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School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

 

 

Jim Cummins BSc Lond., MSc Wales, PhD Liv., FAIBiol

Full Name: James Michael Cummins

Date of Birth: 3 June 1943

Place of Birth: Abbottabad, North West Frontier Province, India.

Nationality: Australian

Marital Status: Married

Children: Two male- David (b 1975) Philip (b 1977)

Degrees: BSc London 1965; MSc Wales 1966; PhD Liverpool 1970

Elected Fellow of the Australian Institute of Biology 1996

Title of doctoral thesis: "On the nature and causes of infertility in rabbits following artificial cryptorchidism". This used temperature elevation of the testis and epididymis to induce rapid degeneration in sperm function.

Postdoctoral research experience: Vanderbilt University 1969-1971; University of Hawaii 1971-1974

Professional Appointments: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand 1974-1977;
Senior Lecturer/Reader, University of Queensland 1977-1988;
Scientific Director, PIVET Medical Centre 1988-1992;
Associate Professor in Anatomy, Murdoch University 1992.

Teaching Duties:
Evolution Revolusion and Choice A140;
Introduction to the Human Body V101 (coordinator 1999-2002);
Topics in Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology V108;
Veterinary Anatomy V 240;
Mammalian Structure V260;
Veterinary Form and Function V243 and
Mammalian Form and Function V263 (coordinator 1998-2000)

Administrative Duties

University:
Nominated representative, WA Curriculum Council Examination panel 1999-2001

Other:
Convenor, International Symposium on Spermatology 1994
Member, International Commitee Ninth International Spermatology Symposium, Cape Town 2000
Communications officer Society for Reproductive Biology 1998-2002
Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, Reproductive Technology Council of Western Australia.

Research

Fertility and infertility. Evolution and comparative aspects of sperm form and function in mammals. Ethics of reproductive biotechnology. Mitochondrial DNA, its inheritance and role in fertility and infertility

Honorary Research Fellow, the WA Research Foundation for Women's and Infant's Health, May 1996

Publications (November 2001)

