About

Nancy Ing is a Professor of Animal Science at Texas A&M University in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her research interests focus on understanding how hormones regulate gene expression in animal tissues. Her current projects investigate the earliest days of pregnancy in the sheep uterus, the regulation of estrogen receptor gene expression, and the effects of stress hormones on gene expression in stallion testes. Recently, she has been studying RNAs in sperm from stallions and honey bees to identify patterns associated with high fertility. Dr. Ing holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, a D.V.M. in Veterinary Medicine, and a B.S. in Zoology, all from the University of Florida. She has contributed significantly to the field through her research on post-transcriptional regulation of steroid hormone receptors, gene expression in reproductive tissues, and the molecular mechanisms underlying fertility in animals. Her work has been recognized with awards such as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean's Outstanding Achievement Award and the NSF CAREER Award. She has also served as a research instructor and instructor for various courses at Texas A&M University.

Research topics

• Biology
• Zoology
• Stereochemistry
• Chemistry
• Ecology
• Biochemistry
• Botany
• Anatomy
• Toxicology

Selected publications

• Participation in a Short-Term Socialization and Training Program Improved Kennel-Raised Dog Welfare

  Animals · 2026-02-04

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Kennel-raised dogs are exposed to more stressors and fewer positive experiences than dogs raised in homes. We created a Dog Socialization and Training class to enrich the environment of university teaching dogs. Undergraduate students (103 total) were assigned a dog (64 total) to socialize and train for at least 36 30 min periods across 12 weeks. Each student used a Qualitative Behavior Assessments (QBA) tool to score 20 different behaviors on a scale of 0 to 125 for his/her dog at the beginning (PRE) and the end (POST) of each of the nine semesters. The PRE QBA scores were high for the ten positive valence behaviors including Relaxed (mean ± SE: 75 ± 6) and low for the ten negative valence behaviors including Distressed (31 ± 3). Following the interactive experiences, QBA scores for all 20 behaviors appeared to improve from 9% to 53% (p < 0.006). Principal Component Analysis identified four dimensions in the QBA scores that were responsible for most of the data variance. Providing kennel-housed dogs with regular, positive human interactions was perceived to increase the dogs’ positive valence towards humans and reduced negative responses. These benefits are expected to enhance the dogs’ teaching effectiveness with veterinary students, adoptability, and future adaptation to new forever homes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary L-arginine can enhance reproductive parameters and outcomes in large mammals

  Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 2026-01-12

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The amino acid L-arginine (Arg) is not only proteinogenic, but also a powerful regulator of cell physiology. Arg activates the mechanistic target of rapamycin directly, which regulates numerous kinase pathways. Arg also is metabolized to nitric oxide (a powerful cell signaling molecule) and polyamines, which stabilize proteins and DNA structurally. This Mini Review focusses on the effects of dietary Arg supplementation on reproductive parameters and outcomes in large mammalian species. Studies of Arg supplementation demonstrate consistent benefits to pregnancies in females and sperm quality in male livestock and men. We also present a summary of the numerous and rapid beneficial effects of in vitro Arg supplementation on sperm quality. Dietary and in vitro Arg also appear to reduce the damage to sperm caused by heat stress. However, there is an absence of Arg studies in stallions and dogs: two species that have substantial assisted reproductive technology done by veterinarians and others. Overall, Arg appears to be a safe, inexpensive, and natural supplement that is useful for improving reproductive outcomes in mammals.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Use of Diets in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Gastrointestinal Diseases in Dogs and Cats

  Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2024-01-01 · 9 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Specific <scp>microRNAs</scp> in stallion spermatozoa are potential biomarkers of high functionality

