Dr Arif Siddiqui Principal Investigator

At AKU, the group has a strong and long standing interest in reproductive biology research. It represents a broad level of competence in this front edge area of research in reproductive health. The work on ‘Testosterone and Cytokine interaction during fertility regulation' for example, is expected to yield results important for the treatment of endocrine and inflammatory disorders. Similarly the work on ‘Effects of Anxiety and Tolerance Development induced by Anxiolytics on Reproduction Functions in the Rat ' will be of value for the purpose of creating awareness among the health professionals and general public regarding potential hazards associated with anxiolytics uncontrolled use.

CURRENT PROJECTS

• Effects of Anxiety and Tolerance Development induced by Anxiolytics on Reproduction Functions in the Rat
• Role of Testosterone and Cytokines Interaction during Fertility Regulation
• Serotoninergic mechanisms and modulation of female reproductive functions
• Maternal drug abuse and changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal functions in the female rat and their offspring
• Studies on the abortifacient activity of medicinal plants in mammals

• Pakistan Science Foundation
• Departmental resources

• Mariam T, Shaharyar S, A. Siddiqui. Changes in sexually dimorphic behaviour in the rat offspring following perinatal diazepam exposure.   Pakistan J Zool. 2001; 33(2) 145-150
• Gustaffson K, Sultana T, Zetterström CK, Setchell BP , Siddiqui A, Soder O. Production and secretion of interleukin-1alpha proteins by rat testis. Biochem Biophy Res Comm,  2002; 297: 492-497
• Small CJ, Goubillon M-L, Siddiqui, A. et al. Central Orexin A has site- specific effects on luteinising hormone release in female rats. Endocrinology 2003; 7:3225-3236
• Siddiqui A, Ami-Amara M, Aldairy M, Hagan J, Wilson CA. 5HT 7 receptors subtype as a mediator of the serotoninergic regulation of LH release in the zona incerta in the rat. Eur J Pharmacol 491:77-84
• Murray JF, Dakin CL, Siddiqui A et al. Neonatal 5HT activity antagonises the masculinising effect of testosterone on LH release response to gonadal steroids and on brain structures in rats. Eur J Neurosci 19: 387-39

• Serotoninergic mechanisms and modulation of female reproductive functions
  (Collaborator: Catherine A Wilson, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. George's Hospital Medical School , London ) 
• Role of Testosterone and Cytokines Interaction during Fertility Regulation
  (Collaborator: O. Soder, Pediatric Endocrinology Lab., Kalinska Institute, Stockholm )
• Studies on the abortifacient activity of medicinal plants in mammals
  (Collaborator: Anwar H. Gilani, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University , Karachi )
• Effects of anxiety and tolerance development induced by anxiolytics on reproductive functions in the rat
  (Collaborator: DJ Haleem, Department of Biochemistry, University of Karachi,  Karachi)