Recipient of the 2018 IETS Pioneer Award: David Thomas Armstrong, BSA, MSc, PhD

doi:10.1071/RDv30n1_PA2

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Recipient of the 2018 IETS Pioneer Award: David Thomas Armstrong, BSA, MSc, PhD

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 30(1) xxii-xxiv https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv30n1_PA2
Published: 4 December 2017

Dr David T. Armstrong was born in Kinburn, Ontario, in the Ottawa Valley, Canada, on 5 November 1929. He was raised on a farm and developed a great interest in animal reproduction from his early years. Dr Armstrong received his BSA major in animal husbandry from the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Toronto, in 1951, his MSc degree major in physiology; minors in biochemistry and endocrinology in 1956, and his PhD major in physiology; minors in biochemistry and endocrinology in 1959, both from Cornell University and under the mentorship of Dr William (Bill) Hansel. Dr Armstrong completed postdoctoral studies at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY, from 1958 to 1960. From 1960 to 1968, Dr Armstrong was a research associate and assistant professor of Anatomy at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Harvard Medical School, Boston. In 1968, he was appointed associate professor of Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Western Ontario (‘Western’), London, Ontario, Canada. In 1969, he was promoted to professor at Western, a title he held until 1998, when he became professor emeritus. One university position was never enough for Dr Armstrong and his talents. For much of his career (1977 onward) he was also appointed as a visiting professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

Dr Armstrong’s publication record extends from 1956 until 2012, and includes a total of 281 records in the Web of Science. These publications have been cited more than 10 000 times, providing Dr Armstrong with an h-index of 57. Over the years, Dr Armstrong has trained dozens of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have populated the Animal Science, and Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments of universities worldwide. Dr Armstrong’s research interests were quite varied but he always kept up with times allowing him to make seminal contributions to many aspects of reproductive biology and embryo transfer right up to his actual retirement in 2012. These areas include:

Discovery, with Dr Hansel, of the luteolytic action of oxytocin (Armstrong and Hansel 1959). This was the first demonstration of the ability of a pharmacological agent to terminate corpus luteum function, thus providing the first method available for oestrous cycle regulation. It stimulated further research into methods of oestrous cycle synchronisation based on luteolysis, now widely used for artificial breeding programs in farm animals. The full physiological significance of this discovery did not emerge until ~25 years later with discoveries by others that the corpus luteum secretes oxytocin, and that oxytocin is a major regulator of prostaglandin secretion by endometrial and luteal tissues.
A major theme of Dr Armstrong’s pioneering research focused on the use of in vitro techniques for studies of hormone actions on the ovary. His research on the actions of gonadotrophic hormones on glucose and cholesterol metabolism in the ovary provided the first evidence for the now widely accepted role of luteinising hormone (LH) in regulating ovarian steroid biosynthesis by influencing substrate availability to the rate-limiting mitochondrial steroidogenic enzyme(s) (Armstrong and Greep 1962; Armstrong 1963, 1967; Armstrong et al. 1963; Solod et al. 1966; Major et al. 1967; Jackanicz and Armstrong 1968; Behrman and Armstrong 1969; Behrman et al. 1970; Flint and Armstrong 1971, 1972; Robinson et al. 1975).
