Blanche Capel
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology
Overview
In mammals, the primary step in male sex determination is the initiation of testis development in the bipotential gonad primordium. This step depends on the Y-linked male sex-determining gene, Sry. Expression of Sry in the XY gonad, or as a transgene in an XX gonad, leads to the differentiation of Sertoli cells. Failures in Sertoli cell differentiation in the XY gonad result in sex reversal and ovary formation. In addition to Sertoli cell differentiation, we are studying the signaling pathways between Sry expression and early steps in testis organogenesis using mouse as a model system. Using genetic and cell biology approaches, we determined the origin of several key cell types of the testis. We also identified two pathways, proliferation and cell migration, that are controlled by Sry and lead to the architectural patterning of the testis. Currently we are investigating the novel hypothesis that reciprocal signals between the vasculature and Sertoli cells are involved in patterning testis cords. Testis organogenesis is an ideal model system to study the integration of vasculature during development of organ structure. In addition, we are investigating critical signals between Sertoli cells and germ cells during testis cord formation. Defects in these signals result in teratomas and gonadal blastomas, common neoplasias in young boys. Experimental approaches include the use of molecular and biochemical techniques, mutant mice, transgenics, organ culture assays, differential screens, immunocytochemistry imaging techniques, and classic mouse genetics.
Positions
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology in the School of Medicine
2010 School of Medicine
Professor of Cell Biology in the School of Medicine
2005 School of Medicine
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute in the School of Medicine
1993 School of Medicine
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center in the School of Medicine
2021 School of Medicine
Education
Ph.D. 1989
1989 University of Pennsylvania
Publications, Grants & Awards
- Grants (35)
- Awards (3)
- Academics Articles (157)
- Conference Pages (33)
- Book Sections (1)
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health
Lalor Foundation, Inc.
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
American Cancer Society, Inc.
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
Lalor Foundation, Inc.
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Science Foundation
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
National Institutes of Health
American Association for the Advancement of Science, The
Development
Frontiers in Genetics
Science Advances
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
J Neural Eng
Nature Communications
Nature Communications
Biol Reprod
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Curr Biol
Mol Cell Endocrinol
Science
Cell Reports
Development
Molecular Human Reproduction
Curr Top Dev Biol
Curr Opin Genet Dev
Nat Cell Biol
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Science
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Biology of Reproduction
Genome Biology
Evol Dev
Int J Dev Biol
Genome Biology
Biol Reprod
Mechanisms of Development
Wiley Interdiscip Rev Syst Biol Med
Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol
Developmental Biology
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Development
Bmc Biology
Dev Biol
Genome Biology
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Genes & Development
Scientist
Developmental Biology
Development (Cambridge, England)
Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol
Semin Reprod Med
Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol
Curr Opin Genet Dev
CSH Protoc
CSH Protoc
Development (Cambridge, England)
Gene Expression Patterns : Gep
Gene Expression Patterns : Gep
Developmental Biology
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Molecular Endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)
Sexual Development : Genetics, Molecular Biology, Evolution, Endocrinology, Embryology, and Pathology of Sex Determination and Differentiation
Current Topics in Developmental Biology
Current Topics in Developmental Biology
Gene Expression Patterns : Gep
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Gene Expr Patterns
Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution
Gene Expression Patterns : Gep
Nature Genetics
Plast Reconstr Surg
Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists
Development (Cambridge, England)
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Journal of Biochemistry
Cancer Biology & Therapy
Nature
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: Tem
Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Comparative Experimental Biology
Mechanisms of Development
Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists
Development (Cambridge, England)
Development (Cambridge, England)
Nature Reviews. Genetics
Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Development (Cambridge, England)
Development (Cambridge, England)
Development (Cambridge, England)
Developmental Biology
Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000)
Genes & Development
Developmental Biology
Genes & Development
Developmental Biology
Recent Progress in Hormone Research
Novartis Foundation Symposium
Developmental Biology
Mechanisms of Development
Development (Cambridge, England)
Development (Cambridge, England)
Mechanisms of Development
Developmental Biology
The Journal of Experimental Zoology
Annual Review of Physiology
Current Biology : Cb
Journal of Cell Science
Current Topics in Developmental Biology
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
Development (Cambridge, England)
Trends in Genetics : Tig
Mammalian Genome : Official Journal of the International Mammalian Genome Society
Nature Genetics
Advances in Developmental Biology (1992)
Experimental Hematology
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Archives Internationales De Physiologie Et De Biochimie
Molecular Biology of the Cell
Integrative and Comparative Biology
Integrative and Comparative Biology
Faseb Journal
Human Reproduction
Developmental Biology
Biology of Reproduction
Developmental Biology
Biology of Reproduction
Sexual Development : Genetics, Molecular Biology, Evolution, Endocrinology, Embryology, and Pathology of Sex Determination and Differentiation
Zoological Science
Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Comparative Experimental Biology
Biology of Reproduction
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Biology of Reproduction
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Biology of Reproduction
TESTIS: FROM STEM CELL TO SPERM FUNCTION
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology
SEX DETERMINATION IN VERTEBRATES
Offices & Contact
Durham, NC
27710 Duke Box 3709 Med Ctr
Durham, NC
27710