  1. Ahmed, F., Kougianos, E., Cummins, J. M., Jequier, A. M. and Whelan, J. (1999a). Single-step method for the determination of the amount of the common deletion in mitochondrial DNA. Biotechniques, 26 2, 290-296.
  2. Ahmed, F. A., Whelan, J., Jequier, A. M. and Cummins, J. M. (2000). Torsion-induced injury in rat testes does not affect mitochondrial respiration or the accumulation of mitochondrial mutations. Int J Androl, 23 6, 347-56.
  3. Ankel-Simons, F. and Cummins, J. M. (1996). Misconceptions about mitochondria and mammalian fertilization - implications for theories on human evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 93 24, 13859-13863.
  4. Balhorn, R., Corzett, M., Ball, D., Mazrimas, J. A., Breed, B., Flaherty, S. P., Cummins, J. M., Leung, L. and Mahoney, M. (1990a). Expression of the protamine 2 gene in Australian Rattus species. J Cell Biol, 111 109a.
  5. Balhorn, R., Corzett, M., Mazrimas, J. A., Cummins, J. M. and Fadem, B. (1990b). Analysis of protamines from two marsupials, the Ring-tailed Wallaby and Gray Short-tailed Opossum. J Cell Biol, 107 167a.
  6. Carroll, J., Kaye, P. L. and Cummins, J. M. (1988). The effect of cryopreservation on functional correlates of embryo integrity. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer, 5 88-90.
  7. Corzett, M., Mazrimas, J. A., Cummins, J. M., Leung, L. and Balhorn, R. (1990). Primary sequence of two protamines isolated from the Brushtailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula. J Cell Biol, 111 108a.
  8. Cummins, J. (1999a). Evolutionary forces behind human infertility. Nature, 397 6720, 557-558.
  9. Cummins, J. and Jequier, A. M. (1995a). Birthweights after ICSI - comment. Human Reproduction, 10 1, 245.
  10. Cummins, J. M. (1981). Decondensation of sperm nuclei of Australian marsupials: effect of air drying and of calcium and magnesium. Gamete Res, 3 351-367.
  11. Cummins, J. M. (1982). Hyperactivated motility patterns of ram spermatozoa recovered from the oviducts of mated ewes. Gamete Res, 6 53-63.
  12. Cummins, J. M. (1983). Sperm size, body mass and reproduction in mammals. In The Sperm Cell, ed, J. André, edn, pp. 395-398. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff.
  13. Cummins, J. M. (1990). Evolution of sperm form: levels of control and competition. In Fertilization in Mammals, eds, B. D. Bavister, J. M. Cummins and E. R. S. Roldan, edn, pp. 51-64. Norwell, Massachusetts: Serono Symposia, USA.
  14. Cummins, J. M. (1991b). Evaluation of acrosomal function as a test of human sperm fertilizing competence. In Comparative Spermatology 20 Years After, ed, B. Baccetti, edn, pp. 821-824. New York: Serono Symposia Publications from Raven Press.
  15. Cummins, J. M. (1994). Diagnostic use and techniques of acrosome reaction evaluation. Male Factor in Human Infertility. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 8 1, 101-153.
  16. Cummins, J. M. (1995). Tests of human sperm function. In Gametes - The Spermatozoon, eds, J. G. Grudzinskas, J. L. Yovich, J. L. Simpson and T. Chard, 1st edn, pp. 70-103. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  17. Cummins, J. M. (1996). In Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection. Weighing up the benefits and risks of this innovative treatment for male infertility (Ed, S. Webb) Western Australian Reproductive Council, Perth, 22 June 1996, pp. 17-21.
  18. Cummins, J. M. (1997a). Controversies in Science: ICSI may foster birth defects. Journal of NIH Research, 9 February, 38-42..
  19. Cummins, J. M. (1997c). Mitochondrial DNA: implications for the genetics of human male infertility. In Genetics of Human Male Fertility, eds, C. Barratt, C. De Jonge, D. Mortimer and J. Parinaud,, pp. 287-307. Paris, France: Editions E.D.K.
  20. Cummins, J. M. (1998c). Genetic aspects of sperm motility disorders. In Male Sterility and Motility Disorders. Etiological Factors and Treatment, eds, S. Hamamah, R. Mieusset, F. Olinennes and R. Frydman,, pp. 54-64. NY: Springer-Verlag.
  21. Cummins, J. M. (1998d). Inheritance of mitochondrial DNA and its implications. In Modern ART in the 2000s. Andrology in the Nineties, eds, W. Ombelet, E. Bosmans, H. Vandeput, A. Vereecken, M. Renier and E. Hoomans, pp. 131-7. NY, London: Parthenon Publishing.
  22. Cummins, J. M. (1998e). Mitochondrial DNA in mammalian reproduction. Reviews of Reproduction, 3 3, 172-182.
