Post Doctoral Fellow

Marine Science Institute

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)

Graduate Student - Ph.D.

Zoology

Reproductive biology

Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi, India)

Senior Research Fellow

Department Of Zoology

Neuroendocrinology Laboratory

Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi, India)

Prof. Peter Thomas

Catecholestrogens and its role in steroidogenesis and apoptosis

Catecholestrogen metabolism in the ovary of catfish Heteropneustes fossilis was investigated to demonstrate its occurrence and involvement in ovarian physiology. Hydroxyestrogens and estrogen hydroxylase (EH) showed seasonal variations with an inverse relationship with that of aromatase. EH activity is regulated by steroids, protein hormones such as hCG, estradiol-17β, GH, IGF-1, and Insulin and a parallelism between their ability to stimulate oocyte maturation and enzyme activity vi-a-vis catecholestrogen synthesis was derived. Hydroxyestradiol induced oocyte maturation in vitro by stimulating the synthesis of a maturation-inducing steroid (MIS) and corticosteroids, and by suppressing E2 and testosterone production. Ovarian microsomal aromatase activity and kinetics were studied in relation to season and incubation with catecholestrogens. The activity and kinetics were the highest in preparatory phase coincident with peak vitellogenesis and decreased in prespawning and spawning phases. 2-hydroxyestradiol elicited biphasic effects, lower concentrations up to 1µM inhibited, and higher concentrations elevated enzyme activity. The inhibiting potency of the naturally occurring hydroxyestrogen was higher than the synthetic fadrazole, a known aromatase inhibitor. Further, incubation of the follicles with catecholestrogens stimulated prostaglandin secretion (PGF2α and PGE2), which is known to stimulate maturation and ovulation.

2003-present Animal House care and maintanance commitee member of Zoology Department, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

2003-present Student Incharge of Central Instrumentation facility (HPLC, FPLC, Gamma counter, Beta counter, RTPCR, autometed microtome, Deep Freezer (-80), Ultra Centrifuge and Scanning Electrone Microscope) of Zoology Department, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

2007 Symposium and workshop on “Statistical method in computational biology” as participant held in Mahila Mahvidayalya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi U.P. India.

2003 Attended 7th conference and workshop of International Biometric Society (Indian Region) on " Statistical Advance in Biosciences and Bioinformatics" held in Department of Zoology, BHU, Varanasi.

2002-2003 Certificate in Yoga Studies of Banaras Hindu University

2008-present Life Member, Society for Biotechnologist (INDIA)

2007-present Associate Memeber, The Endocrine Society, USA