Dr. Leclerc is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction of the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University. Being a regular researcher in the Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health axis at the CHU of Quebec-Laval University Research Centre, he is also a member of the Centre for Research in Reproduction, Development and Intergenerational Health of Laval University (CRDSI), and is part of the Réseau québécois en reproduction (RQR). Dr. Leclerc is involved in the training of graduate students enrolled in the Molecular Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Biology programs of the Faculty of Medicine, as well as Animal Sciences of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. He is also a member of the Molecular Medicine Program Committee.
Dr. Leclerc’s research interests are in the field of male infertility. Following ejaculation, spermatozoa, although morphologically whole and motile, are unable to fertilize an egg. They must undergo a maturation stage that normally occurs in the female genital tract as they move to the fertilization site. The intracellular mechanisms that cause metabolic and membrane changes that make sperm capable of interacting and fertilizing the egg are at the heart of Dr. Leclerc’s research activities.
His research also focuses on the mechanisms involved in the interactions between gametes during fertilization, and more specifically on the proteins mediating the recognition and binding of spermatozoa to the egg.
About 7% of men suffer from infertility and, for nearly one-third, the reasons are unknown. Dr. Leclerc’s research may help to better understand the causes of these cases of unexplained infertility. In addition, a better understanding of the physiology and fertilization potential of sperm improves the success rate of medically assisted reproduction and cryopreservation techniques by reducing their deleterious effects.
2705, boulevard Laurier
T-3-67
Québec, Québec
Canada G1V 4G2
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- Lavoie-Ouellet, CamilleMaster studentCHUL+1 418-525-4444, extension 42296camille.lavoie-ouellet.1@ulaval.cacamille.lavoie-ouellet@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
2705, boul. Laurier
Québec, QC
Canada G1V 4G2 - Saindon, Andrée-AnneEmployeeCHUL+1 418-525-4444, extension 46330andree-anne.saindon.1@ulaval.caAndree-Anne.Saindon@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
2705, boulevard Laurier
T-3-67
Québec, Québec
Canada G1V 4G2
Study on the role of calmodulin in sperm function through the enrichment and identification of calmodulin-binding proteins in bovine ejaculated spermatozoa.
Journal ArticleJ Cell Physiol, 235 (6), pp. 5340-5352, 2020, ISSN: 0021-9541.
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SPAM1 and PH-20 are two gene products expressed in bovine testis and present in sperm.
Journal ArticleReproduction, 156 (6), pp. 487-500, 2018, ISSN: 1470-1626.
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Cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin improves ram sperm cryoresistance in skim milk-extender.
Journal ArticleAnim Reprod Sci, 177 , pp. 1-11, 2017, ISSN: 0378-4320.
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Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in human spermatozoa and seminal fluid: Presence of an active PDE10A in human spermatozoa.
Journal ArticleBiochim Biophys Acta, 1861 (2), pp. 147-156, 2017, ISSN: 0006-3002.
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Papaverine-sensitive phosphodiesterase activity is measured in bovine spermatozoa.
Journal ArticleAndrology, 5 (1), pp. 169-179, 2017, ISSN: 2047-2919.
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Novel technical strategies to optimize cryopreservation of goat semen using cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin.
Journal ArticleCryobiology, 74 , pp. 19-24, 2017, ISSN: 0011-2240.
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Recombinant human oviductin regulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation and acrosome reaction.
Journal ArticleReproduction, 152 (5), pp. 561-573, 2016, ISSN: 1470-1626.
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Cholesterol-Loaded Cyclodextrin Increases the Cholesterol Content of Goat Sperm to Improve Cold and Osmotic Resistance and Maintain Sperm Function after Cryopreservation.
Journal ArticleBiol Reprod, 94 (4), pp. 85, 2016, ISSN: 0006-3363.
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The immobilization of human spermatozoa by STAT3 inhibitory compound V results from an excessive intracellular amount of reactive oxygen species.
Journal ArticleAndrology, 4 (1), pp. 133-42, 2016, ISSN: 2047-2919.
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Identification and Localization of the Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase 10A in Bovine Testis and Mature Spermatozoa.
Journal ArticlePLoS ONE, 11 (8), pp. e0161035, 2016.
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Active projects
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Subvention, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centres de recherche affiliés, from 2017-01-01 to 2099-12-31
- Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Centres de recherche reconnus, from 1996-06-01 to 2021-04-30
- La protéine spermatique SPAM1 comme marqueur de la qualité de la semence, de la fertilité des taureaux, et de la vocation laitière ou bouchère du cheptel bovin québécois., Subvention, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies, Projet de recherche en équipe, from 2018-04-01 to 2021-03-31
- Réseau Québécois en Reproduction (RQR), Subvention, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies, Regroupements stratégiques NT, from 2017-04-01 to 2023-03-31
Recently finished projects
- Importance of the interactions between intracellular signalling pathways during sperm acquisition of fertilizing competence., Subvention, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie Canada, Subventions à la découverte SD (individuelles et d'équipe), from 2015-04-01 to 2020-03-31
- Spermatozoa as a model to investigate the non-genomic effects of STAT3 in cancer cell proliferation, Subvention, Fondation de l'Université Laval, from 2017-10-01 to 2018-09-30