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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 7320
Email
hod.anatomy@otago.ac.nz
Position
Professor and Head of Department
Department
Department of Anatomy
Qualifications
BSc(Hons) PhD (Linc)
Research summary
Neuroendocrinology

Research

The neuroendocrine control of reproduction.

Professor Anderson's neuroendocrinology research group focuses on the neuroendocrine regulation of fertility by nutritional factors (leptin, insulin and ghrelin) and novel neuropeptides (RFamide-related peptide or gonadotrophin inhibitory hormone). The group also investigates effects of reproductive experience on central effects of prolactin. The Anderson Neuroendocrinology Research Group forms one of the laboratories that make up the University of Otago's Centre for Neuroendocrinology.

Research interests

  1. The neural pathways by which the central drivers of fertility, GnRH neurons, sense the hormone leptin in order to respond to the animal's nutritional status (Health Research Council funded).
  2. The mechanisms by which the recently-discovered brain peptide RFRP-3 regulates GnRH and LH secretion in mammals (Marsden funded).

Using a combination of transgenic animal models, single cell measurement techniques and visualisation of cell signalling in specific target neurons, we hope to elucidate the neural pathways by which leptin and GnIH regulate reproduction. This knowledge may lead to new and improved treatment strategies for infertility. In addition, we may discover novel neurochemical targets that could be safely exploited for contraceptive purposes.

For research queries:

Email greg.anderson@otago.ac.nz

Publications

Lord, R. A., Inglis, M. A., Juengel, J. L., & Anderson, G. M. (2025). A leptin receptor mutation which impairs fertility in ewes causes delayed puberty in male and female mice. Endocrinology, bqaf058. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqaf058 Journal - Research Article

Sugrue, V. J., Prescott, M., Glendining, K. A., Zoller, J. A., Narayan, P., Lu, A. T., Bond, D. M., Ortega-Recalde, O. J., … Anderson, G. M., Garratt, M., Horvath, S., Campbell, R. E., & Hore, T. A. (2025). Building the androgen clock: An epigenetic predictor of long-term male hormone exposure. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Annual Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Sugrue, V. J., Prescott, M., Glendining, K. A., Bond, D. M., Horvath, S., Anderson, G. M., Garratt, M., Campbell, R. E., & Hore, T. A. (2025). The androgen clock is an epigenetic predictor of long-term male hormone exposure. PNAS, 122(3), e2420087121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2420087121 Journal - Research Article

Heads, K. R., Anderson, G., & Decourt, C. (2024, August). Exploring the effects of kisspeptin modulation with miscarriage. Verbal presentation at the BMS Postgraduate Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Yadhav, S. S., Decourt, C., Anderson, R. J., Li, B., Beltramo, M., Aucagne, V., & Anderson, G. M. (2024, August-September). Combating mammalian predator species of Aotearoa using cytotoxic cell-targeting approach to induce sterility. Poster session presented at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

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