Exploring the impacts of environmental contaminants on reproduction

Worryingly, exposure to toxic contaminants released into the air and water supply have been shown to negatively affect fertility. It is important to understand the mechanisms of how environmental contaminants affect human and animal reproductive capacity. Female mammals are born with their entire supply of eggs stored in the ovary. In many species it can take between 3-12 months for an egg to grow from the dormant state to a mature egg, ready for fertilisation. If eggs are damaged or lost because of exposure to environmental contaminants, this will inhibit or significantly delay pregnancy rates in women, livestock and our native species. Understanding the mechanisms of ovarian damage will enable the identification of targeted methods to prevent or reduce damage from toxicants. Findings may also aid in the development of action plans to help protect communities most at risk of long-term exposure to contaminated air and waterways. This project will employ novel animal models, as well as human samples. We use a variety of techniques, including flow cytometry, single cell RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridisation, 3D confocal imaging and ELISA. We also have expertise in the design of long-term fertility trials in mice, as well as analyses of offspring health.