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Allgeier, Sarah Hicks
 Sarah Hicks Allgeier Profile
PhD Candidate - Started 2002
Lab of Richard Peterson, PhD
Contact Information
Email: Sarah Hicks Allgeier
Undergraduate Work
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (1995-1999)
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry (1999)
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Bachelor of Science, Microbiology (1999)
Research as of August 2006
Maternal 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treatment on gestation day (GD) 13 prevents prostatic buds from forming in the ventral region of the fetal prostatic anlage, the urogenital sinus (UGS), resulting in ventral prostate agenesis in C57BL/6J male mice. Effects of TCDD on dorsolateral and anterior prostatic bud formation are much less severe, suggesting region-specific prostatic budding environments with varying susceptibility to disruption by TCDD.
Prostatic bud formation requires androgen signaling through androgen receptors (ARs) in the UGS mesenchyme (UGM), which directs development of prostatic buds from the UGS epithelium (UGE). We have demonstrated that TCDD-sensitive rudimentary ventral prostatic buds form in female mouse fetuses, where endogenous androgen levels are insufficient to promote dorsolateral or anterior prostatic bud formation or changes in UGS shape associated with masculinization. Further, maternal treatment with the potent androgen 5a-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is sufficient to fully masculinize the female UGS, causes TCDD-sensitive rudimentary ventral prostatic bud formation in testicular-feminized (Tfm) male fetuses, which are believed to be completely androgen-insensitive. I am working to characterize the androgen-responsiveness of the Tfm male UGS and to determine whether the extreme androgen sensitivity of ventral prostatic bud initiation contributes to increased TCDD sensitivity.
The UGM also expresses estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) and is the site of action of TCDD, which acts through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Estrogen receptor beta (ERb), which has been reported to have an anti-proliferative effect on epithelium, is expressed at near-undetectable levels in the UGE. I am using ER knockout animals to determine whether ERs mediate budding inhibition by TCDD, either by direct interaction between TCDD-activated AhR and ERa, which has been demonstrated in the literature, or by some indirect effect on epithelial ERb.
Memberships
Society of Toxicology, Student Member since October 2003
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783
Interests/Hobbies
Running, music, cooking, reading, team sports for fun, building things
Funding
National Research Service Award Individual Minority Predoctoral Fellowship (F31, 4 year, 02/05 – present)
National Research Service Award Predoctoral Traineeship (NIEHS Training Grant T32, 09/03 - 01/05)
Advanced Opportunity Fellowship, University of Wisconsin Graduate School (09/02 - 09/03)
Publications
Allgeier SH, Lin TM, Vezina CM, Moore RW, Fritz WA, Chiu SY, Zhang C, Peterson RE. WNT5A selectively inhibits mouse ventral prostate development. Dev Biol. 2008 Aug 29. [Epub ahead of print]
Vezina CM, Allgeier SH, Moore RW, Lin TM, Bemis JC, Hardin HA, Gasiewicz TA, Peterson RE. Dioxin Causes Ventral Prostate Agenesis by Disrupting Dorsoventral Patterning in Developing Mouse Prostate. Toxicol Sci. 2008 Sep 8. [Epub ahead of print]
Vezina CM, Allgeier SH, Fritz WA, Moore RW, Strerath M, Bushman W, Peterson RE. Retinoic acid induces prostatic bud formation. Dev Dyn. 2008 May;237(5):1321-33.
Cook, C., Vezina, C.M., Hicks, S.M., Shaw, A., Elkahwaji, J., Peterson, R.E., and Bushman, W. (2006). Noggin is Required for Normal Lobe Patterning and Ductal Budding in the Mouse Prostate Developmental Biology, submitted.
Vassallo, J.D., Hicks, S.M., Daston, G.P. and Lehman-McKeeman, L.D. (2004). Metabolic Detoxification Determines Species Differences in Coumarin-Induced Hepatotoxicity. Toxicological Sciences 80 (2), 249-257. (Procter & Gamble)
Vassallo, J.D., Hicks, S.M., Born, S.L., and Daston, G.P. (2004). Roles for Epoxidation of Coumarin in Determining Species Differences in Clara Cell Toxicity. Toxicological Sciences 82 (1), 26-33. (Procter & Gamble)
Hicks, S.M., Vassallo, J.D., Dieter, M.Z., Lewis, C.L., Whitely, L.O., Fix, A.S., and Lehman-McKeeman, L.D. (2003). Immunohistorical Analysis of Clara Cell Secretory Protein Expression in a transgenic Model of Mouse lung Carcinogenesis. Toxicology 187 (2-3), 217-228. (Procter & Gamble)
Lehman-McKeeman, L.D., Gamsky, E.A., Hicks, S.M., Vassallo, J.D., Mar, M. and Zeisel, S.H. (2002). Diethanolamine Induces Hepatic Choline Deficiency in Mice. Toxicological Sciences 67 (1), 38-45. (Procter & Gamble)
Posters
Moore, R.W., Vezina, C.M., Hicks, S.M. Lin, T.-M., and Peterson, R.E. (2006). Studies on Why Ventral Prostatic Budding in Mouse Urogenital Sinus (UGS) is Far More Vulnerable to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Than Doral, Lateral, or Anterior Budding. Toxicological Sciences (The Toxicologist), Submitted.
Vezina, C.M., Hicks, S.M., Peterson, R.E., and Bushman, W. (2006). TCDD Decreases Retinoid Signaling and Ventral Prostatic Bud Formation in the Mouse Urogenital Sinus. Toxicological Sciences (The Toxicologist), Submitted.
Allgeier. S.H., Lin, T.-M., and Peterson, R.E. (2006). 5a -Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has Effects on Ventral Prostatic Bud Formation in Mice Independent of the Classic Androgen Receptor. Toxicological Sciences (The Toxicologist) 90 (1), 187-Abstract 921.
Hicks, S.M., Lin, T.-M., Mukai, M., Cooke, P.S. and Peterson, R.E. (2005). Estrogen Receptor Alpha is Not Required for Normal Prostatic Bud Formation or for Inhibition of Prostatic Bud Formation by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in Mice. Toxicological Sciences (The Toxicologist) 84 (S-1), 113-Abstract 554.
Hicks, S.M., Lin, T.-M. and Peterson, R.E. (2004). Critical Windows of Vulnerability for Effects of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on Prenatal Prostate Development in Mice. Toxicological Sciences (The Toxicologist) 78 (1-S), 191-Abstract 921.
Hicks, S.M., Lewis, C.L., Vassallo, J.D., Whiteley, L.O., Fix, A.S. and Lehman-McKeeman, L.D. (2002). Histopathologic Evaluation of Clara Cell-Derived Lung Tumor Progression in a Transgenic Mouse Model. Toxicological Sciences (The Toxicologist) 66 (1-S), 310-Abstract 1518. (Procter & Gamble)
Photo Credit: Chris Frazee, Media Solutions
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