Ryan Ashley

Title: Associate Professor
Major Field of Interest: Reproductive Physiology with an emphasis in recognition and maintenance of pregnancy
E-mail address: ryashley@nmsu.edu
Web Site: http://ryashley.nmsu.edu
Office phone: 575-646-4135
Curriculum Vitae

Education:

B.S., Animal Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 1999

M.S., Animal Science, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 2002

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2007

Post-doctoral fellow, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2007-2010

Courses Taught:

ANSC 421 Physiology of Reproduction

ANSC 602 Advanced Reproductive Physiology

ANSC 602L Molecular Techniques in Reproductive Physiology

ANSC 604 Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal-Pineal Endocrinology

ANSC 605 Gonadal and Uterine Endocrinology - ANSC 606 Endocrinology of Pregnancy, Parturition, and Lactation

Research: Our laboratory has two focus areas: progesterone’s actions mediated by membrane receptors and chemokines’ effects in early pregnancy and breast cancer. One goal of our laboratory is to elucidate the functions of membrane progesterone receptors (MPRs) in normal and compromised pregnancies, as well as their roles in reproductive cancers. The other focus area of our laboratory is the role that the chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its ligand, CXCL12, play during early pregnancy, particularly implantation of trophoblast cells into maternal endometrium and subsequent development of the placenta. CXCL12/CXCR4 activation is associated with immune functions, cell survival and proliferation and vascularization. Abnormal placental growth and vascular development early in pregnancy leads to poor fetal growth and survival and can result in compromised health in the offspring later in life. Additionally, CXCL12 and CXCR4 are implicated in a number of reproductive cancers, with established roles in breast cancer metastasis and are hormonally regulated.