Mary M Lee MD
Title Chair and Professor
Institution University of Massachusetts Medical School
Department Pediatrics
Division Pediatric Endocrine/Diabetes
Address University of Massachusetts Medical School
 55 Lake Avenue North
 Worcester MA 01655
Telephone 508-334-0526
Email
Other Positions
Institution UMMS - School of Medicine
Department Cell and Developmental Biology

Institution UMMS - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department Cell Biology

Institution UMMS - Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Department Masters in Clinical Investigation
Narrative

Biography

M.D., SUNY-Buffalo School of Medicine      1983
Resident in Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Buffalo     1983-1986
Fellow, Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia     1986-1989                         
Research fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital     1989-1992
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA     1993-2000
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC     2000-2004         

Prof of Pediatrics and Cell Biology  
 Director, Ped Endo and Diabetes, UMass Medical School     Current               

                                                                                                                

 

Mary Lee, MD

Testicular Development

We are interested in understanding the role of Mullerian inhibiting substance in the testis and elucidating the hormonal and cellular interactions that are critical for testicular development.  Our research involves both clinical investigations and laboratory studies.  Our basic research efforts have focused on clarifying the paracrine and endocrine regulation of Leydig cell differentiation and on identifying the effects of persistent organic pollutants (endocrine disruptors, such as dioxins) on the developing male reproductive system.

Areas of research interest:

  • Biology and regulation of Mullerian inhibiting substance
  • Sexual differentiation and intersex disorders
  • Testicular differentiation and development (fetal and postnatal) of Leydig cells
  • The effects of environmental toxins on reproductive development
  • Gonadal toxicity of chemotherapy and radiation for childhood malignancies

schematic MIS actions in Leydig cells

Figure 1. Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) is a negative regulator of progenitor Leydig cell proliferation and differentation and an inhibitor of adult Leydig cell androgen biosynthesis.  

 

TUNEL staining testicular sections

Figure 2. TUNEL staining of representative light micrographs of 4-µm-thick testicular sections from MIS and control-treated rats on Day 15 after EDS treatment. A) Control rat. B and C) MIS-treated rats. Most of the TUNEL-positive nuclei are located within the seminferous tubules and correspond to germ cells. Arrow: interstitial cell with TUNEL-positive nucleus. Scale bar = (A and B) 100 µm and (C) 25 µm. (Salva A, et al. Biology of Reproduction 2004;70:600-607)
Publications
1. Wu X, Zhang N, Lee MM. Mullerian Inhibiting Substance Recruits ALK3 to Regulate Leydig Cell Differentiation. Endocrinology. 2012 Oct; 153(10):4929-37.
  View in: PubMed
 
2. Sullivan-Bolyai S, Crawford S, Johnson K, Huston B, Lee MM. Educating diabetes camp counselors with a human patient simulator: a pilot study. J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2012 Apr; 17(2):121-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
3. Nwosu BU, Stavre ZG, Maranda L, Cullen K, Lee MM. Hepatic dysfunction is associated with vitamin D deficiency and poor glycemic control in diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2012; 25(1-2):181-6.
  View in: PubMed
 
4. Sullivan-Bolyai S, Lee MM. Parent mentor perspectives on providing social support to empower parents. Diabetes Educ. 2011 Jan-Feb; 37(1):35-43.
  View in: PubMed
 
5. Nwosu BU, Soyka LA, Angelescu A, Lee MM. Evidence of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 proteolysis during growth hormone stimulation testing. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2011; 24(3-4):163-7.
  View in: PubMed
 
6. Nwosu BU, Meltzer B, Maranda L, Ciccarelli C, Reynolds D, Curtis L, King J, Frazier JA, Lee MM. A potential role for adjunctive vitamin D therapy in the management of weight gain and metabolic side effects of second-generation antipsychotics. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2011; 24(9-10):619-26.
  View in: PubMed
 
7. Wu X, Arumugam R, Zhang N, Lee MM. Androgen profiles during pubertal Leydig cell development in mice. Reproduction. 2010 Jul; 140(1):113-21.
  View in: PubMed
 
8. Nwosu BU, Lee MM. Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a and insulin resistance in a child. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2009 Jun; 5(6):345-50.
  View in: PubMed
 
