Gilbert Pitts

Animal Physiology, Reproductive Physiology, Human Anatomy & Physiology

Reproductive neuroendocrinology and circadium rhythms

• Covington KR, Mahaffey KL, Pitts GR. Continuous Connexin 26 Expression in GT1-7 Cells. Tennessee Academy of Science, In preparation.
• Lachance PA, LeBlanc DV, Roberson JH, Pitts GR. A Method for Serially Collecting Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons. Tennessee Academy of Science, In preparation.
• Pitts GR, Fu Y, Youngren OM, Rozenboim I, Whiting SE, and El Halawani ME. The effects of serotonin, stress, and light on monoamines in the turkey. Poultry Science, In preparation.
• Bluhm CK, Silsby JL, Pitts GR, and El Halawani ME. Continuous egglaying and inhibition of incubation by active immunization against vasoactive intestinal peptide in wild mallards. Physiological Zoology, In Preparation.
• Pitts GR, Ohta H, Zhou T, McMahon DG (2006). Daily rhythmicity of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ currents in suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons. Brain Research 1071:54-62.
• Nunemaker CS, DeFazio RA, Geusz ME, Herzog ED, Pitts GR, Moenter SM (2001). Long-term recordings of networks of immortalized GnRH neurons reveal episodic patterns of electrical activity. J Neurophysiol 86:86-93.
• Pitts GR, Nunemaker CS, and Moenter SM (2001). Cycles of transcription and translation do not comprise the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator in GT1 cells. Endocrinology 142:1858-1864.
• El Halawani ME, Whiting SE, Silsby JL, Pitts GR, and Chaiseha Y (2000). Active Immunization with vasoactive intestinal peptide in turkey hens. Poultry Science 79:349-354.
• Pitts GR, You S, Foster DN, and El Halawani ME (2000). Evidence for multiple prolactin receptor transcripts in the turkey. Poultry Science 79:355-362.
• Youngren OM, Pitts GR, Chaiseha Y, and El Halawani ME (1999). An opioid pathway in the hypothalamus of the turkey that stimulates prolactin secretion. Neuroendocrinology 70:317-323.
• Tong Z, Pitts GR, You S, Foster DN, and El Halawani ME (1998). Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulates turkey prolactin gene expression by increasing transcription rate and enhancing mRNA stability. J Molec Endocrinol 21:259-266.
• El Halawani ME, Youngren OM, and Pitts GR (1997). Vasoactive intestinal peptide as the avian prolactin releasing factor In: Perspectives in Avian Endocrinology S. Harvey, and RJ Etches (Eds). J of Endocrinology LTD, Bristol, UK, pp 403-416.

