David Abbott

My research applies investigative techniques to develop animal models of female reproductive pathophysiology to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms underlying a variety of reproductive and metabolic health disorders commonly found in adolescent girls and women, including two nonhuman primate models for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): (1) prenatally androgenized (PA) and (2) naturally occurring, hyperandrogenic (High T) female macaques. PCOS is a common cardiometabolic endocrinopathy in females and often features obesity and perturbed insulin-glucose homeostasis. We are also investigating the importance of hypothalamic estrogen synthesis and signaling for the regulation of metabolic, reproductive neuroendocrine and sexual function in female nonhuman primates by performing MRI-guided hypothalamic infusions of small interfering-RNA expressing viral vectors against aromatase and estrogen receptor alpha, followed by comprehensive metabolic and behavioral phenotyping.