  23. Cummins, J. M. (1998f). Potential pitfalls in male reproductive technology. In The Male Gamete: from Basic Science to Clinical Applications, ed, C. Gagnon,, pp. 417-427. Vienna, IL: Cache River Press.
  24. Cummins, J. M. (1999b). In Australian Society for Reproductive Biology 30th Annual Conference(Ed, D. Phillips) Australian Society for Reproductive Biology, Melbourne, pp. 65.
  25. Cummins, J. M. (2000a). Fertilization and elimination of the paternal mitochondrial genome. Human Reproduction, 15 Suppl 2, 92-101.
  26. Cummins, J. M. (2000b). Mitochondrial dysfunction and ovarian aging. In Female Reproductive Aging, eds, E. R. te Velde, P. L. Pearson and F. J. Broekmans, 1st edn, pp. 207-224. New York, London: The Parthenon Publishing Group.
  27. Cummins, J. M. (2001a). Cytoplasmic inheritance and its implications for animal biotechnology. Theriogenology, 55 6, 1381-1399.
  28. Cummins, J. M. (2001b). Mitochondria: potential roles in embryogenesis and nucleocytoplasmic transfer. Human Reproduction Update, 7 2, 217-228.
  29. Cummins, J. M. (In Press-a). Mitochondrial DNA and the Y chromosome: parallels and paradoxes. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, Special Issue.
  30. Cummins, J. M. (In Press-b). The role of maternal mitochondria during oogenesis, fertilization and embryogenesis. Reproductive Biomedicine Online.
  31. Cummins, J. M. (In Press-c). Unresolved and basic problems in assisted reproductive technology. In Assisted Reproductive Technology: Today and Beyond, eds, C. de Jonge and C. L. R. Barratt, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  32. Cummins, J. M. and Breen, T. M. (1984). Separation of progressively motile spermatozoa from human semen by 'sperm-rise' through a density gradient interface. Aust J Med Lab Sci, 5 15-20.
  33. Cummins, J. M., Breen, T. M., Fuller, S. M., Harrison, K. L., Shaw, J. M., Wilson, L. M. and Hennessey, J. F. (1986a). Comparison of two media in a human IVF program: lack of significant differences in pregnancy rate. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer, 3 326-330.
  34. Cummins, J. M., de Kretser, D. M., Jequier, A. M., Jamieson, B. M. G., Jones, R. C. and Setchell, B. P. (1995). Plenary papers from the seventh international symposium on spermatology, held on 9-14 october 1994 in Cairns, Queensland, Australia - preface. Reproduction, Fertility, & Development, 7 4, U 3.
  35. Cummins, J. M., Densley, E., Jequier, A. M., Meloni, B. P. and Sutarno (1994a). In Seventh International Symposium on Spermatology(Eds, M. Bradley and J. M. Cummins) Cairns, October 9-14, pp. 7.5.
  36. Cummins, J. M., Edirisinghe, W. R., Odawara, Y., Wales, R. G. and Yovich, J. L. (1989a). Ultrastructural observations on gamete interactions using micromanipulated mouse oocytes. Gamete Res, 24 461-469.
  37. Cummins, J. M., Fleming, A. D., Crozet, N., Kosower, N. S., Kuehl, T. J. and Yanagimachi, R. (1986b). Labelling of living mammalian spermatozoa with the fluorescent thiol alkylating agent, Monobromobimane (MB): fate of labelled sperm components in the embryo and developmental capacity. J Exp Zool, 237 383-390.
  38. Cummins, J. M., Fleming, A. D., Crozet, N., Kuehl, T. J., Kosower, N. S. and Yanagimachi, R. (1986c). Labelling of living mammalian spermatozoa with the fluorescent thiol alkylating agent, monobromobimane (MB): immobilization upon exposure to ultraviolet light and analysis of acrosomal status. J Exp Zool, 237 3, 375-82.
  39. Cummins, J. M. and Jequier, A. M. (1990). In Human Biology: an Integrative Science, Vol. 4 (Ed, P. O'Higgins) Australasian Society for Human Biology, Perth, pp. 257-269.
  40. Cummins, J. M. and Jequier, A. M. (1994). Treating male infertility needs more clinical andrology, not less. Human Reproduction, 9 7, 1214-1219.
  41. Cummins, J. M. and Jequier, A. M. (1995b). Concerns and recommendations for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. Human Reproduction, 10 Suppl 1, 138-143.
  42. Cummins, J. M. and Jequier, A. M. (1999). Gazing into the crystal ball: future diagnosis and management. In Disorders of Male Infertility, eds, T. D. Glover and C. L. R. Barratt, edn, pp. 248-266. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  43. Cummins, J. M., Jequier, A. M. and Kan, R. (1994b). Molecular biology of human male infertility - links with aging, mitochondrial genetics, and oxidative stress? Molecular Reproduction and Development, 37 3, 345-362.
  44. Cummins, J. M., Jequier, A. M., Martin, R., Mehmet, D. and Goldblatt, J. (1998a). Semen levels of mitochondrial DNA deletions in men attending an infertility clinic do not correlate with phenotype. International Journal of Andrology, 21 1, 47-52.
