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Jim Pru Assistant Professor  University of Wyoming Office: Clark 255 Phone: 509-335-8913 E-mail: jpru@wsu.edu

Research Focus:

My research focuses on understanding molecular events coordinating the physiology of embryo implantation using the mouse and domestic ruminants as model organisms. With a basic understanding of these processes, the long-term goal is to identify mechanisms that, when gone awry, contribute to infertility during early gestation (recurrent pregnancy loss). Related to embryo implantation, we are specifically interested in the processes by which the embryo signals its presence as it invades the uterine wall in an effort to establish an exchange apparatus for nutients and waste. As progesterone coordinates many of the aspects of embryo implantation, we are also interested in how ovarian-derived progesterone signals in the endometrium by non-classical mechanisms. We recently demonstrated expression of a novel membrane progestin receptor in the uterus and ongoing studies are designed to test the importance of this putative receptor in uterine function. In related studies, efforts are being made to learn how resident stem/progenitor cells of the endometrium contribute to uterine repair during the estrous/menstrual cycle and following parturition.

Representative Publications:

1. Pru JK, Kaneko-Tarui T, Jurisicova A, Kashiwagi A, Selesniemi K, Tilly JL. Induction of proapoptotic gene expression and recruitment of p53 herald ovarian follicle loss caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Reprod Sci. 2009; 16:347-356.
2. Pru JK. Progesterone signaling outside the TATA box. Biol Reprod. 2009; 80:842.
3. Zhang L, Kanda Y, Roberts DJ, Ecker J, Losel R, Wehling M, Peluso JJ, Pru JK. Expression of progesterone receptor membrane component 1 and its partner Serpine 1 mRNA binding protein in uterine and placental tissues of the mouse and human. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2008; 287:81-89.
4. Teixeira J, Rueda BR, Pru JK. Uterine stem cells (July 31, 2008), StemBook, ed. The stem cell research community, StemBook, doi/10.3824/stembook.1.16.1, http://www.stembook.org.
5. Kashiwagi A, DiGirolamo CM, Kanda Y, Niikura Y, Esmon CT, Hansen T, Shioda T, Pru JK. The post-implantation embryo differentially regulates endometrial gene expression and development. Endocrinology. 2007; 148:4173-4184.
6. Pru, JK. Directly comparing routes of administration and types of hormone therapy on risk markers for breast cancer. Menopause. 2007; 14:611.
7. Kaneko-Tarui T, Zhang L, Austin KJ Johnson J, Henkes L, Hansen TR, Pru JK. Maternal and embryonic control of uterine sphingolipid metabolizing enzymes during embryo implantation. Biol Reprod. 2007; 77:658-665.
8. Skaznik-Wikiel ME, Kaneko-Tarui T, Kashiwagi A, Pru JK. Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor expression and signaling correlate with uterine prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 expression and angiogenesis during early pregnancy. Biol Reprod. 2006; 74:569-576.