Benson T. Akingbemi, DVM, PhD

Professor

Benson T. Akingbemi Photo
Contact
 

334-844-4489
akingbt@auburn.edu

Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology

Auburn University
College of Veterinary Medicine
1130 Wire Road
Auburn, AL 36849

 

Laboratory of Reproductive Biology & Toxicology

Education

 

DVM, 1980, University of Ibadan
MS, 1988, University of Ibadan
PhD, 1997, University of Ibadan

Professional Experience

 

Member, SEP, Infectious Diseases and Reproductive Health, NIH (03/2022)
Member, Annual Meeting Steering Committee of the Endocrine Society (2022-2025)
Member, Science Policy Committee, FASEB (2021-2024)
Member FASEB Shared Research Resources Subcommittee (2018-2020)
Professor and Course Coordinator, Small animal anatomy- VMED 9111 (2014 to date)
Associate Professor of Anatomy (2009-2014)
Assistant Professor of Anatomy (2004-2009)

Biography

 

Dr. Akingbemi joined the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in August, 2004. He had his initial education in Nigeria where he received the D.V.M., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Ibadan. With a Research Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Akingbemi came to the United States in 1997 for postdoctoral training. Between 1997 and 2004, he worked on environmental and molecular toxicology investigating the effects of environmental agents on testicular and Leydig cell function in Matthew Hardy’s Laboratory, Center for Biomedical Research of the Population Council, Rockefeller University, New York.

The laboratory has interests in male reproductive biology and toxicology. The male sex steroid hormone, testosterone, which maintains the male phenotype, is produced primarily by Leydig cells in the testis. However, the concept that ‘androgen is male, and estrogen is female’ is no longer tenable because estrogen receptors (ESRs) and androgen receptors are both localized to the male reproductive tract, including Leydig cells. Data from transgenic mice lacking ESRs support the hypothesis that estrogen has a physiological role in male reproduction. However, there is growing public concern that chemicals in the environment (food, air, water), which have estrogenic properties, may exert adverse effects on reproductive health. These compounds mimic and/or antagonize steroid hormones, acting through steroid hormone receptors, and interfere with the function of the endocrine axis. Our major focus will be investigation of the role of steroid hormone receptors in mediating effects of environmental toxicants on Leydig cell differentiated function and male reproduction.

Research Interests

 

Urogenital Anomalies, Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology, Environmental Toxins

Academic Areas

 

Anatomy, Microanatomy, Toxicology

Key Words

 

Endocrine Disruptors, Male Gonad, Testis, Steroid Hormones, Gene Regulation

Publications and Links

 

NCBI: Dr. Akingbemi