LAUDATIO

In honor to Professor Stanislawa Stoklosowa upon conferment of the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn in 2003

"Every human being is a great dignity, Science through its discoveries Makes this dignity even greater" Prof. Marian Jutisz

     I am greatly honored to be given the responsibility of presenting the scientific, educational and organizational work of Prof. Stanislawa Stoklosowa, as she is an outstanding authority in in vitro studies of ovary functions.
      Prof. Stanislawa Stoklosowa was born on February 8, 1927 in Dobczyce. In 1949 she graduated from the Faculty of Biology at Jagiellonian University. She earned her PhD in animal physiology from Jagiellonian University in 1962 and became an assistant professor in 1972. Since completing her studies she has worked in the Institute of Zoology at Jagiellonian University and was conferred the title of professor in 1980. In 1997 Professor Stoklosowa retired but continued to be very active in the field of ovarian endocrinology and tissue culture. Her scientific works include 86 original papers, conference abstracts and other scientific publications concerning reproductive endocrinology, tissue and cell culture, physiology of gonadal cells in mammals, birds and fish. Many of these papers were published in leading international scientific journals such as Endocrinology, Experimental Cell Research, General and Comparative Endocrinology, Cell Biology International Reports, Experientia, Animal Reproduction Science, Copeia, Acta Histochemica, Acta Physiologica Polonica, Folia Histochemica and Cytobiologica.
      The scientific achievements of the Animal Endocrinology and Tissue Culture Laboratory managed by Prof. Stoklosowa until 1997 comprises of 217 scientific papers, nine doctorate dissertations, three applications for assistant professor and 90 MS theses. Her scientific output also includes two methodological procedures of isolation and culture of theca interna cells as well as methods for organ culture. In addition, two PhD students from Krakow's and Poznan's agricultural academies and one applicant for assistant professor from medical school carried out the experimental part of their research at Prof. Stoklosowa's laboratory. During her career, Prof. Stoklosowa has developed many state-of-the-art methods including in vitro methods as well as immunohistochemical, immunocytochemical, radioimmunological techniques and receptor analysis. She founded a scientific school of research in the field of reproductive endocrinology based on an in vitro approach using cultures of isolated ovarian and testicular cells in mono- and co-culture.
      Three periods can be highlighted in the development of the professor's research. During the first period she learned of techniques, standard nowadays but at the time new, applied in histology, radiobiology, histochemistry, cytochemistry and electron microscopy. At that time her scientific interest was focused on studies of ovarian function. In her first papers she presented the influence of UV radiation on the development of mice ovaries and the distribution of nucleic acids during post-embryonic ovarian development. Cooperating with the Institute of Zoology at Charles University in Prague, she published two pioneering papers which demonstrated sexual dimorphism in the skin structure of sea trout and it dependence on sex hormones. These papers are recognized as classic and pioneering works in international scientific literature.
      When she became a PhD, she initiated research on ovary function using a tissue culture approach. Organ cultures were among the first techniques employed in this research. She organized and ran the Tissue Culture Laboratory. Long-term research at the University of Illinois, USA resulted in a joint publication with Prof. Nalbandov in Endocrinology and assistant-professor dissertation. Upon return to Poland she introduced new research techniques at the Tissue Culture Laboratory. In recognition of her research, the director of the National Institute of Health awarded her with a grant of high priority to study hormonal regulation of follicular function in vitro. Moreover, for many years World Health Organization granted her with the SSP grants. During this time, she developed an in vitro model of isolated ovarian cells.
      Prof. Stoklosowa gathered a group of young scientists and students desiring to conduct research under her supervision. This time was very productive and resulted in publication of many scientific papers whose results were the first to introduce a new experimental in vitro model and often are cited as pioneering. Development of method for isolation of theca cells made it possible to study relations between different types of ovarian cells in co-cultures and hormonal regulations of follicular cells functions. In 1976 she expanded her research to models of isolated testicular Leydig and Sertoli cells. At present this research is continued under successful supervision of Prof. Barbara Bilinska. Prof. Stoklosowa also initiated research on changes and hormonal regulation of androgen, estrogen and progesterone receptors in ovarian tissues. This entire research has served to understand the mechanisms and pathways of hormonal regulation of gonads at the cellular level.
      The laboratory supervised by Prof. Stoklosowa was engaged in scientific cooperation with the Department of Animal Physiology at the Academy of Agriculture and Technology in Olsztyn (now the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn), the Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition of Polish Academy of Science in Jablonna, the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Nutrition Research of Polish Academy of Science in Olsztyn, the Molecular Genetics Center of the Czech Academy of Science in Prague, the Institute of Hormones and Bioactive Factors in Uhrineves near Prague, the Department of Steroid Biochemistry in Glasgow, the Institute of Hormonal and Fertility Research in Hamburg, the Laboratory of Biochemistry at the University of Caen in France, University of Illinois, Urbana, and University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
Professor Stanisława Stoklosowa's most important achievements include:

• the development of a new field of research - reproductive endocrinology based on an in vitro culture models of isolated ovarian and testicular cells;
• the development of isolation methods of pure suspension of different types of gonadal cells in mammals, birds and fish;
• presenting for the first time the ability of prolactin to stimulate steroidogenesis in theca interna and early luteal cells in pigs;
• showing that prolactin, considered as non-luteotropic hormone in pigs, is a luteotropin during the porcine early luteal phase;
• demonstrating the presence of prolactin receptors in porcine theca interna cells and the cells of early corpus luteum;
• presenting the oocyte inhibitory effect on luteinization of follicular granulosa cells in rats;
• showing for the first time the characteristic, time-dependant dynamics of in vivo and in vitro steroid secretion during proestrus in rats;
• demonstrating the differences in steroidogenic potential of theca and granulosa cells in monocultures;
• showing that the interaction of various types of preovulatory follicular cells in co-cultures is a prerequisite for intensive preovulatory estradiol synthesis and inhibition of progesterone production, the latter being responsible for suppression of aromatase activity;
• training a team of independent and talented scientists who continue and develop the research on gonadal cells in vitro;
• managing workshops on in vitro methods for graduate students and scientists in Poland and abroad.