Axis 1
Early, foetal and perinatal development
Within CRDSI, researchers focus on developmental processes such as gametogenesis (production of male and female gametes), gonadogenesis (differentiation of gonads and their specialized cell types), early embryogenesis, foetal and perinatal development and hormonal regulation of puberty.
On the male side, <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details boissonneault-guylain>Guylain Boissonneault is interested in the spermatogenesis process and how extreme DNA compaction can occur while preserving the integrity of the genetic material. <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details sullivan-robert>Robert Sullivan and <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details belleannee-clemence>Clémence Bellannée demonstrated, amongst others, that following the release of spermatozoa in the lumen of the seminal tubule, gametes undergo various modifications enabling them to acquire their fertilizing power during epididymal transit. In preparation for its meeting with the oocyte, spermatozoa must undergo various important structural changes in order to be able to cross the different protection layers of the oocyte for fertilization. <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details leclerc-pierre-1>Pierre Leclerc and <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details bailey-janice-l>Janice Bailey study the fundamental mechanisms of the molecular cascade responsible for the fertilizing power of the male gamete. <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details viger-robert>Robert Viger and<link no_cache membres afficher_personne details tremblay-jacques-j> Jacques J Tremblay apply their molecular biology and endocrinology knowledge to study the network of molecular and hormonal factors that control morphogenesis and differentiation of somatic cells (Sertoli, Leydig) of the testis – this expertise is paramount for a better diagnostic of sexual development disorders, developmental abnormalities often found in the human population but remain poorly understood.
On the female side, <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details sirard-marc-andre>Marc-André Sirard and <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details richard-francois-j>François Richard study folliculogenesis, which corresponds to the recruitment and growth of ovarian follicles. The growth of each follicle is supported by the combined effect of many hormones that stimulate the growth of the follicle and of the gamete it contains. Knowledge remains very limited on the sequence of steps and signals leading to the production of a follicle within which the oocyte has acquired the required competencies to sustain post-fertilization development until the embryo takes charge of its own destiny. <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details richard-francois-j>François Richard studies how follicular cells control oocytematuration while <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details sirard-marc-andre>Marc-André Sirard studies how these signals impact on the quality of the oocyte. As mentioned, the quality of the oocyte determines the success of embryogenesis. <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details robert-claude>Claude Robert studies the exchanges between follicular somatic cells and the oocyte and their impact on the future of the embryo.
The research interest of CRDSI researchers do not end with early embryo development but carry on through foetal and perinatal development. <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details tremblay-yves>Yves Trembay’s team is interested in foetal development and the gene expression of steroidogenesis enzymes specialized in the metabolism of sexual steroids in the placenta and foetal lungs. Indeed, the androgen and estradiol synthetized by foetal lungs and the placenta, respectively, control through their specific tissue expression key events of foetal development and in both cases, a spatio-temporal disruption in the metabolism of these steroids during pregnancy is directly linked to developmental pathologies. The innovating work of <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details bujold-emmanuel>Emmanuel Bujold and <link no_cache membres afficher_personne details chaillet-nils>Nils Chaillet, which bridge fundamental and clinical research, tackle the problem of predicting and preventing major obstetrical syndromes (in utero death, preeclampsia, premature labor, premature membrane rupture, intra-uterine growth restriction).
