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Contact Details

Email
peter.hurst@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Senior Lecturer
Department
Department of Anatomy
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) (Leic) PhD (CNAA)
Research summary
Mammalian Reproductive Biology

Research

Reproductive biology is concerned with understanding the structural components and functional mechanisms that regulate fertility. Dr Hurst's research interests concern a number of topics that are being studied by postgraduate students in this Department. These projects require a range of technical skills to be applied to answer questions and address ideas that evolve.

A number of studies concern the ovaries in mice, sheep and humans. Experiments are designed to determine if primordial follicles are immune from cell death and explain why they can maintain the potential to grow for many years. The lab uses laser capture microdissection to selectively isolate individual follicles and also different cellular constituents of growing follicles. This allows individual genes to be studied in the different components of follicles.

PhD student Holly Douglas is investigating prolactin receptor and inhibitors of apoptosis in sheep follicles and Linda Gulliver (a recent PhD graduand) assessed changes to the ovarian surface epithelium as a consequence of estradiol treatments in mice.

A recent PhD graduand Anne O'Connell has studied uterine factors that are associated with varied pregnancy rates in sheep known to have high numbers of ovulation

Publications

O'Connell, A. R., McNatty, K. P., Hurst, P. R., Spencer, T. E., Bazer, F. W., Reader, K. L., … Juengel, J. L. (2016). Activin A and follistatin during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in ewes. Journal of Endocrinology, 228(3), 193-203. doi: 10.1530/joe-15-0367

O'Connell, A. R., Hurst, P. R., Davis, G. H., McNatty, K. P., Taylor, S. L., & Juengel, J. L. (2013). An earlier rise in systemic progesterone and increased progesterone in the uterine vein during early pregnancy are associated with enhanced embryonic survival in the ewe. Theriogenology, 80, 269-274. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.04.006

Gulliver, L. S. M., & Hurst, P. R. (2012). Repeat estradiol exposure differentially regulates protein expression patterns for estrogen receptor and E-cadherin in older mouse ovarian surface epithelium: Implications for replacement and adjuvant hormone therapies? Steroids, 77(6), 674-685. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2012.02.015

Phillipps, H. R., & Hurst, P. R. (2012). XIAP: A potential determinant of ovarian follicular fate. Reproduction, 144, 165-176. doi: 10.1530/rep-12-0142

Phillipps, H. R., Kokay, I. C., Grattan, D. R., & Hurst, P. R. (2011). X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein and active caspase-3 expression patterns in antral follicles in the sheep ovary. Reproduction, 142, 855-867. doi: 10.1530/rep-11-0177

O'Connell, A. R., McNatty, K. P., Hurst, P. R., Spencer, T. E., Bazer, F. W., Reader, K. L., … Juengel, J. L. (2016). Activin A and follistatin during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in ewes. Journal of Endocrinology, 228(3), 193-203. doi: 10.1530/joe-15-0367

Journal - Research Article

O'Connell, A. R., Hurst, P. R., Davis, G. H., McNatty, K. P., Taylor, S. L., & Juengel, J. L. (2013). An earlier rise in systemic progesterone and increased progesterone in the uterine vein during early pregnancy are associated with enhanced embryonic survival in the ewe. Theriogenology, 80, 269-274. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.04.006

Journal - Research Article

Gulliver, L. S. M., & Hurst, P. R. (2012). Repeat estradiol exposure differentially regulates protein expression patterns for estrogen receptor and E-cadherin in older mouse ovarian surface epithelium: Implications for replacement and adjuvant hormone therapies? Steroids, 77(6), 674-685. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2012.02.015

Journal - Research Article

Phillipps, H. R., & Hurst, P. R. (2012). XIAP: A potential determinant of ovarian follicular fate. Reproduction, 144, 165-176. doi: 10.1530/rep-12-0142

Journal - Research Article

Gulliver, L. S. M., & Hurst, P. R. (2011). Novel approaches to quantify estradiol-induced loss of ERβ1 protein in older mouse ovarian surface epithelium: New tools to assess the role of ER protein subtypes in predisposing to ovarian epithelial cancer? Hormones & Cancer, 2(4), 204-213. doi: 10.1007/s12672-011-0077-3

Journal - Research Article

Phillipps, H. R., Kokay, I. C., Grattan, D. R., & Hurst, P. R. (2011). X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein and active caspase-3 expression patterns in antral follicles in the sheep ovary. Reproduction, 142, 855-867. doi: 10.1530/rep-11-0177

Journal - Research Article

Conley, D., Hurst, P. R., & Stringer, M. D. (2010). An investigation of human jejunal and ileal arteries. Anatomical Science International, 85(1), 23-30. doi: 10.1007/s12565-009-0047-9

Journal - Research Article

McGrath, C., Nicholson, H., & Hurst, P. (2009). Le long ligament sacro-iliaque postérieur: étude histologique de ses rapports dans la région sacro-iliaque postérieure [The long posterior sacroiliac ligament: An histological study of morphological relations in the posterior sacroiliac region]. Revue du Rhumatisme, 76(1), 62-66. doi: 10.1016/j.rhum.2008.02.022

Journal - Research Article

McGrath, C., Nicholson, H., & Hurst, P. (2009). The long posterior sacroiliac ligament: A histological study of morphological relations in the posterior sacroiliac region. Joint Bone Spine, 76(1), 57-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2008.02.015

Journal - Research Article

Herbison, A. E., Porteous, R., Pape, J.-R., Mora, J. M., & Hurst, P. R. (2008). Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron requirements for puberty, ovulation, and fertility. Endocrinology, 149(2), 597-604. doi: 10.1210/en.2007-1139

Journal - Research Article

Gould, M. L., Hurst, P. R., & Nicholson, H. D. (2007). The effects of oestrogen receptors α and β on testicular cell number and steroidogenesis in mice. Reproduction, 134, 271-279.