  45. Cummins, J. M., Jequier, A. M., Yovich, J. M. and Yovich, J. L. (1991a). Assisted conception and the treatment of male infertility. In Comparative Spermatology 20 Years After, ed, B. Baccetti,, pp. 825-828. New York: Serono Symposia Publications from Raven Press.
  46. Cummins, J. M., Kishikawa, H., Mehmet, D. and Yanagimachi, R. (1999). Fate of genetically marked mitochondrial DNA from spermatocytes microinjected into mouse zygotes. Zygote, 7 2, 151-156.
  47. Cummins, J. M., Meloni, B. P. and Jequier, A. M. (1993b). Isolation and PCR amplification of human sperm mitochondrial DNA. J Reprod Fertil, Abstract Series 11 63, Abstract 116.
  48. Cummins, J. M., Pember, S. A., Jequier, A. M., Yovich, J. L. and Hartmann, P. E. (1991b). A test of the human sperm acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge (ARIC): relationship to fertility and other seminal parameters. J Androl, 12 2, 98-103.
  49. Cummins, J. M., Renfree, M. B. and Temple-Smith, P. D. (1986d). Reproduction in the male Honey Possum (Tarsipes rostratus: marsupialia): the epididymis. American Journal of Anatomy, 177 385-401.
  50. Cummins, J. M., Robson, S. K. and Rouse, G. W. (1988). The acrosome reaction in spermatozoa of the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus: Chiroptera) exposes barbed subacrosomal material. Gamete Res, 21 11-22..
  51. Cummins, J. M. and TM., B. (1982). Ultrastructure of spontaneous acrosome reactions in human spermatozoa. Micron, 13 355-356.
  52. Cummins, J. M., Wakayama, T. and Yanagimachi, R. (1997). Fate of microinjected sperm components in the mouse oocyte and embryo. Zygote, 5 4, 301-8.
  53. Cummins, J. M., Wakayama, T. and Yanagimachi, R. (1998b). Fate of microinjected spermatid mitochondria in the mouse embryo and oocyte. Zygote, 6 3, 213-222.
  54. Cummins, J. M., Wilson, L. M., Breen, T. M. and Hennessey, J. F. (1986e). A formula for scoring human embryo growth rates in IVF: value in predicting pregnancy and in comparison with other estimates of embryo quality. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer, 3 284-295.
  55. Cummins, J. M. and Wodzicki, K. (1980). Effects of alphachlorohydrin on the male reproductive tract of the Polynesian rat, Rattus exulans. NZ J Zool, 7 427-434.
  56. Cummins, J. M. and Woodall, P. F. W. (1985). On mammalian sperm dimensions. Journal of Reproduction & Fertility, 75 153-175.
  57. Cummins, J. M. and Yanagimachi, R. (1982). Sperm-egg ratios and the site of the acrosome reaction during in vivo fertilization in the hamster. Gamete Res, 5 239-256.
  58. Cummins, J. M. and Yanagimachi, R. (1986). Development of ability to penetrate the cumulus oophorus by hamster spermatozoa capacitated in vitro, in relation to the timing of the acrosome reaction. Gamete Res, 15 187-212.
  59. Cummins, J. M. and Yovich, J. M. (1993). Sperm motility enhancement in vitro. In The Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Male Infertility., ed, D. P. Wolf, edn, pp. 56-71. N.Y., Stuttgart: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
  60. Cummins, J. M., Yovich, J. M., Edirisinghe, W. R. and Yovich, J. L. (1990b). Pituitary down-regulation using Leuprolide for the intensive ovulation management of poor prognosis patients having in vitro fertilization (IVF)-related treatments. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer, 6 6, 345-352.
  61. Fleming, A. D., Cummins, J. M., Kuehl, T. J., Seidel, G. E., Jr. and Yanagimachi, R. (1986). Normal development of hamster and rabbit eggs fertilized by spermatozoa labelled with the fluorescent thiol alkylating agent, monobromobimane. J Exp Zool, 237 3, 383-90.
  62. Harrison, K. L., Cummins, J. M., Pope, A. K., Wilson, L. M. and Breen, T. M. (1987). The optimum concentration of albumin as an embryo cryoprotectant. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer, 4 288-291.
  63. Harrison, K. L., Wilson, L. M., Breen, T. M., Pope, A. K., Cummins, J. M. and Hennessey, J. F. (1988). Fertilization of human oocytes in relation to varying delay before insemination. Fertil Steril, 50 294-297.
    Jequier, A. M. and Cummins, J. M. (1997). Attitudes to clinical andrology - a time for change. Human Reproduction, 12 5, 875-876.
  64. Jequier, A. M., Cummins, J. M., Gearon, C., Apted, S. L., Yovich, J. M. and Yovich, J. L. (1990). A pregnancy achieved using sperm from the epididymal caput in idiopathic obstructive azoospermia. Fert Steril, 53 6, 1104-1105.
