The primary aims of my research are: 1) to discover the cellular mechanisms responsible for the onset of normal and abnormal labor; 2) to define species specific factors in the onset of labor comparing rodents, ruminants, and primates; 3) to discover the physiologic significance of oxytocin receptors found in novel target tissues such as cervical mucosa, endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, and fetal membranes; and 4) to elucidate the hormonal factors controlling tissue specific oxytocin receptor gene expression in uterine tissues. Our ultimate goal is to provide pharmacologic means to control oxytocin receptor expression and/or signal transduction in an effort to prevent the onset of preterm labor.
On-going projects include:

1. Signal transduction by oxytocin in endometrial and cervical mucosal cells.
   
2. The role of steroid sulfate hydrolase and sulfotransferase in tissue specific oxytocin receptor expression.
   
3. Estrogen and progesterone dependent oxytocin receptor expression in a transformed uterine myocyte cell line.