  Reproduction in Domestic Animals · 2024-07-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Males of some species, from horses to humans, require medical help for subfertility problems. There is an urgent need for novel molecular assays that reflect spermatozoal function. In the last 25 years, studies examined RNAs in spermatozoa as a window into gene expression during their development and, more recently, for their functions in early embryo development. In clinics, more dense spermatozoa are isolated by density gradient centrifugation before use in artificial insemination to increase pregnancy rates. The objectives of the current study were to discover and quantify the microRNAs in stallion spermatozoa and identify those with differential expression levels in more dense versus less dense spermatozoa. First, spermatozoa from seven stallions were separated into more dense and less dense populations by density gradient centrifugation. Next, small RNAs were sequenced from each of the 14 RNA samples. We identified 287 different mature microRNAs within the 11,824,720 total mature miRNA reads from stallion spermatozoa. The most prevalent was miR-10a/b-5p. The less dense spermatozoa had fewer mature microRNAs and more microRNA precursor sequences than more dense spermatozoa, perhaps indicating that less dense spermatozoa are less mature. Two of the most prevalent microRNAs in more dense stallion spermatozoa were predicted to target mRNAs that encode proteins that accelerate mRNA decay. Nine microRNAs were more highly expressed in more dense spermatozoa. Three of those microRNAs were predicted to target mRNAs that encode proteins involved in protein decay. Both mRNA and protein decay are very active in late spermiogenesis but not in mature spermatozoa. The identified microRNAs may be part of the mechanism to shut down those processes. The microRNAs with greater expression in more dense spermatozoa may be useful biomarkers for spermatozoa with greater functional capabilities.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Anatomy and Physiology of the Male Reproductive System and Potential Targets of Toxicants

  Elsevier eBooks · 2024-01-01

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Conservation of Glutathione Transferase mRNA and Protein Sequences Similar to Human and Horse Alpha Class GST A3-3 across Dog, Goat, and Opossum Species

  Biomolecules · 2023-09-20 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The glutathione transferase A3-3 (GST A3-3) homodimeric enzyme is the most efficient enzyme that catalyzes isomerization of the precursors of testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone in the gonads of humans and horses. However, the presence of GST A3-3 orthologs with equally high ketosteroid isomerase activity has not been verified in other mammalian species, even though pig and cattle homologs have been cloned and studied. Identifying GSTA3 genes is a challenge because of multiple GSTA gene duplications (e.g., 12 in the human genome); consequently, the GSTA3 gene is not annotated in most genomes. To improve our understanding of GSTA3 gene products and their functions across diverse mammalian species, we cloned homologs of the horse and human GSTA3 mRNAs from the testes of a dog, goat, and gray short-tailed opossum, the genomes of which all currently lack GSTA3 gene annotations. The resultant novel GSTA3 mRNA and inferred protein sequences had a high level of conservation with human GSTA3 mRNA and protein sequences (≥70% and ≥64% identities, respectively). Sequence conservation was also apparent for the 12 residues of the “H-site” in the 222 amino acid GSTA3 protein that is known to interact with the steroid substrates. Modeling predicted that the dog GSTA3-3 may be a more active ketosteroid isomerase than the corresponding goat or opossum enzymes. However, expression of the GSTA3 gene was higher in liver than in other dog tissue. Our results improve understanding of the active sites of mammalian GST A3-3 enzymes, inhibitors of which might be useful for reducing steroidogenesis for medical purposes, such as fertility control or treatment of steroid-dependent diseases.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Transcriptomic analysis of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) queen spermathecae reveals genes that may be involved in sperm storage after mating

  PLoS ONE · 2021 · 25 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Biology
  • Zoology
  • Anatomy

  Honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens have a remarkable organ, the spermatheca, which successfully stores sperm for years after a virgin queen mates. This study uniquely characterized and quantified the transcriptomes of the spermathecae from mated and virgin honey bee queens via RNA sequencing to identify differences in mRNA levels based on a queen's mating status. The transcriptome of drone semen was analyzed for comparison. Samples from three individual bees were independently analyzed for mated queen spermathecae and virgin queen spermathecae, and three pools of semen from ten drones each were collected from three separate colonies. In total, the expression of 11,233 genes was identified in mated queen spermathecae, 10,521 in virgin queen spermathecae, and 10,407 in drone semen. Using a cutoff log2 fold-change value of 2.0, we identified 212 differentially expressed genes between mated and virgin spermathecal queen tissues: 129 (1.4% of total) were up-regulated and 83 (0.9% of total) were down-regulated in mated queen spermathecae. Three genes in mated queen spermathecae, three genes in virgin queen spermathecae and four genes in drone semen that were more highly expressed in those tissues from the RNA sequencing data were further validated by real time quantitative PCR. Among others, expression of Kielin/chordin-like and Trehalase mRNAs was highest in the spermathecae of mated queens compared to virgin queen spermathecae and drone semen. Expression of the mRNA encoding Alpha glucosidase 2 was higher in the spermathecae of virgin queens. Finally, expression of Facilitated trehalose transporter 1 mRNA was greatest in drone semen. This is the first characterization of gene expression in the spermathecae of honey bee queens revealing the alterations in mRNA levels within them after mating. Future studies will extend to other reproductive tissues with the purpose of relating levels of specific mRNAs to the functional competence of honey bee queens and the colonies they head.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pesticide Exposure During Development Does Not Affect the Larval Pheromones, Feeding Rates, or Morphology of Adult Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Queens

  Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution · 2021-06-09 · 9 citations

  articleOpen access

  Recent work demonstrated that honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) queens reared in pesticide-laden beeswax exhibit significant changes in the composition of the chemicals produced by their mandibular glands including those that comprise queen mandibular pheromone, which is a critical signal used in mating as well as queen tending behavior. For the present study, we hypothesized that pesticide exposure during development would alter other queen-produced chemicals, including brood pheromone in immature queens, thus resulting in differential feeding of queen larvae by nurse workers, ultimately impacting adult queen morphology. We tested these hypotheses by rearing queens in beeswax containing field-relevant concentrations of (1) a combination of tau -fluvalinate and coumaphos, (2) amitraz, or (3) a combination of chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos. These pesticides are ubiquitous in most commercial beekeeping operations in North America. We observed nurse feeding rates of queen larvae grafted into pesticide-laden beeswax, analyzed the chemical composition of larval queen pheromones and measured morphological markers in adult queens. Neither the nurse feeding rates, nor the chemical profiles of immature queen pheromones, differed significantly between queens reared in pesticide-laden wax compared to queens reared in pesticide-free wax. Moreover, pesticide exposure during development did not cause virgin or mated adult queens to exhibit differences in morphological markers (i.e., body weight, head width, or thorax width). These results were unexpected given our previous research and indicate that future work is needed to fully understand how pesticide exposure during development affects honey bee queen physiology, as well as how various adult queen quality metrics relate to each other.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Glutathione Transferases as Efficient Ketosteroid Isomerases

  Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences · 2021 · 23 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Stereochemistry

  , expresses a GSTE14 with notable steroid isomerase activity, even though Ser14 has evolved as the active-site residue corresponding to Tyr9 in the mammalian alpha class.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Elevated Mating Frequency in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Queens Exposed to the Miticide Amitraz During Development

  Annals of the Entomological Society of America · 2020-10-14 · 12 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Most honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies in the United States have been exposed to the beekeeper-applied miticides amitraz, coumaphos, and tau-fluvalinate. Colonies are also often exposed to agrochemicals, which bees encounter on foraging trips. These and other lipophilic pesticides bind to the beeswax matrix of comb, exposing developing bees. We explored whether queen-rearing beeswax containing pesticides affects the reproductive health of mated queens. We predicted that queens reared in pesticide-free beeswax would have higher mating frequencies and sperm viability of stored sperm compared with queens reared in wax containing pesticides. Mating frequency and sperm viability are two traditional measurements associated with queen reproductive health. To test these hypotheses, we reared queens in beeswax-coated cups that were pesticide free or contained field-relevant concentrations of 1) amitraz, 2) a combination of tau-fluvalinate and coumaphos, or 3) a combination of the agrochemicals chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos. We then collected queens once they mated to determine sperm viability, using a dual fluorescent cell counter, and mating frequency, genotyping immature worker offspring at eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Sperm viability did not differ between control queens and those reared in pesticide-laden wax. However, queens exposed to amitraz during development exhibited higher mating frequency than queens reared in pesticide-free beeswax or beeswax containing the other pesticide combinations. Our results suggest that miticide exposure during development affects queen mating frequency but not sperm viability, at least in newly mated queens. This finding, which has practical implications for commercial queen rearing and overall colony health, calls for further study.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Dickson D. Varner

  13 shared

• D.W. Forrest

  Texas A&M University

  11 shared

• Fuller W. Bazer

  Marymount University

  11 shared

• Laurie A. Jaeger

  Texas A&M University

  9 shared

• Thomas H. Welsh

  Texas A&M University

  8 shared

• Charles C. Love

  Texas A&M University

  8 shared

• Yuhua Z. Farnell

  Texas A&M University

  7 shared

• Christopher Scott

  Mayo Clinic in Florida

  7 shared

Labs

• Nancy Ing LabPI

Awards & honors

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean's Outstanding…
• Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program (1996)
• Principal Investigator on Gene Expression Pathways in Reprod…
• Co-Principal Investigator on Queen Superedure in Honey Bees:…