Welcome to Winuthayanon Lab

Sex steroid hormones & female reproductive tract biology

Successful reproduction depends on a series of coordinated events, from fertilization and early embryo development to embryo transport and implantation. These processes are regulated by reproductive hormones and require interactions among sperm, embryos, and cells within the female reproductive tract. However, many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that coordinate these events remain poorly understood.

Our laboratory investigates how reproductive hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, regulate the function of the female reproductive tract, with a focus on the oviduct (fallopian tube) and uterus. Using genetically engineered mouse models, human reproductive tissues, three-dimensional organoid cultures, and molecular approaches, we study how hormonal signaling influences reproductive tract function and how these tissues interact with sperm and developing embryos. Understanding these interactions is important for identifying factors that contribute to infertility and early pregnancy failure.

In addition to studying the mechanisms that support successful reproduction, we are interested in how these processes can be targeted to prevent pregnancy. One area of our research focuses on developing a non-hormonal contraceptive approach by inhibiting semen liquefaction, a process that normally occurs after ejaculation and allows sperm to move more freely. By preventing semen from liquefying, we aim to limit sperm movement through the female reproductive tract and reduce the likelihood of fertilization.