9. Jacobson-Dickman E, Lee MM. The influence of endocrine disruptors on pubertal timing. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2009 Feb; 16(1):25-30.
  View in: PubMed
 
10. Nwosu BU, Lee MM. Evaluation of short and tall stature in children. Am Fam Physician. 2008 Sep 1; 78(5):597-604.
  View in: PubMed
 
11. Wu X, Wan S, Pujar S, Haskins ME, Schlafer DH, Lee MM, Meyers-Wallen VN. A single base pair mutation encoding a premature stop codon in the MIS type II receptor is responsible for canine persistent Müllerian duct syndrome. J Androl. 2009 Jan-Feb; 30(1):46-56.
  View in: PubMed
 
12. Wu X, Wan S, Lee MM. Key factors in the regulation of fetal and postnatal Leydig cell development. J Cell Physiol. 2007 Nov; 213(2):429-33.
  View in: PubMed
 
13. Buchold GM, Magyar PL, Arumugam R, Lee MM, O'Brien DA. p19Ink4d and p18Ink4c cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors in the male reproductive axis. Mol Reprod Dev. 2007 Aug; 74(8):997-1007.
  View in: PubMed
 
14. Lee MM. Clinical practice. Idiopathic short stature. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jun 15; 354(24):2576-82.
  View in: PubMed
 
15. Wu X, Arumugam R, Baker SP, Lee MM. Pubertal and adult Leydig cell function in Mullerian inhibiting substance-deficient mice. Endocrinology. 2005 Feb; 146(2):589-95.
  View in: PubMed
 
16. Lee MM, Misra M, Donahoe PK, MacLaughlin DT. MIS/AMH in the assessment of cryptorchidism and intersex conditions. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2003 Dec 15; 211(1-2):91-8.
  View in: PubMed
 
17. Salva A, Hardy MP, Wu XF, Sottas CM, MacLaughlin DT, Donahoe PK, Lee MM. Müllerian-inhibiting substance inhibits rat Leydig cell regeneration after ethylene dimethanesulphonate ablation. Biol Reprod. 2004 Mar; 70(3):600-7.
  View in: PubMed
 
18. Lee MM. Is treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist justified in short adolescents? N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 6; 348(10):942-5.
  View in: PubMed
 
19. Lee MM, Sergeyev O, Williams P, Korrick S, Zeilert V, Revich B, Hauser R. Physical growth and sexual maturation of boys in Chapaevsk, Russia. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Feb; 16(2):169-78.
  View in: PubMed
 
20. Misra M, MacLaughlin DT, Donahoe PK, Lee MM. The role of Müllerian inhibiting substance in the evaluation of phenotypic female patients with mild degrees of virilization. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003 Feb; 88(2):787-92.
  View in: PubMed
 
21. Litton J, Rice A, Friedman N, Oden J, Lee MM, Freemark M. Insulin pump therapy in toddlers and preschool children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr. 2002 Oct; 141(4):490-5.
  View in: PubMed
 
22. Misra M, MacLaughlin DT, Donahoe PK, Lee MM. Measurement of Mullerian inhibiting substance facilitates management of boys with microphallus and cryptorchidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Aug; 87(8):3598-602.
  View in: PubMed
 
For assistance with using Profiles, please refer to the online tutorials or contact UMMS Help Desk or call 508-856-8643.
 
Keyword
Last Name
Institution
    
 
 
 
Keywords   
Testicular Hormones
Leydig Cells
Glycoproteins
Body Height
Sexual Maturation
See all (126) keywords
Co-Authors  
Angelescu, Amanda
Maranda, Louise
Meltzer, Bruce
Nwosu, Benjamin
Sullivan-Bolyai, Susan
See all (9) people
Physical Neighbors  
Angelescu, Amanda
Nwosu, Benjamin
Cotter, Jacquelyn
Soyka, Leslie
Voute, Susan

UMMS Home

Intranet

This is an official Page/Publication of the University of Massachusetts Worcester Campus
Office of the Vice Provost for Research, 55 Lake Ave North, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
Questions or Comments? Email: publicaffairs@umassmed.edu Phone: 508-856-1572