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Thomas G. Kennedy 

 

UWO Reproductivity 
Biology Group 

UWO Physiology
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UWO Physiology
Faculty
 

(Last modified July 1, 1999) 

Overview

I am a faculty member associated with the University of Western Ontario in the Department of Physiology , with a cross-appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 

My research activities involve investigation of blastocyst implantation and decidualization. 

Professional Memberships and Associations 

Teaching

During the last three years I have 

Laboratory Personnel

Lab Picture
Technical Staff Graduate Students: 

Research Area Description

Work in this area has benefited by associations with David T. Armstrong, Gerald M. Kidder and Andy Watson, as well as with numerous students 

Blastocyst implantation is arguably the most crucial stage in the establisment of pregnancy. In humans it is estimated that between 30-70% of conceptuses are lost before or at the time of implantation, without women being aware of having conceived. 

Uterine Dye SitesIn virtually all species investigated, the earliest macroscopically demonstrable sign of blastocyst implantation is a localized increase in endometrial vascular permeability; this is illustrated for the rat.  To visualize the areas of increased endometrial vascular permeability, the rat was given an intravenous injection of Evans blue late on day 5 of pregnancy.  Each of the blue bands corresponds to an area of increased endometrial vascular permeability.  Within each of these areas, a blastocyst is in the process of implanting. 
 
 
 
 
 

Stimulated Uterine HornThe endometrial vascular permeability response is followed, in many species, by decidualization; this involves the proliferation and differentiation of endometrial stromal cells to decidual cells which ultimately give rise to the maternal component of the placenta.  The early stages of decidualization are illustrated for the rat.  Shown is a rat uterus on day 8 of pregnancy; the ‘implantation swellings’ are primarily a consequence of decidualization at this stage of pregnancy. 

The localized nature of the endometrial responses at implantation infers that there is a localized interaction between the blastocyst and endometrium.  My research investigates these embryo-endometrial interactions with emphasis on the paracrine/autocrine factors which are involved.  The experimental approaches which are utilized include in vivo and in vitro studies as well as the techniques for molecular biology.  Most studies are done in rats. 

Publications, Manuscripts, and Reports

Select a title below to download an individual manuscript. (They are in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.) 

Recent Presentations

SSR Thirty-first Annual Meeting, August 8-11, 1998, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

  • Conditioned media from cultured rat decidual cells limit in vitro invasion of HRP-1 cells, a trophoblast-derived cell line. Nuttall RK, Kennedy TG. 
  • Analysis of gene expression during the periimplantation period in rat endometrium using differential display. Simmons DG,* Kennedy TG. 

Grants

  • Grantee, Medical Research Council of Canada, Five-year Operating Grant (MT-10414) (1999-2004) 

University Service (Selected)

Graduate Training

  • Graduate Studies Committee, Department of Physiology. Member 1977-91; 1992-94. Chair, 1982-87; 1989-91. 
  • Biosciences Divisional Committee, Faculty of Graduate Studies. Member, 1982-87; Chair, 1989-91. 
  • Ontario Council on Graduate Studies, Appraisals Committee. Member, 1985-87; Chair 1987-88. 

Governance, University of Western Ontario

  • Senate. Member 1988-90; 1992-94 
  • Senate Committee on University Planning. Member, 1989-91; 1993-98; Chair, 1994-96 
  • Academic Colleague to the Council of Ontario Universities. 1994-98 

Research

  • Medical Research Council of Canada 
    • Committee on Studentships. Member, 1985-88. 
    • Program Grants Committee. Member, 1990-91. 
    • Endocrine Grants Committee, 1998. 
  • The Banting Research Foundation, Grant Review Panel. Member, 1995- 
  • Editorial Board, Biology of Reproduction. Member, 1990-95. 

Contact

Thomas G. Kennedy

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

University of Western Ontario 
Department of Physiology 
Medical Sciences Building 
London, Ontario N6A 5C1 
CANADA 

Tom.Kennedy@med.uwo.ca 

Voice: 1-519-661-2015 
FAX: 1-519-661-3827 

URL: http://publish.uwo.ca/~kennedyt