  65. Mehmet, D., Ahmed, F., Cummins, J. M., Martin, R. and Whelan, J. (2001). Quantification of the common deletion in human testicular mitochondrial DNA by competitive PCR assay using a chimaeric competitor. Molecular Human Reproduction, 7 3, 301-306..
  66. Morales, P., Llanos, M., Yovich, J. L., Cummins, J. M. and Vigil, P. (1993). Pentoxifylline increases sperm penetration into zona free hamster oocytes without increasing the acrosome reaction. Andrologia, 25 6, 359-362.
  67. Parry, J., Cummins, J. M. and Yovich, J. L. (1989). Development and validation of a technique for culturing human granulosa-luteal cells from follicular aspirates. Aust J Med Lab Sci, 10 19-24.
  68. Pope, A. K., Harrison, K. L., Wilson, L. M., Breen, T. M. and Cummins, J. M. (1987). UltroSer G as a serum substitute in embryo culture medium. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer, 4 286-288.
  69. Seow, W. K., Thong, Y. H., Waters, M. J., Walters, M. J. and Cummins, J. M. (1988). Isolation of a chemotactic protein for neutrophils from human ovarian follicular fluid. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 86 331-336.
  70. Shaw, J. M., Shaw, G., Breen, T. M., Wilson, L. M., Harrison, K. L., Cummins, J. M. and Hennessey, J. F. (1987). Results using medium supplemented with either fresh or frozen stored serum in human in vitro fertilization. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer, 4 5-9.
  71. Tan, G. J. S., Cummins, J. M. and Hennessey, J. (1985). Absence of effect of oxytocin on progesterone production by human granulosa cells. IRCS Med Sci Biochem, 13 11, 1084.
  72. Thompson, J. G. E. and Cummins, J. M. (1984a). The effects of washing and protein supplementation on the acrosome reaction of ram spermatozoa in vitro. Anim Reprod Sci, 9 75-86.
  73. Thompson, J. G. E. and Cummins, J. M. (1986). Some effects of chondroitin sulphate on the in vitro ram sperm acrosome reaction. Anim Reprod Sci, 12 151-155.
  74. Yovich, J., Edirisinghe, W., Cummins, J. and Yovich, J. (1988a). Preliminary results using pentoxifylline in a pronuclear stage tubal transfer (PROST) program for severe male factor infertility. Fertil Steril, 50 179-181.
  75. Yovich, J. L. and Cummins, J. M. (1989). IVF and Genetic disease. Bulletin Hum Genetics Soc Australia, 3 4-7.
  76. Yovich, J. L., Cummins, J. M., Bootsma, B. and Yovich, J. M. (1989a). The usefulness of simultaneous IVF and GIFT in predicting fertilization and pregnancy. In GIFT: From Basics to Clinics, eds, G. L. Capitanio, R. H. Asch, L. De Cecco and S. Croce, edn, pp. 321-332. New York: Raven Press.
  77. Yovich, J. L., Draper, R. R., Turner, S. R. and Cummins, J. M. (1990a). Trans-cervical tubal embryo stage transfer (TC-TEST). J In Vitro Fert Embryo Trans, 7 3, 137-140.
  78. Yovich, J. L., Draper, R. R., Yovich, J. M., Edirisinghe, W. R. and Cummins, J. M. (1988b). Place of GIFT in infertility services. Lancet, i 470.
  79. Yovich, J. L., Draper, R. R., Yovich, J. M., Edirisinghe, W. R. and Cummins, J. M. (1988c). PROST rather than GIFT or IVF-ET. Lancet, i 468.
  80. Yovich, J. L., Draper, R. R., Yovich, J. M., Edirisinghe, W. R. and Cummins, J. M. (1988d). Triplet pregnancy in a woman with primary ovarian failure following pronuclear stage tubal transfer (PROST). Infertility, 11 203-212.
  81. Yovich, J. L., Edirisinghe, W. R. and Cummins, J. M. (1991). Evaluation of luteal support therapy in a randomized controlled study within a gamete intrafallopian transfer program. Fert Steril, 55 1, 131-139.
  82. Yovich, J. L., Edirisinghe, W. R., Yovich, J. M., Cummins, J. M. and Spittle, J. W. (1989d). Dyspermiae and GIFT or PROST & TEST. In GIFT: From Basics to Clinics, eds, G. L. Capitanio, R. H. Asch, L. De Cecco and S. Croce, edn, pp. 411-424. New York: Raven Press.
  83. Yovich, J. L., Turner, S., Yovich, J. M., Draper, R., Jequier, A. M., Edirisinghe, R. and Cummins, J. M. (1989e). In-Vitro Fertilization today. Lancet, ii 688-689.
  84. Yovich, J. M., Cummins, J. M. and Yovich, J. L. (1989f). Influence of different stimulatory protocols on the quality and maturity of oocytes. In GIFT: From Basics to Clinics, eds, G. L. Capitanio, R. H. Asch, L. De Cecco and S. Croce, edn, pp. 257-266. New York: Raven Press.
  85. Yovich, J. M., Edirisinghe, W. R., Cummins, J. M. and Yovich, J. L. (1990b). Influence of pentoxifylline in severe male factor infertility. Fert Steril, 53 4, 715-722.



 


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