Terry Nett

Dr. Nett is Professor Emeritus of Reproductive Physiology. His laboratory is directed at obtaining a better understanding of factors that regulate synthesis and secretion of hormones that control reproduction, particularly the gonadotropins. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates synthesis and secretion of gonadotropins by interacting with membrane receptors in the anterior pituitary gland. His research career has focused on understanding the inputs to the pituitary gland that influence the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These studies have ranged from developing analytical techniques to quantify gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), receptors for GnRH in the pituitary gland, and receptors for estradiol in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, to evaluating changes in each of these parameters during varying reproductive states in several species including sheep, cattle, horses, dogs, rats and mice. His laboratory has also focused on evaluating the role of membrane estrogen and progesterone receptors in the pituitary gland. He has shown that estradiol has a rapid action to inhibit GnRH-induced secretion of LH, possibly as a mechanism to prevent secretion of LH during the pre-ovulatory period to permit an increase in pituitary content of LH preceding the preovulatory surge. He has also focused on the mechanisms responsible for anestrus and potential methods that may override anestrus. Dr. Nett is past Associate Dean for Research in CVMBS and managed the CSU Summer Veterinary Research Scholars program for over a decade. He has also served as Director of the Endocrine Laboratory since 1976.