Focus
Focus on Reproductive Biology
- Focus issue:
- November 2008 Volume 14, No 11
In what direction is the field of reproductive biology going? By bringing together input from top scientists and decision makers interested in this field, this focus identifies the recent papers with the most impact in reproductive biology and identifies the key issues that are shaping our thinking in this field.
Introduction
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Reproductive biology - p1166
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1166
In what direction is the field of reproductive biology moving? Do funding priorities match hot research areas? In this special focus, we try to find out.
Abstract - | Full Text - Reproductive biology | PDF (60 KB) - Reproductive biology
News
Focus on Reproductive Biology
As obesity epidemic grows, research shows fitness benefits fetal development - p1167
Genevive Bjorn
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1167
Full Text - As obesity epidemic grows, research shows fitness benefits fetal development | PDF (251 KB) - As obesity epidemic grows, research shows fitness benefits fetal development
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Interventions might offer a pregnant pause in addiction - p1168
Erika Check Hayden
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1168
Full Text - Interventions might offer a pregnant pause in addiction | PDF (166 KB) - Interventions might offer a pregnant pause in addiction
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Better tests boost IVF success - p1169
Coco Ballantyne
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1169a
Full Text - Better tests boost IVF success | PDF (166 KB) - Better tests boost IVF success
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Delivery decision is nothing to sneeze at - p1169
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1169b
Full Text - Delivery decision is nothing to sneeze at | PDF (166 KB) - Delivery decision is nothing to sneeze at
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Male biological clock possibly linked to autism, other disorders - p1170
Charlotte Schubert
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1170a
Full Text - Male biological clock possibly linked to autism, other disorders | PDF (154 KB) - Male biological clock possibly linked to autism, other disorders
Focus on Reproductive Biology
New techniques preserve fertility hope for women - p1170
Apoorva Mandavilli
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1170b
Full Text - New techniques preserve fertility hope for women | PDF (238 KB) - New techniques preserve fertility hope for women
Focus on Reproductive Biology
As IVF becomes more common, some concerns remain - p1171
Prashant Nair
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1171
Full Text - As IVF becomes more common, some concerns remain | PDF (153 KB) - As IVF becomes more common, some concerns remain
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Common reproductive disorders may have immunological basis - p1172
Alisa Opar
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1172
Full Text - Common reproductive disorders may have immunological basis | PDF (133 KB) - Common reproductive disorders may have immunological basis
Focus on Reproductive Biology
My mother's keeper - p1173
Coco Ballantyne
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1173
Full Text - My mother's keeper | PDF (155 KB) - My mother's keeper
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Geneticists crack the code of infertility - p1174
Virginia Hughes
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1174
Full Text - Geneticists crack the code of infertility | PDF (164 KB) - Geneticists crack the code of infertility
Data Page
Focus on Reproductive Biology
By the numbers... - p1175
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1175
Full Text - By the numbers... | PDF (559 KB) - By the numbers...
News Feature
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Tinkering in the womb: the future of fetal surgery - pp1176 - 1177
Cassandra Willyard
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1176
Full Text - Tinkering in the womb: the future of fetal surgery | PDF (240 KB) - Tinkering in the womb: the future of fetal surgery
Analysis
Focus on Reproductive Biology
The top papers on reproduction research 2004–2008 - pp1178 - 1179
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1178
Which papers have provided the most interesting advances in reproduction research over the past three or four years? Which new discoveries have been the most important to or are likely to have the highest impact on the field?
Abstract - | Full Text - The top papers on reproduction research 2004–2008 | PDF (169 KB) - The top papers on reproduction research 2004–2008
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Highly cited papers on reproductive biology (2005–2007) - pp1180 - 1181
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1180
Full Text - Highly cited papers on reproductive biology (2005–2007) | PDF (82 KB) - Highly cited papers on reproductive biology (2005–2007)
News and Views
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Advances in fertility preservation for female cancer survivors - pp1182 - 1184
Mats Brännström & Milan Milenkovic
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1182
A method using tissue engineering principles for the culture of immature ovarian follicles followed by fertilization of oocytes in vitro has been presented by Xu et al.1. This methodology is a great step forward toward new technology for fertility preservation in female cancer patients.
Abstract - | Full Text - Advances in fertility preservation for female cancer survivors | PDF (1,692 KB) - Advances in fertility preservation for female cancer survivors
Focus on Reproductive Biology
The upside of natural killers - pp1184 - 1185
Khalil Karimi, Sandra M Blois & Petra C Arck
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1184
Natural killer (NK) cells, originally so named because they have the capacity to kill other cells without activation, can be licensed and educated to regulate tissue homeostasis. This notion has recently been shown in reproduction—in both normal physiology by Hanna et al. and severe pathophysiology (preeclampsia) by Hiby et al.
Abstract - | Full Text - The upside of natural killers | PDF (590 KB) - The upside of natural killers
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Is it my grandparents' fault? - pp1186 - 1187
Bernard Robaire
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1186
Results from two independent groups of researchers have revolutionized our thinking about the potential long-term consequences of exposure to common foreign chemicals, or xenobiotics. The studies indicate that exposure to such chemicals during key windows of gestation can affect not only the children exposed in utero but also their children and perhaps even their grandchildren.
Abstract - | Full Text - Is it my grandparents' fault? | PDF (91 KB) - Is it my grandparents' fault?
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Angiogenesis factors and preeclampsia - pp1187 - 1188
Ralf Dechend & Friedrich C Luft
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1187
Two recent studies—one in humans by Levine et al. in 2004 and one in mice by Venkatesha et al. in 2006—have shown an important role for placental-derived soluble antiangiogenic factors as mediators of the pathologies associated with preeclampsia. These findings may have profound implications for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this devastating condition.