His work first demonstrated the role of LH in the regulation of progesterone secretion by the corpus luteum in rabbits (Kilpatrick et al. 1964) and rats (Armstrong et al. 1964; Armstrong 1967), and thus established the similarity of mechanisms of regulation of luteal steroidogenesis among mammalian species. These findings were of fundamental importance in shifting the thinking about corpus luteum regulation from prolactin (previously regarded as ‘the luteotrophic hormone’) to luteinising hormone.
He discovered, with Drs Grinwich and Kennedy, the essential role of prostaglandins in ovulation through local intraovarian action in rats (Armstrong and Grinwich 1972) and rabbits (Grinwich et al. 1972). This work demonstrated that a prostaglandin synthase inhibitor modulated gonadotrophin action at intraovarian site(s) and provided the first evidence of the importance of prostaglandins in intraovarian paracrine regulation in the follicle. These studies defined a physiological role of PGE of ovarian origin as an intraovarian stimulus of follicular growth by exerting ‘gonadotrophin-like actions on granulosa and theca cells which do not yet possess receptors for the gonadotrophic hormones’ (Armstrong 1980). This prediction was borne out by findings of others that PGE is an essential mediator of the actions of an oocyte-secreted factor (GDF-9) in initiation of folliculogenesis.
Dr Armstrong, with Drs Dorrington, Moon, Papkoff and others, discovered the site of action of FSH in stimulation of oestrogen biosynthesis in Sertoli cells in the testes (Dorrington and Armstrong 1975) and ovarian granulosa cells (Dorrington et al. 1975; Armstrong and Papkoff 1976). This, together with discoveries with Fortune (Fortune and Armstrong 1977), of the stimulatory action of LH on androgen secretion by ovarian theca cells, provided definitive proof of the ‘two cell, two gonadotrophin’ theory of ovarian oestrogen biosynthesis and its regulation by gonadotrophins. This new concept resulted in re-evaluation of the follicle cells responsible for oestrogen secretion. The finding that the same cells can both secrete and respond to oestradiol provided crucial evidence for autocrine regulation within the follicle. Drs Armstrong and Tsang extended this concept and work to the human ovary (Tsang et al. 1979).
Dr Armstrong discovered, with Drs Leung, Dorrington, Daniel and others, the paracrine actions of androgens in follicle regulation by enhancing FSH actions on induction of progesterone synthesis (Armstrong and Dorrington 1976; Leung et al. 1979a, 1979b) and aromatase (Daniel and Armstrong 1980). This work provided definitive evidence for role(s) of ovarian androgens beyond that of substrate for aromatisation to estrogens, and foreshadowed research leading to the now well established importance of androgens in paracrine and autocrine regulation within the ovary.
Dr Armstrong’s research covered the species model list, including, mouse, rat, sheep, porcine, bovine, monkey and human. He pioneered the investigation of in vitro maturation and fertilisation of rat oocytes with Drs Evans (Evans and Armstrong 1984) and Vanderhyden (Vanderhyden and Armstrong 1989), the use of bovine calf oocytes for embryo production with Dr Gandolfi (Gandolfi et al. 1998), investigated growth factor gene expression and signalling in oocytes and early embryos with Drs Xia, Tekpetey, Watson and Zhang (Xia et al. 1994; Watson et al. 1994; Zhang et al. 1994; Winger et al. 1997) and intraovarian growth factor signalling with Drs Gilchrist and Thompson (Gilchrist et al. 2004; Grupen et al. 2007; Albuz et al. 2010). His last published study featured effects of the ovarian reserve in women and appeared in 2012 with Dr Lane (Pacella et al. 2012).

