Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1977
Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan

Phone: 304-293-1496
Email: bgoodman@hsc.wvu.edu









Research Interests

Neuroendocrine control of gonadotropin secretion; mechanisms responsible for seasonal reproductive function and onset of ovarian cycles at puberty.

Description of Research

Our primary research interests are: 1) the neural mechanisms controlling episodic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus during the normal ovarian cycle and 2) the structural and functional changes in the hypothalamus responsible for the reversible suppression of GnRH secretion that occurs prior to puberty and annually in seasonal breeders. Our work in the first area is focused on the role of endogenous opioid peptides (EOP). We are currently testing the hypothesis that one EOP, dynorphin, mediates the inhibition of GnRH by progesterone and determining the neural substrates responsible for this inhibition. In the second area, we have identified a key neural circuit that inhibits GnRH secretion and is active in anestrous, but not in breeding season, ewes. We are now examining possible anatomical or functional alterations that underlie the seasonal changes in activity of this system and are exploring the mechanisms by which two hormones, melatonin and thyroid hormones, influence these alterations. We employ a variety of whole animal procedures (including neurosurgical procedures, collection of CSF and hypophyseal portal blood), histological techniques (e.g. confocal analysis of dual and triple label immunocytochemically identified proteins) and molecular approaches (e.g. in situ hybridization, administration of antisense oligonucleotides).

Recent Publications

Skinner DC, Evans NP, Delaleu B, Goodman RL, Bouchard P, Caraty A. 1998 The negative feedback actions of progesterone on gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion are transduced by the classical progesterone receptor. Proc Nat Acad Sci 95: 10978-10983.

Boukhliq R, R L Goodman, S J Berriman, B Adrian, and M N Lehman. 1999 A subset of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the ovine medial basal hypothalamus is activated during increased pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion. Endocrinology 140:5929-5936.

Stefanovic I, B Adrian, H T Jansen, M N Lehman, and R L Goodman. 2000 The ability of estradiol to induce Fos expression in a subset of estrogen receptor-alpha-containing neurons in the preoptic area of the ewe depends on reproductive status. Endocrinology 141:190-196

Goodman R L, J C Thiery, B Delaleu, and B Malpaux. 2000 Estradiol increases multiunit electrical activity in the A15 area of ewes exposed to inhibitory photoperiods Biol Reprod 63:1352-1357.

Anderson GM, Connors JM, Hardy SL, Valent M, Goodman RL 2001 Oestradiol microimplants in the ventromedial preoptic area inhibit secretion of luteinizing hormone via dopaminergic neurons in anestrous ewes. J Neuroendocrinol. In Press.