suter, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computational Biology
Office: BSB 3.03.26
Phone: (210) 458-7243
Kelly.Suter@utsa.edu
Research Interests
The focus of our laboratory is to understand the neural oscillator that governs sexual reproduction, the so-called gonadotropin releasing-hormone (GnRH) “pulse” generator. The GnRH-containing neurons are distributed diffusely throughout the hypothalamus and project to the median eminence where they release GnRH from their axon terminals into the hypophysiotropic portal system. In the portal capillaries, GnRH travels to the anterior pituitary gland to stimulate release of gonadotropins into systemic circulation. It is well established that the intermittent manner of GnRH release is essential for reproduction. The identity of the neuronal substrate that results in pulsatile GnRH release, and therefore comprises the GnRH "pulse" generator however, is unknown. Understanding the function of this neural oscillator is crucial for a full understanding of reproduction in normal and pathological states.
Recent Publications
Roberts CB, Best JA, Suter KJ. Dendritic processing of excitatory synaptic input in hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing-hormone neurons. Endocrinology. 2006 Mar;147(3):1545-55.
Suter KJ. Control of firing by small (S)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazolepropionic acid-like inputs in hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing-hormone (GnRH) neurons. Neuroscience. 2004;128(2):443-50.
Suter KJ. The ontogeny of pulsatile growth hormone secretion and its temporal relationship to the onset of puberty in the agonadal male rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 May;89(5):2275-80.
Suter KJ, Jaeger D. Reliable control of spike rate and spike timing by rapid input transients in cerebellar stellate cells. Neuroscience. 2004;124(2):305-17.
Suter KJ, Pohl CR, Wilson ME. Growth signals and puberty. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Jan;86(1):460.
Suter KJ, Wuarin JP, Smith BN, Dudek FE, Moenter SM. Whole-cell recordings from preoptic/hypothalamic slices reveal burst firing in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons identified with green fluorescent protein in transgenic mice. Endocrinology. 2000 Oct;141(10):3731-6.
Suter KJ, Pohl CR, Wilson ME. Circulating concentrations of nocturnal leptin, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-I increase before the onset of puberty in agonadal male monkeys: potential signals for the initiation of puberty. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Feb;85(2):808-14.
Suter KJ, Song WJ, Sampson TL, Wuarin JP, Saunders JT, Dudek FE, Moenter SM. Genetic targeting of green fluorescent protein to gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons: characterization of whole-cell electrophysiological properties and morphology. Endocrinology. 2000 Jan;141(1):412-9.