George McCoy, Ph.D.

Professor/RIMI Program Director
Dept. of Biology, Chemistry & Environmental Health Science
Benedict College
1600 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204
Office: Alumni Hall 208
Phone: (803) 705-4586
Email: mccoyg@benedict.edu
Phone#: (803) 705-4586
Email: mccoyg@benedict.edu

EDUCATION

Ph.D. 1971. Louisiana State University (Entomology)
M.S.  1968. Louisiana State University (Wildlife Science)
B.S.   1966. Texas A&M University (Wildlife Science)

Additional Study:

1976 Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 
1980, 1983 University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

AREA OF RESEARCH INTEREST

Development of sexual dimorphism in mammals requires coordinated gene expression governing the development of the gametogenic and steroidogenic functions of the gonads. In theory, the same genes could operate in both sexes. However, in the male some genes must be expressed to induce the male phenotype. Male sexual differentiation requires direction of the bipotential gonad toward the testicular lineage, induction of the development of the gamerogeinic and steroidogenic functions of the testis, suppression of the Mullerian duct derivatives and induction of the Wolffian duct derivatives.

We study abnormal perinatal exposure to the mammalian estrogen 17 beta-estradiol (E2) to discover if this will alter the expressions of these genes during gonadogenesis and cause aberrations in gonadal structure and function. After perinatal treatment of rats with E2, molecular biology techniques are employed to determine if the expressions of the MIS, SF-1, members of the GATA family and DAX-1 genes in the fetal and/or postnatal gonads are altered.

These studies advance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms governing normal sex differentiation and allow us to characterize the actions of an excess of a mammalian physiological estrogen on sex differentiation. This information can be used to test the hypothesis that increased frequency of particular abnormalities in human reproduction reflects the impact of increased exposure to environmental estrogens.

RESEARCH FUNDED

Principal Investigator, "Effects of chronic polychlorinated biphenyls exposure on reproduction in the old field mouse."

NIH Division of Research Resources, MBRS Program, 05/1989.

Principal Investigator, "Effects of chronic polychlorinated biphenyls exposure on reproduction in the old field mouse."

NIH Division of Research Resources, MBRS Program, 05/1993.

Principal Investigator, "Effects of estrogen, tamoxifen and some environmental pollutants on male reproduction."

NIH Division of Research Resources, RIMI Program, 10/1996.

Principal Investigator and Program Director, "Estrogen, gene expression and gonadal development."

NIH Division of Research Resources, RIMI Program, 10/2002.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1994 McCoy, G.; Finlay, M.F.; Rhone, A.; James, K. and Cobb, G.P. Chronic polychlorinated biphenyls exposure on three generations of old field mice: effects on reproduction, growth and body residues. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol, 28:431-435.

1999 Nair-Menon, J.T.; Campbell, G.T.; McCoy, G. and Blake, C.A. Interactions between estrogen, tamoxifen, octylphenol and two polychlorinated biphenyls in murine splenocytes. Life Science vol 65, no 11.

2004 Blake, C.A.; Boockfor, F.R.; Nair-Menon, J.T.; Millette, C.F.; Raychoudhury, S.S.; and McCoy, G.L. Effects of 4-tert-octylphenol given in drinking water for 4 months on the male reproductive system of Fisher 344 rats. Reproductive Toxicology 18:43-51.

2004 Lavoie, H.A.; McCoy, G.L.; and Blake, C.A. Expressions of the Gata-4 and GATA-6 transcription factors in the fetal rat gonad and in the ovary during postnatal development and pregnancy. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 227:31-40.

2007 Benoit, A.M.; Lavoie, H.A.; Blake, C.A. and McCoy, G.L. Localizaton of fertility factor SP22 to specific cell types within the anterior pituitary gland. J. Exp. Biol. Med. 10:721-748.

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