Animal Reproductive Biology Group

Matt Lucy

Professor
Animal Sciences

Phone: 573-882-9897
Fax: 573-882-6827
E-mail: LucyM@missouri.edu
Address: 164 Animal Science Research Center

Education

B.S., Cornell University
M.S., Kansas State University
Ph.D., University of Florida
Postdoc, Monsanto Company

Research Focus

Molecular biology of uterine and ovarian tissues

Research Description

Matthew Lucy focuses on the molecular biology of uterine and ovarian tissues. Studies are aimed primarily at the roles that growth hormone and the growth hormone receptor play in the estrous cycle and pregnancy.

Growth hormone is a pituitary hormone that changes reproductive function by stimulating the growth of the corpus luteum, increasing the number of ovarian follicles and increasing the weight of the conceptus. Lucy studies the factors that control the secretion of growth hormone and the expression of the growth hormone receptor.

In addition, Lucy studies the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), the IGF receptors and the IGF-binding proteins. The IGFs are released from the liver in response to growth hormone and can stimulate reproductive processes within the ovary and uterus. The release of the IGFs from the liver is controlled by dietary energy and protein consumption. Therefore, controlling IGF secretion through nutritional management may form the basis for methods designed to increase the efficiency of reproduction. By understanding how the IGFs control reproduction, it may be possible to improve ovarian function and increase embryo survival and litter size in farm animals.

Recent Publications

Perry GA, Smith MF, Lucy MC, Green JA, Parks TE, MacNeil MD, Roberts AJ, Geary TW.
Relationship between follicle size at insemination and pregnancy success. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr 5;102(14):5268-73. Epub 2005 Mar 28. PMID: 15795381
Jiang H, Lucy MC, Crooker BA, Beal WE.
Expression of growth hormone receptor 1A mRNA is decreased in dairy cows but not in beef cows at parturition. J Dairy Sci. 2005 Apr;88(4):1370-7. PMID: 15778305
Wood-Follis SL, Kojima FN, Lucy MC, Smith MF, Patterson DJ.
Estrus synchronization in beef heifers with progestin-based protocols. I. Differences in response based on pubertal status at the initiation of treatment. Theriogenology. 2004 Nov;62(8):1518-28. PMID: 15451259
Stevenson JS, Tiffany SM, Lucy MC.
Use of estradiol cypionate as a substitute for GnRH in protocols for synchronizing ovulation in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci. 2004 Oct;87(10):3298-305. PMID: 15377609
Rhoads ML, Gilbert RO, Lucy MC, Butler WR.
Effects of urea infusion on the uterine luminal environment of dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2004 Sep;87(9):2896-901. PMID: 15375050
Jiang H, Whitworth KM, Bivens NJ, Ries JE, Woods RJ, Forrester LJ, Springer GK, Mathialagan N, Agca C, Prather RS, Lucy MC.
Large-scale generation and analysis of expressed sequence tags from porcine ovary. Biol Reprod. 2004 Dec;71(6):1991-2002. Epub 2004 Aug 11. PMID: 15306552
Radcliff RP, VandeHaar MJ, Kobayashi Y, Sharma BK, Tucker HA, Lucy MC.
Effect of dietary energy and somatotropin on components of the somatotropic axis in Holstein heifers. J Dairy Sci. 2004 May;87(5):1229-35. PMID: 15290971
Lucy MC, McDougall S, Nation DP.
The use of hormonal treatments to improve the reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows in feedlot or pasture-based management systems. Anim Reprod Sci. 2004 Jul;82-83:495-512. Review. PMID: 15271476
Stegner JE, Kojima FN, Bader JF, Lucy MC, Ellersieck MR, Smith MF, Patterson DJ.
Follicular dynamics and steroid profiles in cows during and after treatment with progestin-based protocols for synchronization of estrus. J Anim Sci. 2004 Apr;82(4):1022-8. PMID: 15080323
Stegner JE, Kojima FN, Ellersieck MR, Lucy MC, Smith MF, Patterson DJ.
A comparison of progestin-based protocols to synchronize estrus in postpartum beef cows. J Anim Sci. 2004 Apr;82(4):1016-21. PMID: 15080322
A complete list of publications for MC Lucy in PubMed