Maternal Programming of Neonatal Development

Could hormones in mother's first milk be important for long-term reproductive health of her offspring? To investigate this question, Dr. Carol Bagnell and her research team use porcine relaxin, a prototypical milk-borne hormone, as a model for understanding how naturally-occurring hormones, as well as endocrine disrupting agents, delivered in milk may influence critical periods of development with long-term consequences. Studies by Dr. Bagnell and her colleagues show that all the elements of a lactocrine signalling system are present in neonatal pigs. These elements include: 1) biologically active hormone delivered to neonates in milk; 2) specific receptors in neonatal tissues; and 3) evidence that these tissues are hormone sensitive. Since all newborn mammals drink milk, this research has broad implications for understanding maternal contributions to postnatal tissue programming across many species. Dr. Bagnell's research is funded by the USDA.

Area of Research Interest Include:

1. Milk-borne relaxin: Source, characterization and bioactivity
2. Molecular markers and mediators of reproductive tract growth and responses to hormonal and/or environmental perturbations
3. Regulation of porcine uterine and cervical programming by milk-borne hormones
4. Effects of relaxin on non-reproductive tissue targets: cardiac, immune and joint tissues

Teaching

Dr. Bagnell teaches Animal Reproduction and participates in team teaching Animal Microtechniques and Tissue Culture and a graduate-level course in the Physiology of Reproduction.

Other Highlights

Dr. Bagnell is chair of the Department of Animal Sciences (2008-present). She also chairs the Graduate Program in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Admissions Committee (2007-present) and the TA/GA Appointments Committee (1999-present). Dr. Bagnell has served on several NIH and USDA review panels.

More Info

• Carol Bagnell's Website