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Olga I. Astapova, M.D., Ph.D.

Olga I. Astapova, M.D., Ph.D.

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

UR Medicine Faculty The University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group (URMFG) consists of over 900 specialist and primary care providers spanning 19 departments. URMFG is certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
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Locations

Endocrinology

601 Elmwood Avenue, 3rd Floor
Rochester, NY 14620

Endocrinology

2400 South Clinton Avenue, Suite 135
Rochester, NY 14620

About Me

Certified Specialties

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism - American Board of Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine

Faculty Appointments

Assistant Professor - Department of Medicine, Endocrine/Metabolism (SMD)

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2019 - 2020

Fellowship, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2016 - 2019

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2015 - 2016

Internship, Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2014 - 2015

Education

MD | Wayne State University School of Medicine. 2014

Research

I am a new faculty member at the Division of Endocrinology, but a familiar face to the people here. After completing my fellowship in endocrinology, which included working in the Hammes lab, I recently became assistant professor and now run my own lab. My research focus is on the mechanisms of andro...
I am a new faculty member at the Division of Endocrinology, but a familiar face to the people here. After completing my fellowship in endocrinology, which included working in the Hammes lab, I recently became assistant professor and now run my own lab. My research focus is on the mechanisms of androgen actions in the ovary, and ultimately I want to improve the management of female fertility and ovarian hormone balance. While androgens are traditionally considered essential for male fertility, they are also critical regulators of ovarian function and fertility. In women, disorders of follicle development, specifically polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), contribute to the majority of cases of infertility. Disregulated androgen signaling has been implicated in both of these conditions: hyperandrogenemia is associated with excessive numbers of persistent antral follicles and anovulation in PCOS, while androgen deficiency is linked to accelerated follicle loss in DOR. Therefore, it is paramount to understand the mechanisms of androgen actions in the ovary in order to reduce the healthcare burden of androgen-related disorders in women.

Recently I undertook a study to assess the androgen-regulated transcriptome in granulosa cells using RNA sequencing. Surprisingly, I found that in both mouse and human granulosa cells, gene transcription activity of the androgen receptor is negligible to nill. This was unexpected, given that it is well known from studies done in Dr. Hammes’ lab and others that androgens promote follicle growth via androgen receptor in granulosa cells. I showed that ligand binding induces marked nuclear localization of the androgen receptor in these cells and enhances the receptor protein expression by several-fold by protecting it from proteasome degradation in the cytoplasm, but does not result in any significant mRNA-transcription activity. This suggests that non-gene coding androgen actions may be at play in GCs. I therefore became interested in non-classical androgen signaling in the ovary.

Current research activity in my lab aims to investigate the non-coding transcriptional activity of androgen receptor in granulosa cells and the role of cytoplasmic adaptor protein paxillin in the ovary. Our working hypothesis is that androgens shift the microRNA expression profile of granulosa cells in the anti-apoptotic direction, resulting in increased survival of granulosa cells and follicle growth. In cases of androgen excess, such as in PCOS, this shift may interfere with the establishment of a dominant follicle and ovulation. We also believe that paxillin may be involved in this pathway upstream of the androgen receptor. Work by the Hammes lab has shown that paxillin mediates non-genomic androgen signaling in prostate cancer, and we are evaluating similar mechanisms in granulosa cells. In fact, we have found that in granulosa cells, paxillin is necessary for androgen receptor protein expression. We have created a granulosa cell-specific paxillin knockout mouse model to better understand this pathway.

While research occupies the majority of my time, 20% of my appointment is clinical. My clinical interest is in managing the symptoms and reducing the metabolic risks associated with PCOS, as well as managing other conditions of disordered sex steroids: gender dysphoria, early menopause, male and female hypogonadism.

Research Lab

Astapova Lab

Visit Lab Website

Publications

Journal Articles

Paxillin knockout in mouse granulosa cells increases fecundity.

Vann K, Weidner AE, Walczyk AC, Astapova O

Biology of reproduction.. 2023 August 8 Epub 08/08/2023.

Ligand Binding Prolongs Androgen Receptor Protein Half-Life by Reducing its Degradation.

Astapova O, Seger C, Hammes SR

Journal of the Endocrine Society.. 2021 May 15 (5):bvab035. Epub 03/05/2021.

Physiological and Pathological Androgen Actions in the Ovary.

Astapova O, Minor BMN, Hammes SR

Endocrinology.. 2019 May 1160 (5):1166-1174. Epub 1900 01 01.

Bilateral Pheochromocytomas in a Patient with Y175C Von Hippel-Lindau Mutation.

Astapova O, Biswas A, DiMauro A, Moalem J, Hammes SR

Case reports in endocrinology.. 2018 2018 :8967159. Epub 07/10/2018.

Developmental programing: impact of testosterone on placental differentiation.

Beckett EM, Astapova O, Steckler TL, Veiga-Lopez A, Padmanabhan V

Reproduction : the official journal of the Society for the Study of Fertility.. 2014 August 148 (2):199-209. Epub 05/19/2014.

PPARgamma mutations, lipodystrophy and diabetes

Astapova, O.; Leff, T.;.

2014; 20(2): 63-70.

Clinical and molecular characterization of a severe form of partial lipodystrophy expanding the phenotype of PPAR? deficiency.

Campeau PM, Astapova O, Martins R, Bergeron J, Couture P, Hegele RA, Leff T, Gagné C

Journal of lipid research.. 2012 September 53 (9):1968-78. Epub 07/02/2012.

Adiponectin and PPAR?: cooperative and interdependent actions of two key regulators of metabolism.

Astapova O, Leff T

Vitamins and hormones.. 2012 90 :143-62. Epub 1900 01 01.

Developmental programming: contribution of prenatal androgen and estrogen to estradiol feedback systems and periovulatory hormonal dynamics in sheep.

Veiga-Lopez A, Astapova OI, Aizenberg EF, Lee JS, Padmanabhan V

Biology of reproduction.. 2009 April 80 (4):718-25. Epub 01/02/2009.

Developmental programming: differential effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol-A or methoxychlor on reproductive function.

Savabieasfahani M, Kannan K, Astapova O, Evans NP, Padmanabhan V

Endocrinology.. 2006 December 147 (12):5956-66. Epub 08/31/2006.

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