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Department of Urology
University of Washington | School of Medicine
Department of Urology

Charles H. Muller, PhD HCLD

Lecturer
Department of Urology
School of Medicine
University of Washington

Education

Dr. Muller received his BA and MA in Biology/Zoology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his PhD in Zoology (Comparative Endocrinology) at the University of California, Berkeley. As a postdoctoral research fellow, he studied at The University of Texas at Austin and University of California, Berkeley. At the University of Washington, he has held faculty positions in the Departments of Biological Structure and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Research Interests

His research is in the areas of fertilization, male reproduction and prostatitis. He is the Director of the Male Fertility Laboratory, a clinical lab which evaluates human sperm fertilizing ability. Dr. Muller's research in mouse and human sperm function focuses on the molecules involved in sperm maturation in the epididymis and sperm capacitation; and on the interactions between sperm and egg. Examples of studies include the mechanism of cholesterol loss from the sperm membrane, reactive oxygen signaling, roles of cyclic AMP and phosphodiesterases, and tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins. Other studies focus on the interaction between sperm and white blood cells, and on the effects of chronic pelvic pain (prostatitis) on prostatic fluid proteins, cytokines, reactive oxygen species. One effect of exposure of sperm to white blood cells relevant to both infertility and prostatitis is sperm DNA fragmentation. Dr. Muller's lab in collaboration with Dr. Narendra Singh is using the single cell electrophoresis COMET assay to assess damage to sperm DNA. Fragmented DNA could have serious implications for fertility and early development, and could be a marker of generalized oxidative damage in diseases such as prostatitis.

Affiliations:

American Society of Andrology
Society for the Study of Reproduction
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Society for Male Reproduction and Urology

Selected Publications:

Singh, N.P, C.H. Muller and R.E. Berger 2003 Effects of age on DNA double strand breaks and apoptosis in human sperm. Fertil. Steril. 80:1420-1430.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Muller, C.H., R.E. Berger, L. Mohr and J.N.Krieger 2001 Comparison of microscopic methods for detecting inflammation in expressed prostatic secretions. J. Urol. 166: 2518-2524.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Muller, C.H. 2000 Rationale, interpretation, validation, and uses of sperm function tests. J Androl. 21: 10-30.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Burton, K.A., B. Treash-Osio, C.H. Muller, E.L. Dunphy and G.S. McKnight 1999 Deletion of type IIalpha regulatory subunit delocalizes protein kinase A in mouse sperm without affecting motility or fertilization. J Biol Chem. 274 (34): 24131-136.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

España, F., J. Sánchez-Cuenca, P.J. Fernández, J. Gilabert, A. Romeu, A. Estellés, M. Royo and C.H. Muller 1999 Inhibition of human sperm–zona-free hamster oocyte binding and penetration by Protein C Inhibitor. Andrologia 31: 217-223.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Shapiro, R.H., C.H. Muller, G.Chen and R.E. Berger 1998 Vasectomy reversal is associated with increased reactive oxygen species production by seminal fluid leukocytes and sperm. J Urol. 160:1341-6.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Alexander, B.H., H. Checkoway, E.M. Faustman, C. van Netten, C.H. Muller, and T.G. Ewers 1998 Contrasting associations of blood and semen lead concentrations with semen quality among lead smelter workers. Amer J Industr Med. 34:464-469.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Muller, C.H., R.W. Coombs and J.N.Krieger 1998 Effects of clinical stage and immunological status on semen analysis results in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-seropositive men. Andrologia 30 (Suppl. 1): 15-22.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Muller, C. and K. White 1996 Over the Doshong La: Exploring Kingdon-Ward's ‘Rhododendron Fairyland' in Southeastern Tibet. J Amer Rhododendron Soc. 50:146-153; 160.

Kreiger, J.N., R.E. Berger, S.O. Ross, I. Rothman and C.H. Muller 1996 Seminal fluid findings in men with nonbacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia. J Androl. 17:310-318.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Branigan, E.F., L.R. Spadoni and C.H. Muller 1995 Identification and treatment of leukocytospermia in couples with unexplained infertility. J Reprod Med. 40:625-629.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Ravnik, S.E., J.J. Albers and C.H. Muller 1995 Stimulation of human sperm capacitation by purified lipid transfer protein. J Exp Zool. 272:78-83.
[The following link will open a new window. PubMed Abstract]

Muller, C.H. and Ravnik, S.E. 1995 Lipid Transfer Protein: A natural stimulator of the sperm capacitation process. In: P. Fenichel and J. Parinaud, Eds. Human Sperm Acrosome Reaction, Paris, Colloque INSERM; Vol.236:67-84.

Muller, C.H. 1992 The andrology laboratory in an Assisted Reproductive Technologies program: Quality assurance and laboratory methodology. J Androl. 13:349-360.

The following link will appear in a new window.View full PubMed list of articles

Curriculum Vitae [105K PDF*]

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Portrait of Dr. Muller

Contact Information:

Department of Urology
Room BB1118
Box 356510
Seattle, WA 98195-6510
Ph: (206) 543-9504