Journal - Research Article

Hurst, P. R., Mora, J. M., & Fenwick, M. A. (2006). Caspase-3, TUNEL and ultrastructural studies of small follicles in adult human ovarian biopsies. Human Reproduction, 21(8), 1974-1980.

Journal - Research Article

Nicholson, H. D., Samalia, L., Gould, M., Hurst, P. R., & Woodroffe, M. (2006). A comparison of different embalming fluids on the quality of histological preservation in human cadavers. European Journal of Morphology, 42(4/5), 178-184.

Journal - Research Article

Tan, O. L., Hurst, P. R., & Fleming, J. S. (2005). Location of inclusion cysts in mouse ovaries in relation to age, pregnancy, and total ovulation number: Implications for ovarian cancer? Journal of Pathology, 205, 483-490.

Journal - Research Article

Quennell, J. H., Stanton, J.-A. L., & Hurst, P. R. (2004). Basic fibroblast growth factor expression in isolated small human ovarian follicles. Molecular Human Reproduction, 10(9), 623-628.

Journal - Research Article

Sizemore, R. J., Hurst, P. R., & McLeod, B. J. (2004). Effect of steroid hormones on tissue remodelling and progesterone receptors in the uterus of seasonally anoestrous brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Reproduction, 127, 255-264.

Journal - Research Article

Mahoney, P. M., Hurst, P. R., McLeod, B. J., McConnell, M. A., & Thompson, E. G. (2003). Effect of oestradiol treatment on mast cell populations and microflora in the vaginal cul-de-sac of seasonally anoestrous brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Reproduction, 125, 733-741.

Journal - Research Article

Clow, O. L., Hurst, P. R., & Fleming, J. S. (2002). Changes in the mouse ovarian surface epithelium with age and ovulation number. Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology, 191(1), 105-111. doi: 10.1016/s0303-7207(02)00061-8

Journal - Research Article

Fenwick, M. A., & Hurst, P. R. (2002). Immunohistochemical localization of active caspase-3 in the mouse ovary: growth and atresia of small follicles. Reproduction, 124, 659-665.

Journal - Research Article

Mahoney, P. M., Hurst, P. R., McLeod, B., & McConnell, M. A. (2002). Quantification of mast cells and microflora in the vaginal cul-de-sac of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Reproduction, 124, 399-408.

Journal - Research Article

von Bültzingslöwen, I., Jontell, M., Hurst, P., Nannmark, U., & Kardos, T. (2001). 5-Fluorouracil induces autophagic degeneration in rat oral keratinocytes. Oral Oncology, 37, 537-544.

Journal - Research Article

Fisher, M. W., McLeod, B. J., Heath, D. A., Lun, S., & Hurst, P. R. (2000). Role of ovarian failure in reproductive senescence in aged red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds. Journal of Reproduction & Fertility, 120, 211-216.

Journal - Research Article

Crawford, J. L., McLeod, B. J., & Hurst, P. R. (1999). Cyclical changes in epithelial cells of the vaginal cul-de-sac of Brushtail Possums (Trichorurus vulpecula). Anatomical Record, 254, 307-321.

Journal - Research Article

Crawford, J. L., McLeod, B. J., Thompson, E. G., Hurst, P. R., Colbourne, L. E., Lun, S., & Eckery, D. C. (1999). Plasma gonadotropin concentrations in the cyclic female brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). General & Comparative Endocrinology, 116, 73-80.

Journal - Research Article

Hurst, P. R., & Palmay, R. D. (1999). Matrix metalloproteinases and their endogenous inhibitors during the implantation period in the rat uterus. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 11, 395-402.

Journal - Research Article

Crawford, J. L., McLeod, B. J., Thompson, E. G., & Hurst, P. R. (1998). Presence of males affects the incidence of ovulation after pouch young removal in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula). Animal Reproduction Science, 51, 45-55.

Journal - Research Article

Crawford, J. L., Shackell, G. H., Thompson, E. G., McLeod, B. J., & Hurst, P. R. (1997). Preovulatory follicle development and ovulation in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) monitored by repeated laparoscopy. Journal of Reproduction & Fertility, 110(2), 361-370.

Journal - Research Article

Hurst, P. R., Palmay, R. D., & Myers, D. B. (1997). Localization and synthesis of collagen types III and V during remodelling and decidualization in rat uterus. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 9(4), 403-409.

Journal - Research Article

Leeuwenberg, B. R., Hudson, N. L., Moore, L. G., Hurst, P. R., & Mc Natty, K. P. (1996). Peripheral and ovarian IGF-1 concentrations during the ovine oestrous cycle. Journal of Endocrinology, 148, 281-289.

Journal - Research Article

Shackell, G. H., Norman, N. G., McLeod, B. J., & Hurst, P. R. (1996). A morphometric study of early ovarian development in pouch young of the brushtail possum (Trichosuras vulpecula). Anatomical Record, 246, 224-230.

Journal - Research Article

Leeuwenberg, B. R., Hurst, P. R., & Mc Natty, K. P. (1995). Expression of IGF-1 mRNA in the ovine ovary. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 15, 251-258.

Journal - Research Article

McGrath, C., Nicholson, H., & Hurst, P. (2010). Branch blockade of the dorsal sacral rami [Letter to the editor]. Pain Medicine, 11(2), 281-282. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00780.x

Journal - Research Other

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