Title: Chair, Biology Department
Phone: 916.577.8044
Email: ttollner@jessup.edu
“For I am convinced that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
- Romans 8:38
Expertise
Human Reproduction, Cell Biology, Physiology
Education
Ph.D., Molecular, Cellular, and Integrated Physiology, University of California, Davis (UCD), 2007 - Designated Emphasis in Reproductive Biology
M.A., Physiology, UCD, 1993 - Emphasis in Cellular Physiology
B.Sci., Animal Physiology, Minor, Philosophy, UCD, 1988
Courses Taught
To be determined.
Publications
Tollner TL, Bevins CL, Cherr GN. 2012. Multifunctional glycoprotein DEFB126 - A curious story of defensin-clad spermatozoa. Nat Rev Urol. 2012 9(7):365-75.
Vandevoort CA, Tollner TL. 2012. The efficacy of ultrasound treatment as a reversible male contraceptive in the rhesus monkey. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 10(1):81.
Ge H, Tollner TL, Hu Z, Da M, Li X, Guan H, Shan D, Lu J, Huang C, Dong Q. 2012. Impaired mitochondrial function in murine oocytes is associated with controlled ovarian hyperstimulationand in vitro maturation. Reprod Fertil Dev. 24(7):945-52.
Ge H, Tollner TL, Hu Z, Dai M, Li X, Guan H, Shan D, Zhang X, Lv J, Huang C, Dong Q. 2012. The importance of mitochondrial metabolic activity and mitochondrial DNA replication during oocyte maturation in vitro on oocyte quality and subsequent embryo developmental competence.
Mol Reprod Dev. 79(6):392-401.
Tollner TL, Yudin AI, Overstreet JW, Bevins CL, Cherr GN. 2011. Beta Defensin 126, a Multifunctional Sperm Transport Protein. In: Sperm Cell Research in the 21st Century: Historical Discoveries to New Horizons. International Society of Spermatology, M. Morisawa (ed.), Adthree Publishing Co., Ltd.
Tollner TL, Venners SA, Hollox EJ, Yudin AI, Liu X, Tang G, Xing H, Kays RJ, Lau T, Overstreet JW, Xu X, Bevins CL, Cherr GN. 2011. A common mutation in the defensin DEFB126 causes impaired sperm function and subfertility. Sci Transl Med. (in press: July 20;3(92):92ra65).
Tollner TL, Dong Q, VandeVoort CA. 2011. Frozen-thawed rhesus sperm retain normal morphology and highly progressive motility but exhibit sharply reduced efficiency in penetrating cervical mucus and hyualuronic acid gel. Cryobiology 62:15-21.
Dong Q, Tollner TL, Rodenburg SE, Hill DA, VandeVoort CA. 2010. Antioxidants, Oxyrase and mitochondrial uncoupler 2, 4-dinitrophenol improved post-thaw survival of rhesus monkey sperm from ejaculates with low cryoresistance. Fertil Steril. 94: 2359-61.
Ellerman DA, Cohen DJ, Weigel Muñoz M, Da Ros VG, Ernesto JI, Tollner TL, Cuasnicu PS. 2010. Immunologic behavior of human cysteine-rich secretory protein 1 (hCRISP1) in primates: prospects for immunocontraception. Fertil Steril. 94: 2551-56.
Tollner TL, VandeVoort CA, Yudin AI, Treece CA, Overstreet JW, Cherr GN. 2009. Release of DEFB126 from the surface of macaque sperm and the completion of capacitation is triggered by conditions that simulate peri-ovulatory oviductal fluid. Molec. Reprod. Dev. 76:431-43.
Yudin AI, Tollner TL, Treece CA, Kays R, Overstreet JW, Cherr GN, Bevins CL. 2008. β-defensin 22 is a major component of the mouse sperm glyocalyx. J. Reprod. 136:753-65.
Tollner TL, Yudin AI, Treece CA, Overstreet JW, Cherr GN. 2008. Macaque sperm coating protein DEFB126 facilitates sperm penetration of cervical mucus. Human Reprod. 23:2523-34.
Tollner TL, Yudin AI, Tarantal AF, Treece CA, Overstreet JW, Cherr GN. 2008. Beta-Defensin 126 on the Surface of Macaque Sperm Mediates Attachment of Sperm to Oviductal Epithelia. Biol Reprod. 78:400-412.
Awards and Honors
Gordon Conference - Invited Speaker – 2012
Discover Magazine’s Top 100 Science Stories - 2011
Phi Sigma Society - 2006
MCIP Annual Colloquium “Best Poster” Award, UCD - 2004, 2005
UCD/UCDHS Staff Academic Scholarship Award - 2004
Work experience
I have taught at UC Davis in graduate and undergraduate courses and in the Los Rios Community College District at both Folsom Lake and Cosumnes River Colleges. I am a member of the research faculty in UCD School of Medicine and was a staff research associate and post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Health and the Environment at UCD.
Biographical Information
I spent much of my growing years camping, backpacking, and sailing and have always felt connected to God through His creation. Today, my wife, Charlene, our three children and I seem to enjoy most those times spent together outdoors. I am thrilled to be a part of the Jessup family and consider it a tremendous privilege to be able to share with students at WJU my love of nature and how God reveals Himself in the created world.