Abstract

• Walker MJ and Pitts GR (2010). Relative connexin-26 mRNA levels in GT1-7 cells following passaging. 120th Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN.
• Smith BG, Osborn A, and Pitts GR (2010). Immortalization of avian GnRH cells. Fifth Annual College of Science and Mathematics Research Forum, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
• Farsian M, and Pitts GR (2008). Optimization of an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). 118th Tennessee Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Sheraton Music City Hotel, Nashville, TN.
• Farsian M, and Pitts GR (2008). Further optimization of an assay for murine gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Third Annual College of Science and Mathematics Research Forum, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
• Reyes JO, and Pitts GR (2008). Detection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from frogs. Third Annual College of Science and Mathematics Research Forum, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
• Boules C, Farsian M, and Pitts GR (2007). GnRH enzyme immunoassay optimization. Second Annual College of Science and Mathematics Research Forum, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
• Parikh I, Tragle L, Cobb P, and Pitts GR (2007). Immortalization of avian GnRH-I hypothalamic cells. Second Annual College of Science and Mathematics Research Forum, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
• Covington KR, Mahaffey KL, Pitts GR (2006). Continuous connexin 26 mRNA expression in GT1-7 cells. West Tennessee Regional Collegiate Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, page 7.
• Lachance P, LeBlanc DV, Roberson H, Pitts GR (2006). Rapid collection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons. West Tennessee Regional Collegiate Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, page 8.
• Covington KR, and Pitts GR (2006). Time course of connexin 26 mRNA expression in GT1-7 cells. First Annual College of Science and Mathematics Research Forum, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
• Covington KR, Hester M, and Pitts GR (2006). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion from immortalized hypothalamic neurons. First Annual College of Science and Mathematics Research Forum, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN.
• Pitts GR, McMahon DG (2003). Circadian activity of large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels in period1 neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucles. Soc Neurosci Abstr Program Number 284.27.
• Pitts GR, Kuhlman SJ, McMahon DG (2002). Large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels mediate per1 cell excitability in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Society for Biological Research Abstr.
• Pitts GR, Nunemaker CS, and Moenter SM (2001). Transcription does not drive episodic GnRH secretion. Soc Neurosci Abstr 26:5.
• Kulick R, Whiting S, Pitts GR, You S, El Halawani M (1999). Vasoactive intestinal peptide but not peptide histidine isoleucine as a physiological regulator of prolactin secretion in the domestic turkey. Poultry Sci 78 (Suppl 1):65.
• Youngren O, Pitts G, and El Halawani M (1999). Partial characterization of an opiate pathway modulating prolactin secretion in the turkey. Poultry Sci 78 (Suppl 1):65.
• Pitts GR and El Halawani ME (1998). The use of microdialysis to determine the effects of serotonin, stress, and light on monoamines in the turkey hypothalamus. Poultry Sci 77 (Suppl 1):59.
• El Halawani ME, Whiting SE, Silsby JL, and Pitts GR (1996). Active immunization against vasoactive intestinal peptide in first and second cycle turkey hens. Poultry Sci 75 (Suppl 1): 93.
• El Halawani ME, Pitts GR, Sun S, Silsby JL, and Sivanandan V (1995). Active immunization against vasoactive intestinal peptide prevents photoperiodically stimulated prolactin secretion in turkeys. Poultry Sci 74 (Suppl 1): 157.
• Pitts GR, You S, Foster DN, and El Halawani ME (1995). Prolactin receptor mRNA quantification in the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Poultry Sci 74 (Suppl 1): 114.
• Youngren OM, El Halawani ME, Pitts GR, and Phillips RE (1995). The paradoxical effects of dopamine on prolactin secretion in the turkey. Poultry Sci 74 (Suppl 1): 157.
• Chaiseha Y, Youngren OM, Pitts GR, Rozenboim I, Silsby JL, and El Halawani ME (1994). Enhanced vasoactive intestinal peptide secretion by turkey hypothalamic explants. Poultry Sci 73 (Suppl 1): 55.
• Pitts GR, Youngren OM, Phillips RE, and El Halawani ME (1994). Photoperiod modulates serotonin-stimulated prolactin secretion in turkeys. Poultry Sci 73 (Suppl 1): 54.
• El Halawani ME, Youngren OM, Pitts GR, Rozenboim I, and Phillips RE (1994). Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) mediates serotonergic stimulation of prolactin (PRL) secretion in the turkey. Poultry Sci 73 (Suppl 1): 56.
• Pitts GR, Youngren OM, Silsby JL, Rozenboim I, Phillips RE, Foster DN, and El Halawani ME (1993). Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide infusion into the turkey brain does not induce incubation behavior. Poultry Sci 72 (Suppl 1): 59.
• Rozenboim I, Ghaly K, Pitts GR, Youngren OM, and El Halawani ME (1993). Maternal immunization of turkey poults against vasoactive intestinal peptide, as a model for passive immunization. Poultry Sci 72 (Suppl 1): 94.
• Pitts GR, Youngren OM, Silsby JL, Foster LK, Foster DN, Rozenboim I, Phillips RE, and El Halawani ME (1992). The effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide perfused into the median eminence on plasma prolactin, pituitary prolactin content, and prolactin mRNA in laying turkeys. Poultry Sci 71 (Suppl 1): 21.