Abstract - | Full Text - Angiogenesis factors and preeclampsia | PDF (92 KB) - Angiogenesis factors and preeclampsia
Focus on Reproductive Biology
From stem cells to germ cells and back again - pp1188 - 1190
Marco Conti & Linda Giudice
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1188
Producing germ cells in vitro would open important new avenues for regenerative medicine, and obtaining alternative sources of pluripotent stem cells is desirable. In this regard, Geijsen et al. have shown that it is possible to differentiate stem cells into cells similar to male gametes, whereas Guan et al. reported the ability to turn undifferentiated germ cells into pluripotent stem cells.
Abstract - | Full Text - From stem cells to germ cells and back again | PDF (598 KB) - From stem cells to germ cells and back again
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Making eggs: is it now or later? - pp1190 - 1191
Teresa K Woodruff
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1190
Although it has been thought that female mammals develop all the eggs they will ever have by the time they are born, new research suggesting otherwise has now sparked a debate.
Abstract - | Full Text - Making eggs: is it now or later? | PDF (133 KB) - Making eggs: is it now or later?
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Two faces of PTEN - pp1192 - 1193
Takiko Daikoku & Sudhansu K Dey
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1192
A small number of women (approximately 1%) suffer from premature ovarian failure in which their ovarian follicle reserve is exhausted before age 40. Recent studies in mice show that the absence of a tumor suppressor gene, PTEN, in oocytes prematurely induces global follicular activation, depleting the follicle reserve in a manner similar to premature ovarian failure.
Abstract - | Full Text - Two faces of PTEN | PDF (1,467 KB) - Two faces of PTEN
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Research Highlights - p1194
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1194
Full Text - Research Highlights | PDF (521 KB) - Research Highlights
Timeline
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Timeline: the role of kisspeptins in reproductive biology - p1196
Manuel Tena-Sempere
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1196
Although the focus of this issue is on contributions published over the past three to four years, the discovery of the kisspeptins was hailed as an important breakthrough by our advisors so frequently that we had to include it. Manuel Tena-Sempere guides us on a tour of the key findings that have shaped this blossoming field.
Abstract - | Full Text - Timeline: the role of kisspeptins in reproductive biology | PDF (104 KB) - Timeline: the role of kisspeptins in reproductive biology
Review
Focus on Reproductive Biology
The biology of infertility: research advances and clinical challenges - pp1197 - 1213
Martin M Matzuk & Dolores J Lamb
doi:10.1038/nm.f.1895
Abstract - | Full Text - The biology of infertility: research advances and clinical challenges | PDF (1,592 KB) - The biology of infertility: research advances and clinical challenges | Supplementary information
Commentaries
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Funding for the reproductive sciences in the US - pp1214 - 1217
Jerome F Strauss, III & Louis V De Paolo
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1214
Full Text - Funding for the reproductive sciences in the US | PDF (119 KB) - Funding for the reproductive sciences in the US
Focus on Reproductive Biology
Funding for research in reproduction in the European Union - pp1218 - 1220
Gérard Chaouat
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1218
Full Text - Funding for research in reproduction in the European Union | PDF (105 KB) - Funding for research in reproduction in the European Union
Focus on Reproductive Biology
European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective - p1222
Carlos Simón
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1222a
Funds from the European Union are not the only source available to the continent's reproductive research community. Each country independently sponsors the work of these scientists, but, as illustrated by snapshots in the following pages, there are huge differences in the commitment of the various European nations to tackle the challenges of reproductive biomedicine.
Abstract - | Full Text - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective | PDF (777 KB) - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective
Focus on Reproductive Biology
European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective - p1222
Thomas M D'Hooghe
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1222b
Funds from the European Union are not the only source available to the continent's reproductive research community. Each country independently sponsors the work of these scientists, but, as illustrated by snapshots in the following pages, there are huge differences in the commitment of the various European nations to tackle the challenges of reproductive biomedicine.
Abstract - | Full Text - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective | PDF (777 KB) - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective
Focus on Reproductive Biology
European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective - p1223
Daniel Rukavina
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1223a
Funds from the European Union are not the only source available to the continent's reproductive research community. Each country independently sponsors the work of these scientists, but, as illustrated by snapshots in the following pages, there are huge differences in the commitment of the various European nations to tackle the challenges of reproductive biomedicine.
Abstract - | Full Text - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective | PDF (777 KB) - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective
Focus on Reproductive Biology
European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective - p1223
Antonis Makrigiannakis
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1223b
Funds from the European Union are not the only source available to the continent's reproductive research community. Each country independently sponsors the work of these scientists, but, as illustrated by snapshots in the following pages, there are huge differences in the commitment of the various European nations to tackle the challenges of reproductive biomedicine.
Abstract - | Full Text - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective | PDF (777 KB) - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective
Focus on Reproductive Biology
European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective - p1224
Hilary Critchley & Philippa Saunders
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1224a
Funds from the European Union are not the only source available to the continent's reproductive research community. Each country independently sponsors the work of these scientists, but, as illustrated by snapshots in the following pages, there are huge differences in the commitment of the various European nations to tackle the challenges of reproductive biomedicine.
Abstract - | Full Text - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective | PDF (777 KB) - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective
Focus on Reproductive Biology
European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective - p1224
Thomas Strowitzki
doi:10.1038/nm1108-1224b
Funds from the European Union are not the only source available to the continent's reproductive research community. Each country independently sponsors the work of these scientists, but, as illustrated by snapshots in the following pages, there are huge differences in the commitment of the various European nations to tackle the challenges of reproductive biomedicine.
Abstract - | Full Text - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective | PDF (777 KB) - European funding for reproduction research—A multinational perspective