Research Interests:

The placenta is the organ through which all of the nutrients, respiratory gases, and wastes are transferred between the maternal and fetal systems. Thus, normal growth and development of the fetus depends on an adequate blood supply to the placenta. Normal fetal growth and development, in turn, are critical determinants of postnatal survival as well as long-term health and productivity of the offspring. Dr. Reynolds' research focuses on the mechanisms regulating placental growth and vascular development (angiogenesis), using in vivo and in vitro (including histological) approaches. Dr. Reynolds' research career has extended over 3 decades, and he is widely recognized as one of the world's leading placental physiologists.

Early in his career, Dr. Reynolds and his colleagues, using livestock animal models, confirmed and extended previous observations of the critical importance of placental blood flow in nutrient delivery to the fetus that supports its growth. Subsequently, Dr. Reynolds and colleagues characterized growth of the placental vascular beds (a process termed placental angiogenesis), demonstrated production of angiogenic factors by the placenta, and were among the first to characterize these placental angiogenic factors. In research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), they also developed an array of livestock animal models of compromised pregnancy; that is, pregnancies in which fetal or placental growth, or both, are compromised. These models include those in which maternal over-nutrition, under-nutrition, or specific nutrients such as selenium, maternal age, the maternal or fetal genomes, or an increased number of fetuses, impact fetal or placental growth. Lastly, because of the importance of placental growth in supporting fetal growth, Dr. Reynolds and colleagues developed techniques for quantifying cell proliferation in livestock in vivo, including the use of bromodeoxyuridine (an exogenous marker) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (an endogenous marker). In the ensuing 15 years, these techniques have been adopted widely to evaluate cell proliferation in a variety of tissues, and have become a well accepted and powerful tool in studies of tissue growth.

Dr. Reynolds current research is focused in 3 areas:

•  Further characterizing placental vascular growth at the light and electron microscopy levels, with the goal of developing robust mathematical and physical models of the influence of changes in placental vascular architecture on placental function in normal and compromised pregnancies;

•  Evaluating placental growth and vascular development of in vitro produced embryos, including in vitro fertilized and cloned embryos, with the goal of understanding the basis of altered placental function leading to a high rate of abnormal development and death in these pregnancies; and

•  Investigating the use of modulators of placental vascular growth and function, such as inhibitors of phosphodiesterase 5, as therapeutic tools in the management of compromised pregnancies, with the goal of minimizing fetal growth restriction and mortality.

Dr. Reynolds' current research efforts involve collaborations with numerous scientists throughout the U.S. and abroad, including scientists at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen Scotland (Dr. Jacqueline Wallace), the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh Scotland (Dr. Mike Clinton), the University of Teramo in Italy (Drs. Lino Loi and Grazyna Ptak), and the University of Alexandria in Egypt (Dr. Shireen Hafez). The long-term goal of these research efforts is to provide an optimal uterine environment to ensure optimal maternal, fetal, and postnatal health in humans and livestock. Dr. Reynolds also serves as Co-Director of the Center for Nutrition & Pregnancy (http://cnp.ndsu.nodak.edu/ ).

For Dr. Reynolds' Abbreviated Biosketch, which includes his personal and professional background as well as references to his publications, see http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/lreynold/LR_Abbreviated_Bio_w_refs.pdf .

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Abbreviated Biosketch  -Professional interests, publications, etc.    
Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy