Centre for Cell and Developmental Biology

Representative Publications (* indicates PI and Corresponding Author)

1.	Ge, W. (2005) Intrafollicular paracrine communication in the zebrafish ovary: The state of the art of an emerging model for the study of vertebrate folliculogenesis. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 237:1-10. (Invited At-the-Cutting-Edge review)
2.	Kwok, H.-F., So, W.-K., Wang, Y. and Ge, W. (2005) Zebrafish gonadotropins and their receptors: I. Cloning and characterization of zebrafish follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone receptors (Fshr and Lhr) - Evidence for their distinct functions in follicle development. Biology of Reproduction* 72:1370-81.
3.	So, W.-K., Kwok, H.-F. and Ge, W. (2005) Zebrafish gonadotropins and their receptors: II. Cloning and characterization of zebrafish follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) subunits - Their spatial-temporal expression patterns and receptor specificity. Biology of Reproduction* 72:1382-96.
4.	Ge, W. (2005) Activin and its receptors in fish reproduction. In: Melamed, P. and Sherwood, N. (eds) Hormones and their receptors in fish reproduction. World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, pp. 128-154. (invited book chapter)
5.	Lau, M.-T. and Ge, W. (2005) Cloning of Smad2, Smad3, Smad4 and Smad7 from the goldfish pituitary and evidence for their involvement in activin regulation of goldfish FSHβ promoter activity. General and Comparative Endocrinology.* (in press).
6.	Wang, Y. and Ge, W. (2004) Developmental profiles of activin βA, βB and follistatin expression in the zebrafish ovary - evidence for their differential roles during sexual maturation and ovulatory cycle. Biology of Reproduction* 71: 2056-2064.
7.	Wang, Y. and Ge, W. (2004) Cloning of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) from the zebrafish ovary and its potential roles in the regulation of ovarian activin/follistatin system. Biology of Reproduction* 71: 749-760.
8.	Yuen, C.W. and Ge, W. (2004) Follistatin suppresses FSH but increases LH expression in the goldfish-Evidence for an activin-mediated autocrine/paracrine system in fish pituitary. General and Comparative Endocrinology* 135: 108-115.
9.	Wang, Y., Wong, A.O.L. and Ge, W. (2003) Cloning, regulation of mRNA expression and function of a new isoform of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the zebrafish ovary. Endocrinology* 144: 4799-4810.
10.	Wang, Y. and Ge, W. (2003) Spatial expression patterns of activin and its signaling system in the zebrafish ovarian follicle - evidence for paracrine action of activin on the oocytes. Biology of Reproduction* 69: 1998-2006.
11.	Wang, Y. and Ge, W. (2003) Gonadotropin regulation of follistatin expression in the cultured ovarian follicle cells of zebrafish, Danio rerio. General and Comparative Endocrinology* 134: 308-315.
12.	Wang, Y. and Ge, W. (2003) Involvement of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in the differential regulation of activin A and B expression by gonadotropin in the zebrafish ovarian follicle cells. Endocrinology* 144: 491-499.
13.	Wang, Y. and Ge, W. (2002) Cloning of zebrafish ovarian carbonyl reductase-like 20 -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and characterization of its spatial and temporal expression. General and Comparative Endocrinology* 127:209-216.
14.	Pang, Y.F. and Ge, W. (2002) Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor- (TGF-) promote zebrafish oocyte maturation in vitro: potential role of the ovarian activin regulatory system. Endocrinology* 143:47-54.
15.	Pang, Y.F. and Ge, W. (2002) Gonadotropin and activin enhance maturational competence of the oocytes in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Biology of Reproduction* 66:259-265.
16.	Pang, Y.F. and Ge, W. (2002) Gonadotropin regulation of activin A and activin type II receptor expression in the ovarian follicle cells of the zebrafish, Danio rerio*. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 188:195-205.
17.	Ge, W. (2000) Roles of activin regulatory system in fish reproduction. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 78:1077-1085.
18.	Pang, Y.F. and Ge, W. . (1999) Activin stimulation of zebrafish oocyte maturation in vitro and its potential role in mediating gonadotropin-induced oocyte maturation. Biology of Reproduction* 61:987-992.
19.	Yam, K.M., Yu, K.L. and Ge, W. (1999) Molecular cloning and characterization of goldfish activin A subunit cDNA. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology* 154:45-54.

Research Grants

Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grants
2006-2008	Functional analysis of pituitary-gonadal axis in the zebrafish – Why do fish need two gonadotropins, and what is the physiological relevance of FSH? - $1,397,914
2005-2007	Intrafollicular communication in the zebrafish ovary – roles of GDF-9 from the oocyte in orchestrating follicle development - $1,321,920
2002-2004	Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the ovary of zebrafish - how is it related to the ovarian activin system in controlling oocyte development? - $876,000
2001-2003	Activin system in the pituitary: how important is it in the differential expression of fish FSH and LH? - $699,600
1999-2001	Transcriptional regulation of gonadotropin-I and II (GTH-I and II) genes in the goldfish by activin - functional analysis of cis-acting elements that mediate activin stimulation of GTH-I and inhibition of GTH-II in the goldfish, Carassius auratus - HK$789,000
1996-1998	Activin regulation of pituitary gonadotropin gene expression and oocyte development in the goldfish, Carassius auratus - HK$865,000

Strategic Grants
2000-2004	Strategies for the improvement of marine fish and shrimp culture: a molecular biological approach - HK$500,000 (co-investigator)