As is expected for someone of his stature, Dr Armstrong has contributed much to the growth of his field. He served as the president of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (1976–77) and the IETS (1990–91), many editorial boards, scientific advisory boards, and national and international conference organising committees. Of note is his work on the Advisory Committee on Human Reproductive Technologies, Ontario Law Reform Commission (1983–85). This committee framed legal and ethical application and practise of Human ARTs in Canada. Among his many honours, Dr Armstrong was a Career Investigator of the Medical Research Council of Canada, a research Career Development Awardee of the NIH Institute of Child Health and Human Development, elected to fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada, an awardee of a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, and was recipient of the Hartman Award from the Society for the Study of Reproduction.

Sadly, Dr Armstrong passed away on 1 August 2016 in the company of his family. Without question, his was a life well lived, full of meaning and impact. He is missed by many.

References

Albuz, F. K., Sasseville, M., Lane, M., Armstrong, D. T., Thompson, J. G., and Gilchrist, R. B. (2010). Simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM): a novel in vitro maturation system that substantially improves embryo yield and pregnancy outcomes. Hum. Reprod. 25, 2999–3011.
| Simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM): a novel in vitro maturation system that substantially improves embryo yield and pregnancy outcomes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T. (1963). Stimulation of glycolytic activity of rat corpus luteum tissue by luteinizing hormone. Endocrinology 72, 908–913.
| Stimulation of glycolytic activity of rat corpus luteum tissue by luteinizing hormone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T. (1967). On the site of action of luteinizing hormone. Nature 213, 633–634.
| On the site of action of luteinizing hormone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T. (1980). Prostaglandins and follicular functions. J. Reprod. Fertil. 62, 283–291.
| Prostaglandins and follicular functions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T., and Dorrington, J. H. (1976). Androgens augment FSH-induced progesterone secretion by cultured rat granulosa cells. Endocrinology 99, 1411–1414.
| Androgens augment FSH-induced progesterone secretion by cultured rat granulosa cells.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T., and Greep, R. O. (1962). Effect of gonadotrophic hormones on glucose metabolism by luteinized rat ovaries. Endocrinology 70, 701–710.
| Effect of gonadotrophic hormones on glucose metabolism by luteinized rat ovaries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T., and Grinwich, D. L. (1972). Blockade of spontaneous and LH-induced ovulation in rats by indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Prostaglandins 1, 21–28.
| Blockade of spontaneous and LH-induced ovulation in rats by indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T., and Hansel, W. (1959). Alteration of the bovine estrous cycle with oxytocin. J. Dairy Sci. 42, 533–542.
| Alteration of the bovine estrous cycle with oxytocin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T., and Papkoff, H. (1976). Stimulation of aromatization of exogenous and endogenous androgens in ovaries of hypophysectomized rats in vivo by follicle-stimulating hormone. Endocrinology 99, 1144–1151.
| Stimulation of aromatization of exogenous and endogenous androgens in ovaries of hypophysectomized rats in vivo by follicle-stimulating hormone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T., Kilpatrick, R., and Greep, R. O. (1963). In vitro and in vivo stimulation by glycolysis in prepubertal rat ovary by luteinizing hormone. Endocrinology 73, 165–169.
| In vitro and in vivo stimulation by glycolysis in prepubertal rat ovary by luteinizing hormone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Armstrong, D. T., O’Brien, J., and Greep, R. O. (1964). Effects of luteinizing hormone on progestin biosynthesis in the luteinized rat ovary. Endocrinology 75, 488–500.
| Effects of luteinizing hormone on progestin biosynthesis in the luteinized rat ovary.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Behrman, H. R., and Armstrong, D. T. (1969). Cholesterol esterase stimulation by luteinizing hormone in luteinized rat ovaries. Endocrinology 85, 474–480.
| Cholesterol esterase stimulation by luteinizing hormone in luteinized rat ovaries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Behrman, H. R., Armstrong, D. T., and Greep, R. O. (1970). Studies on the rapid cholesterol-depleting and steroidogenic actions of luteinizing hormone in the rat ovary: Effects of aminoglutethimide phosphate. Can. J. Biochem. 48, 881–884.
| Studies on the rapid cholesterol-depleting and steroidogenic actions of luteinizing hormone in the rat ovary: Effects of aminoglutethimide phosphate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Daniel, S. A. J., and Armstrong, D. T. (1980). Enhancement of follicle-stimulating hormone-induced aromatase activity by androgens in cultured rat granulosa cells. Endocrinology 107, 1027–1033.
| Enhancement of follicle-stimulating hormone-induced aromatase activity by androgens in cultured rat granulosa cells.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dorrington, J. H., and Armstrong, D. T. (1975). Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates estradiol-17β synthesis in cultured Sertoli cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 72, 2677–2681.
| Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates estradiol-17β synthesis in cultured Sertoli cells.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dorrington, J. H., Moon, Y. S., and Armstrong, D. T. (1975). Estradiol-17β biosynthesis in cultured granulosa cells from hypophysectomized immature rats: Stimulation by follicle-stimulating hormone. Endocrinology 97, 1328–1331.
| Estradiol-17β biosynthesis in cultured granulosa cells from hypophysectomized immature rats: Stimulation by follicle-stimulating hormone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Evans, G., and Armstrong, D. T. (1984). Reduction in fertilization rate in vitro of oocytes from immature rats induced to superovulate. J. Reprod. Fertil. 70, 131–135.
| Reduction in fertilization rate in vitro of oocytes from immature rats induced to superovulate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Flint, A. P. F., and Armstrong, D. T. (1971). Intracellular localization of cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme in corpora lutea of cow and rat. Nat. New. Biol. 231, 60–61.

Flint, A. P. F., and Armstrong, D. T. (1972). Dynamic aspects of ovarian cholesterol metabolism: regulation by gonadotropins. In ‘Gonadotropins’. (Eds B. B. Saxena, C. G. Beling and H. M. Gandy.) pp. 269–286. (John Wiley & Sons, Inc: New York.)

