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IN BRIEF
Gene delays female
puberty; may be linked
to obesity
PORTCAND — A gene that delays
female puberty and may be linked
to obesity has been identified by
Oregon Health & Science University
researchers.
Experiments with mice suggest that
absence of the gene in the hypothala
mus delays the onset of puberty.
Sergio Ojeda, a senior scientist at the
OHSU Oregon National Primate Re
search Center who led the study, said a
number of research papers have indi
cated recently that girls are reaching
puberty at an earlier age.
“While there is no definitive infor
mation ... other research has suggest
ed that if this is the case, it may be
linked to the nation’s obesity crisis,”
Ojeda said.
The gene, called TTF-1, is expressed
in the hypothalamus during sexual de
velopment.
The mouse study suggested the
gene not only affects the timing of pu
berty, it can shorten the time during
which the animal can reproduce.
The researchers found that mice
lacking the TTF-1 gene had fewer lit
ters, had fewer pups in each litter, and
their reproductive time span was half
that of a normal animal.
Prior to the mouse study, Ojeda’s
research team found similar results
with rats, followed by studies con
firming that expression of the TTF
1 gene increases in the hypothala
mus of nonhuman primates at the
onset of puberty.
Ojeda and his colleagues are track
ing other genes that might interact
with TTF-1 to control the onset of
puberty in animals and humans.
“We know that children recently
described to have mutations of this
gene suffer from loss of motor coor
dination and alterations in fluid bal
ance,” said Ojeda.
The study was presented Sunday at
the annual Society for Neuroscience
meeting in San Diego.
— The Associated Press
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UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
BOOKSTORE
TIAA-CREF INVITES YOU TO HAVE A
ONE-ON-ONE
CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUR
FINANCIAL FUTURE.
This week, your TIAA-CREF representative will be on the University of
Oregon campus to talk to you about your financial goals. There’s no
better time than now to look at where you want to go—and do some
fresh thinking on how you want to get there.
What’s more, your TIAA-CREF representative is experienced and
knowledgeable about every aspect of the University of Oregon
retirement plan. So wherever you are in your life or career, you’ll get
clear, straightforward guidance. And because our Individual Consultants
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In fact, for over 85 years, TIAA-CREF has been dedicated to serving
those whose life work serves the greater good. We look forward to
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SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH TIAA-CREF
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT GUY AMES
DATES: October 26-28, 2004
PLACE: ERB Memorial Union, Century Room B
Appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.
To reserve your one-on-one appointment, call us toll-free at
877-209-3142, ext. 2615, or sign up online at www.tiaa-cref.org/moc
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FOR THE GREATER GOOD"
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