Joseph Meites ^People

Dr. Meites served on many U.S. government scientific advisory committees, on scientific journal editorial boards, and university committees. He received numerousawards for his contributions to teaching and scientific research, including the MSUDistinguished Faculty Award, the Carl Hartman Award from the Society for the Study of Reproduction, and the Robert H. Williams Distinguished Leadership award fromthe Endocrine Society.Dr. Meites' laboratory was the first to demonstrate incontrovertibly that themammalian hypothalamus exerts an inhibitory effect on prolactin secretion througha substance known as prolactin inhibiting factor (PIF). Dr. Meites' laboratory made fundamental observations of PIF and other catecholaminergic regulators as well asserotonergic regulators of prolactin secretion. His work on mammary tumorigenesis has provided critical insight into the hormonal mechanisms that contribute to breastcancer development. Dr. Meites later shifted his attention to aging, which became the focus of his research during the last 20-25 years of his career. In an early publication, he described the neuro-endocrine profile of old rats in constant estrus. This report triggered a series of investigations that documented the hormonal and reproductive changes that occur during the aging process and resulted in the hypothesis that repro- ductive aging is due to degradation of hypothalamic function.