Fortune, J. E., and Armstrong, D. T. (1977). Androgen production by theca and granulosa isolated from proestrous rat follicles. Endocrinology 100, 1341–1347.
| Androgen production by theca and granulosa isolated from proestrous rat follicles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gandolfi, F., Milanesi, E., Pocar, P., Luciano, A. M., Brevini, T. A. L., Acocella, F., Lauria, A., and Armstrong, D. T. (1998). Comparative analysis of calf and cow oocytes during in vitro maturation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 49, 168–175.
| Comparative analysis of calf and cow oocytes during in vitro maturation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gilchrist, R. B., Ritter, L. J., and Armstrong, D. T. (2004). Oocyte-somatic cell interactions during follicle development. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 82–83, 431–446.
| Oocyte-somatic cell interactions during follicle development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Grinwich, D. L., Kennedy, T. G., and Armstrong, D. T. (1972). Dissociation of ovulatory and steroidogenic actions of luteinizing hormone in rabbits with indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Prostaglandins 1, 89–96.
| Dissociation of ovulatory and steroidogenic actions of luteinizing hormone in rabbits with indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Grupen, C. G., Gilchrist, R. B., Nayudu, P. L., Barry, M. F., Schulz, S. J., Ritter, L. J., and Armstrong, D. T. (2007). Effects of ovarian stimulation with and without human chorionic gonadotrophin on oocyte meiotic and developmental competence in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus). Theriogenology 68, 861–872.
| Effects of ovarian stimulation with and without human chorionic gonadotrophin on oocyte meiotic and developmental competence in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jackanicz, T. M., and Armstrong, D. T. (1968). Progesterone biosynthesis in rabbit ovarian interstitial tissue mitochondria. Endocrinology 83, 769–776.
| Progesterone biosynthesis in rabbit ovarian interstitial tissue mitochondria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kilpatrick, R., Armstrong, D. T., and Greep, R. O. (1964). Maintenance of the corpus luteum by gonadotrophins in the hypophysectomised rabbit. Endocrinology 74, 453–461.
| Maintenance of the corpus luteum by gonadotrophins in the hypophysectomised rabbit.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Leung, P. C. K., Goff, A. K., and Armstrong, D. T. (1979a). Stimulatory action of androgen administration in vivo on ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins. Endocrinology 104, 1119–1123.
| Stimulatory action of androgen administration in vivo on ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Leung, P. C. K., Henderson, K. M., and Armstrong, D. T. (1979b). Interactions of estrogen and androgen with gonadotropins on ovarian progesterone production. Biol. Reprod. 20, 713–718.
| Interactions of estrogen and androgen with gonadotropins on ovarian progesterone production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Major, P. W., Armstrong, D. T., and Greep, R. O. (1967). Effects of luteinizing hormone in vivo and in vitro on cholesterol conversion to progestins in rat corpus luteum tissue. Endocrinology 81, 19–28.
| Effects of luteinizing hormone in vivo and in vitro on cholesterol conversion to progestins in rat corpus luteum tissue.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pacella, L., Zander-Fox, D. L., Armstrong, D. T., and Lane, M. (2012). Women with reduced ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age have an altered follicular environment. Fertil. Steril. 98, 986–994.e2.
| Women with reduced ovarian reserve or advanced maternal age have an altered follicular environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Robinson, J., Stevenson, P. M., Boyd, G. S., and Armstrong, D. T. (1975). Acute in vivo effects of hCG and LH on ovarian mitochondrial cholesterol utilization. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 2, 149–155.
| Acute in vivo effects of hCG and LH on ovarian mitochondrial cholesterol utilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Solod, E. A., Armstrong, D. T., and Greep, R. O. (1966). Action of luteinizing hormone on conversion of ovarian cholesterol stores to steroids secreted in vivo and synthesized in vitro by the pseudopregnant rabbit ovary. Steroids 7, 607–620.
| Action of luteinizing hormone on conversion of ovarian cholesterol stores to steroids secreted in vivo and synthesized in vitro by the pseudopregnant rabbit ovary.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tsang, B. K., Moon, Y. S., Simpson, C. W., and Armstrong, D. T. (1979). Androgen biosynthesis in human ovarian follicles: cellular source, gonadotrophic control and adenosine-3′, 5′-monophosphate mediation. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 48, 153–158.
| Androgen biosynthesis in human ovarian follicles: cellular source, gonadotrophic control and adenosine-3′, 5′-monophosphate mediation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vanderhyden, B. C., and Armstrong, D. T. (1989). Role of cumulus cells and serum on the in vitro maturation, fertilization and subsequent development of rat oocytes. Biol. Reprod. 40, 720–728.
| Role of cumulus cells and serum on the in vitro maturation, fertilization and subsequent development of rat oocytes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Watson, A. J., Watson, P. H., Arcellana-Panlilio, M., Warnes, D., Walker, S. K., Schultz, G. A., Armstrong, D. T., and Seamark, R. F. (1994). A growth factor phenotype map for ovine preimplantation development. Biol. Reprod. 50, 725–733.
| A growth factor phenotype map for ovine preimplantation development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Winger, Q. A., de los Rios, P., Han, V. K. M., Armstrong, D. T., Hill, D. J., and Watson, A. J. (1997). Bovine oviductal and embryonic insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: possible regulators of embryotrophic insulin-like growth factor circuits. Biol. Reprod. 56, 1415–1423.
| Bovine oviductal and embryonic insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: possible regulators of embryotrophic insulin-like growth factor circuits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Xia, P., Tekpety, F., and Armstrong, D. T. (1994). Effect of IGF-I on pig oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryonic development in vitro and on granulosa and cumulus cell biosynthetic activity. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 38, 373–379.
| Effect of IGF-I on pig oocyte maturation, fertilization and early embryonic development in vitro and on granulosa and cumulus cell biosynthetic activity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhang, X., Kidder, G. M., Watson, A. J., Schultz, G. A., and Armstrong, D. T. (1994). Possible roles of insulin and insulin-like growth factors in rat preimplantation development-investigation of gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. J. Reprod. Fertil. 100, 375–380.
| Possible roles of insulin and insulin-like growth factors in rat preimplantation development-investigation of gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |