Leon Spicer
 Professor

Teaching:

2002-Present AG 3080, Culture and Agriculture of Italy
1995-2006 ANSI 4543, Dairy Cattle Science
1989-Present ANSI 3443, Animal Reproduction
1989-Present ANSI 4900, ANSI 5010, Special Problems
1990-1992 ANSI 4900, Techniques in Animal Biotechnology
1990-Present ANSI 5000, 6000- Research and Thesis
1989-Present ANSI 5110, Seminar

Research Interests:

My research involves in vitro and in vivo approaches to study nutritional and hormonal control of ovarian function and follicular development including the study of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) as an endocrine factor linked to energy balance in early lactating dairy cows and the study of metabolic factors such as leptin, IGF-I and the IGF system in ovarian follicular function and milk production.

Current projects:
 1) “Impact of Sub-clinical Mastitis on Quality and Produciton of Goat Milk and Cheese”. Co-PI: Steve Zeng (Langston University), grant funded by United States Department of Agriculture 2007-10.
2) Micrarray analysis of gene expression in porcine and bovine granulosa cells.
 3) Evaluation of the role of IGF type II receptors (IGF2R) and growth differentiation factor-9 in control of bovine ovarian follicle development.