A.B., Atlantic Christian College
M.A., East Carolina University
Ph.D., Tulane University

office: Brody 7N-74
telephone: 252-744-2854
e-mail: burdenh@ecu.edu

| Research | Selected Publications | Staff and Students |

Research
My research focuses on the role of the peripheral autonomic nervous system in female mammalian reproductive function. The anatomic basis of autonomic nervous system involvement and reproductive function modulation is being studied.

Functional aspects of female reproductive physiology are under partial or complete control by hormonal and neural influences. The interaction between hormonal and neural stimuli at the level of the central nervous system and its role in modulation of reproductive function has been extensively documented. Less is known about functional relationships between peripheral nerves and reproductive function. My research focuses on the role of somatic and autonomic motor and sensory nerves in female reproductive function. The role of the nerves in reproductive function is being accessed by evaluation of structural and functional parameters after peripheral nerve lesions. The anatomic and functional bases for interaction of peripheral sensory nerves and motor nerves which innervate reproductive target organs is being studied by nerve tracing and physiological procedures, and the effect of hormone status on neural modulation of female reproductive events is being investigated. Microsurgical, histological, histochemical, immunocytochemical and morphometric techniques are primarily used in these studies.

Lastly, the role of gravity in ovarian and uterine function is another area of interest currently being studied.

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Selected Publications
Klein, C.M. and H.W. Burden. 1988. Substance P- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers in relation to ovarian postganglionic perikarya in para- and prevertebral ganglia: Evidence from combined retrograde tracing and immunocytochemistry. Cell Tissue Res. 252: 403-410.

Burden, H.W., G.T. Price, R.H. Renegar, and C.A. Hodson. 1990. Effect of peripheral nerve lesions during pregnancy on parturition in rats. Anat. Embryol. 182: 445-501.

Burden, H.W., G.T. Price, A.T. Davenport, and C.A. Hodson. 1993. Dorsal rhizotomy does not alter rat estrous cycles or ovarian compensatory responses. Anat. Embryol. 187: 461-464.

Burden, H.W., J. Zary, I.E. Lawrence, P. Jonnalagadda, M. Davis, and C.A. Hodson. 1997. Effects of space flight on ovarian-hypophyseal function in postpartum rats. J. Reproduction Fertility 109: 193-197.

Burden, H.W., J. Zary, and J.R. Alberts. 1999. Effects of space flight on the immunohistochemical demonstration of connexin-26 and connexin-43 in the postpartum uterus of rats. J. Reproduction Fertility 116: 229-234.

Burden, H.W. and J. Zary. 2002. Localization of calretinin in the rat ovary and in relation to nerve cell bodies in dorsal root and paravertebral ganglia projecting to the ovary. Micros. Res.Tech. 59: 490-494.

Burden, H.W., J.T. Zary, C.A. Hodson, H.L. Gregory, L.A. Baer, and A.E. Ronca. 2003. Effects of hypergravity on ovarian-hypophyseal function in antepartum and postpartum rats. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 74: 110-114.

Burden, H.W. and J.T. Zary. 2005. Lack of effect of hind limb suspension on early embryogenesis and uterine implantation in the rat. Jour. Grav. Physiol. 12: 17-22.

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Staff and Students
Location: 7N-76

Former Students and Post-Doctoral Fellows:

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