Aleisha M Moore
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Phone:
601-831-5029
Email:
Address:
Integrated Sciences Building
PhD and Postdoctoral Training
Ph.D. Neuroscience, University of Otago, New Zealand
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi; Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
A bit about me...
I am interested in defining and understanding the neuronal network regulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, the final output cells controlling fertility. In particular, my work involves determining whether changes in the regulation of GnRH neurons by a population of cells that co-express the neuropeptides Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B and Dynorphin (KNDy neurons) underlies the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause of female infertility. My research explores the role of KNDy neurons in the pathogenesis of PCOS using a preclinical mouse model of the syndrome combined with a range of anatomical and functional tools that permit the study of complicated neuroendocrine networks, including viral-mediated tract-tracing, fluorescent in situ hybridization, immunolabeling, steroid hormone feedback protocols, ELISAs, chemogenetics, optogenetics, calcium imaging and electron, light sheet, confocal and miniature microscopy. (Right: Brain-wide distribution of presynaptic KNDy neurons as visualized with 3D imaging of the intact mouse brain. Moore et al. Scientific Reports, 2019)
Publications
AM Moore, DB Lohr, LM Coolen, MN Lehman. Prenatal androgen exposure alters KNDy neurons and their afferent network in a mouse model of PCOS. 2021, Aug 04, Endocrinology. Doi 10.1210/endocr/bqab158.
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AM Moore, LM Coolen, MN Lehman. Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B/Dynorphin (KNDy) cells as integrators of diverse internal and external cues: evidence from viral-based monosynaptic tract-tracing in mice. 2019 Oct 14. Scientific Reports, 9(1):14768. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-51201-0
DT Porter, AM Moore, JA Cobern, V Padmanabhan, RL Goodman, LM Coolen, MN Lehman. Prenatal Testosterone Exposure Alters GABAergic Synaptic Inputs to GnRH and KNDy Neurons in a Sheep Model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. 2019 Nov 1. Endocrinology, 160(11):2529-2542. doi: 10.1210/en.2019-00137.
AM Moore, LM Coolen, DT Porter, RL Goodman, MN Lehman. KNDy Cells Revisited. 2018 Sep 1. Endocrinology, 159(9):3219-3234. doi: 10.1210/en.2018-00389.
AM Moore, G Abbott, J Mair, RE Campbell. Mapping GABA and glutamate inputs to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone neurones in male and female mice. 2018 Nov 29. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 30 (12), e12657. doi: 10.1111/jne.12657.
AM Moore, M Prescott, K Czieselsky, E Desroziers, SH Yip, RE Campbell, AE Herbison. 2018 Synaptic innervation of the GnRH neuron distal dendron in female mice. Endocrinology. 159(9):3200-3208. doi: 10.1210/en.2018-00505.
MN Lehman, LM Coolen, RA Steiner, G Neal-Perry, L Wang, SM Moenter, AM Moore, R Goodman, S Hwa-Yeo, S Padilla, A Kauffman, J Garcia, M Kelly, J Clarkson, S Radovick, A Babwah, S Tellez, M Tena-Sempere, A Comninos, S Seminara, W Dhillo, J Levine, E Terasawa, A Negron, A Herbison. 2018. The 3rd World Conference on Kisspeptin, “Kisspeptin 2017: Brain and Beyond”: Unsolved questions, challenges and future directions for the field. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 2018 Apr 14:e12600. doi: 10.1111/jne.12600
AM Moore, KA Lucas, LM Coolen and MN Lehman. 2018. Three-dimensional imaging of KNDy neurons in the mammalian brain using optical tissue clearing and immunocytochemistry. Scientific Reports. 8(1):2242. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20563-2.
AM Moore and RE Campbell. 2017 Polycystic ovary syndrome: Understanding the role of the brain. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. 46:1-14.
AM Moore and RE Campbell. 2015. The neuroendocrine genesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome: A role for arcuate nucleus GABA neurons. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol 160:106-117.
AM Moore, M Prescott, CJ Marshall, SH Yip, RE Campbell. 2015. Enhancement of a robust arcuate GABAergic input to gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in a mouse model of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (PNAS) U.S.A 112.2, 596-601.
AM Moore, Prescott, M. Campbell, RE. 2013. Investigating estradiol negative and positive feedback in a prenatal androgen-induced mouse model of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Endocrinology 154, 796-806.
Funding
Current:
NIH R00 Pathway to Independence Award R00 HD096120
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The role of Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B/Dynorphin (KNDy) neurons in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): The goal of this project is to assess how changes in KNDy neuron gene expression and synaptic regulation lead to the development of PCOS.
Role: PI
Grant period: 03/05/2021 – 02/28/2024.
Completed:
NIH K99 Pathway to Independence Award 1 K99 HD096120
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The role of Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B/Dynorphin (KNDy) neurons in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): The goal of this project is to precisely define the afferent neuronal network to KNDy neurons and potential alterations within this network that induces the PCOS neuroendocrine phenotype
Role: PI
Grant period: 09/01/2018 – 02/28/2021.
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American Association of Anatomists Postdoctoral Fellow Research Grant
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Investigating changes in the KNDy neuronal network in a model of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Role: PI
The goal of this project was to identify changes in steroid hormone sensitivity and synaptic input to KNDy neurons in a mouse model of PCOS
Grant period: Jan 2017-Dec 2017
Work Experience
March 2021- Now
January 2019- February 2021
January 2016-December 2018
Assistant Professor Biological Sciences, Kent State University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Mississippi Medical Center
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