Dr Filiz Tepekoy


Lecturer in Biomedical Science (Histology)

ORCiD ID

0000-0003-1901-3787

Email

F.Tepekoy@derby.ac.uk

About

I’m a lecturer in Biomedical Sciences with a focus on histology. I have been in different higher education environments and involved in both teaching and research activities since 2008. As a reproductive biologist, I have conducted several research projects underlining the potential effective approaches to enhance human fertility. These projects were developed with the aims of providing data that could assist advancement of current clinical practices regarding the fertility aspects. I had the opportunity to teach histology and embryology for different student cohorts including medical, dentistry, and health sciences students in different forms of learning environments. These environments included blended and hybrid classrooms in addition to physical and virtual microscopy laboratories.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach on the undergraduate modules of Biomedical Sciences including Anatomy and Physiology, Cellular Pathology, Academic and Practical Skills, Human Physiology and Disease, and Diagnostic Molecular Biology. I currently lead the module Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology. I take part in the portfolio development of MSc Biomedical Science Programme. I supervise students in their research projects.

Research interests

My research primarily focuses on the regulatory mechanisms related to the meiotic division of female gametes, the oocytes. I currently lead research projects with the aim of revealing the cell biological aspects of decreased fertility rates in women, in addition to the improvement of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) from the oocyte’s perspective. I am enthusiastic about the interaction of nuclear and cytoplasmic components of the oocyte and their impact on the oocyte competency for a successful fertilization and embryonic development. I am also interested in the contribution of somatic ovarian cells in the maturation process of the oocytes in a cell-biological manner. 

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Recent conferences

Tepekoy F. The effect of gonadotropin application on oocyte viability and maturation rates during in vitro maturation. 1st International Congress on Multidisciplinary Studies in Medical Sciences.  Altinbas University, TURKEY (Online Congress). 3-5 June 2020 (oral presentation).

Tepekoy F, Akkoyunlu G: Control of actin nucleators by maturation regulating factors in mouse oocytes ESHRE (European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology) Annual Meeting. Barcelona, SPAIN, July 1- 4, 2018 (poster presentation).

Tepekoy F, Akkoyunlu G: The effect of FSH and Activin A activation on Akt and pAkt protein levels of bovine ovarian follicles cultured in vitro. ESHRE (European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology) Annual Meeting.  Munich, GERMANY. June 30-July 2, 2014. (poster presentation).

Tepekoy F., Uysal F., Akkoyunlu G. Identification of WNT signaling pathway components in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes. EMBO Workshop on Oocyte Maturation and Fertilization, Banylus -sur-Mer, FRANCE, 12-15 June 2013 (poster presentation).

Tepekoy F., Sahin Z., Akkoyunlu G.: The localisation of specific protein kinase C isotypes in mouse ovary. 15th Word Congress on In Vitro Fertilization and 4th Word Congress on In vitro Maturation. April 19-22, 2009. Geneve, SWITZERLAND (oral presentation).

International experience

I have conducted my PhD studies at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics in the USA where I deeply investigated cytoskeletal components of the oocytes and associated proteins.

I participated in ERASMUS Academic Staff Teaching Mobility Programmes and delivered Histology lectures in:

-Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Semmelweis, Budapest, Hungary 

-Department of Pathophysiology / Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Recent publications

  1. Coruhlu, I. and Tepekoy, F. (2023), Regulation of proteolysis in bovine cumulus cells with possible inclusion of proton pump activators. Reprod Dom Anim. Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14365
  2. Tepekoy F, Akkoyunlu G. (2020), The interaction of Wnt signaling members with growth factors in cultured granulosa cells. Anim Reprod. 17;17(2):e20190106. doi: 10.1590/1984-3143-AR2019-0106.
  3. Tepekoy F, Uysal F, Acar N, Ustunel I, Akkoyunlu G. (2019), The effect of GnRH antagonist cetrorelix on Wnt signaling members in pubertal and adult mouse ovaries. Histochem Cell Biol. 152(6):423-437. doi: 10.1007/s00418-019-01817-0. Epub 2019 Oct 19.
  4. Karaoz E., Tepekoy F. (2019), Differentiation Potential And Tumorigenic Risk of Rat Bone Marrow Stem Cells Are Affected By Long-Term In Vitro Expansion. Turk J Haematol. doi: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2019.2019.0100. [Epub ahead of print]
  5. Karaoz E., Tepekoy F., Yilmaz I., Subasi C., Kabatas S. (2019), Reduction of inflammation and enhancement of motility after pancreatic islet derived stem cell transplantation following spinal cord injury. J Korean Neurosurg Soc.; 62(2):153-165. doi: 10.3340/jkns.2018.0035. Epub 2019 Feb 27
  6. Sekerci R, Acar N, Tepekoy F, Ustunel I, Keles-Celik N. (2018), Apelin /apj expression in the heart and kidneys of hypertensive rats. Acta Histochem.;120(3):196-204 
  7. Izgut-Uysal VN, Acar N, Birsen I, Ozcan F, Ozbey O, Soylu H, Avci S, Tepekoy F, Akkoyunlu G, Yucel G, Ustunel I. (2018), Apelin-APJ system is responsible for stress-induced increase in atrial natriuretic peptide expression in rat heart. Tissue Cell.; 51: 91-96
  8. Tepekoy F, Akkoyunlu G. (2016), The effect of FSH and activin A on Akt and MAPK1/3 phosphorylation in cultured bovine ovarian cortical strips. J Ovarian Res, 9:13.
  9. Akkoyunlu G, Tepekoy F. (2016), Immunohistochemistry of Paraffin Sections from Mouse Ovaries. Methods Mol Biol.;1457:269-74.
  10. Tepekoy F, Ozturk S, Sozen B, Ozay RS, Akkoyunlu G, Demir N. (2015), CD90 and CD105 expression in the mouse ovary and testis at different stages of postnatal development. Reprod Biol.;15(4):195-204.
  11. Tepekoy F, Akkoyunlu G & Demir R. (2015), The role of Wnt signaling members in the uterus and embryo during pre-implantation and implantation. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 32 337–346.
  12. Tepekoy F, Ustunel I, Akkoyunlu G. (2014), Protein kinase C isoforms α, δ and ε are differentially expressed in mouse ovaries at different stages of postnatal development. J Ovarian Res. 10;7:117.
  13. Akkoyunlu G, Tepekoy F, Bebis A, Uysal F. (2014), Bilateral total ovarian hypoplasia in a Holstein Friesian heifer. Acta Histochem.;116(8):1519-21.
  14. Ozbey O, Sahin Z, Acar N, Tepekoy F, Ozenci AM, Koksoy S, Ustunel I. (2014), Characterization of colony-forming cells in adult human articular cartilage. Acta Histochem; 116:763–70.
  15. Ustunel I, Acar N, Gemici B, Ozbey O, Edizer I, Soylu H, Tepekoy F, IzgutUysal VN. (2014), The effects of water immersion and restraint stress on the expressions of apelin, apelin receptor (APJR) and apoptosis rate in the rat heart. Acta Histochem., 116;675–681