University of Toledo · PhysiologyAstrocyte Metabolism and Reproductive Health Lab
Jennifer Wootton Hill · Toledo, Ohio
Research Focus
Dr. Jennifer Wootton Hill's lab studies how brain cells called astrocytes influence fertility and puberty by sensing insulin levels. They focus on the mechanisms that link energy availability to reproductive functions, especially how astrocytes help control the release of hormones essential for reproduction. The research aims to find treatments for infertility related to metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes.
astrocytesinsulin signalingpubertyfertilityhormonal regulationGnRHPGE2hypogonadotropic hypogonadismenergy metabolism
Research Aims
3AIM 01Define the timing and location of insulin signaling in astrocytes during reproductive development.
AIM 02Investigate how insulin signaling affects prostaglandin E2 production from astrocytes and its role in fertility.
AIM 03Explore the molecular mechanisms of the insulin/FOXO pathway in astrocyte function and its impact on hormonal release.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRcell cultureviral vector methodsgene expression analysisWestern blotimmunohistochemistryanimal modelstranscriptional assaysbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications94bottom 25% of dept.213th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.7kbottom 30% of dept.200th of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.