Research interests
My group within the Centre for Neuroendocrinology is interested in the neuroendocrine functions of the hormone prolactin, and in particular, the role of prolactin in the neuroendocrine and neurobiological adaptations of the maternal brain.
Specific interests include the control of appetite and body weight during pregnancy and obesity, plasticity in oxytocin neurons during late pregnancy and lactation, and role of prolactin in changes in mood and behaviour in the post-partum period.
Clinical conditions
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Infertility
- Post-partum anxiety
- Post-partum depression
List of publications for Dave Grattan (Google Scholar)
Grattan Laboratory staff & students
Jenny Clarkson, Research Fellow
Neural circuits required for maternal adaptation to pregnancy
Email jenny.clarkson@otago.ac.nz
Teodora Georgescu, Research Fellow
Cellular actions of prolactin on neurons
Email teodora.georgescu@otago.ac.nz
Matt Gillett, PhD student
Email: matt.gillett@postgrad.otago.ac.n
Zin Khant-Aung, Scientific Officer
Hormonal regulation of metabolism
Email zin.khantaung@otago.ac.nz
Pene Knowles, Research Technician
Prolactin neuroendocrinology
Email pene.knowles@otago.ac.nz
Ilona Kokay, Honorary Research Fellow
Prolactin receptor expression in the brain
Email ilona.kokay@otago.ac.nz
Sharon Ladyman, Senior Research Fellow
Regulation of energy homeostasis during pregnancy
Email sharon.ladyman@otago.ac.nz
Chantelle Murrell, PhD student
Email chantelle.murrell@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Hollian Phillipps, Research Fellow
Prolactin action in adult neurogenesis
Email holly.phillipps@otago.ac.nz
Mohammed Rizwan, Research Fellow
Hypothalamic regulation of bodyweight and glucose metabolism
Email mohammed.rizwan@otago.ac.nz
Joe Yip, Research Fellow
Plasticity of neuroendocrine dopaminergic neurons and prolactin
Email joe.yip@otago.ac.nz
Andy Stewart, Honours student
Visit Our people for an alphabetical list of all Centre for Neuroendocrinology staff.
Publications
Principal Investigator
Professor Dave Grattan
- Professor Dave Grattan's biography
- Email dave.grattan@otago.ac.nz
- Department of Anatomy website
- Tel +64 3 479 7442
- Fax +64 3 479 7254
Research Funders
Publications
Smiley, K. O., Phillipps, H. R., Fang, C., Brown, R. S. E., & Grattan, D. R. (2023). Mating-induced prolactin surge is not required for subsequent neurogenesis in male mice. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17, 1227726. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1227726
Journal - Research Article
Goffin, V., Becu-Villalobos, D., Popovic, V., & Grattan, D. R. (2023). Editorial: Towards targeting prolactin signaling in human diseases: Stimulate or inhibit? Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, 1213895. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1213895
Journal - Research Other
Wall, E. G., Desai, R., Khant Aung, Z., Yeo, S. H., Grattan, D. R., Handelsman, D. J., & Herbison, A. E. (2023). Unexpected plasma gonadal steroid and prolactin levels across the mouse estrous cycle. Endocrinology, bqad070. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqad070
Journal - Research Article
Hackwell, E. C. R., Ladyman, S. R., Brown, R. S. E., & Grattan, D. R. (2023). Mechanisms of lactation-induced infertility in female mice. Endocrinology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqad049
Journal - Research Article
Hassan, M., Grattan, D. R., & Leitch, B. (2023). Developmental inhibitory changes in the primary somatosensory cortex of the stargazer mouse model of absence epilepsy. Biomolecules, 13, 186. doi: 10.3390/biom13010186
Journal - Research Article
Grattan, D. R., & Ladyman, S. R. (2020). Neurophysiological and cognitive changes in pregnancy. In E. A. P. Steegers, M. J. Cipolla & E. C. Miller (Eds.), Handbook of clinical neurology (Vol. 171): Neurology and pregnancy: Pathophysiology and patient care. (pp. 25-55). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-64239-4.00002-3
Chapter in Book - Research
Smiley, K. O., Ladyman, S. R., Gustafson, P., Grattan, D. R., & Brown, R. S. E. (2019). Neuroendocrinology and adaptive physiology of maternal care. In L. M. Coolen & D. R. Grattan (Eds.), Neuroendocrine regulation of behavior: Current topics in behavioral neurosciences (Vol. 43). (pp. 161-210). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/7854_2019_122
Chapter in Book - Research
Grattan, D. R., & Le Tissier, P. (2015). Hypothalamic control of prolactin secretion, and the multiple reproductive functions of prolactin. In T. M. Plant & A. J. Zeleznik (Eds.), Knobil and Neill's Physiology of reproduction (Vol. 1). (4th ed.) (pp. 469-526). Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-397175-3.00012-0
Chapter in Book - Research
Larsen, C. M., & Grattan, D. R. (2010). Exposure to female pheromones during pregnancy causes postpartum anxiety in mice. In G. Litwack (Ed.), Pheromones: Vitamins & Hormones (Vol. 83). (pp. 137-149). Amsterdam: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/S0083-6729(10)83005-5
Chapter in Book - Research
Grattan, D. R., & Bridges, R. S. (2009). Prolactin actions in the brain. In D. W. Pfaff, A. P. Arnold, A. M. Etgen, S. E. Fahrbach & R. T. Rubin (Eds.), Hormones, brain and behavior (Vol. 4). (2nd ed.) (pp. 2471-2503). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Freeman, M. E., Grattan, D. R., & Houpt, T. A. (2008). The hypothalamus. In P. M. Conn (Ed.), Neuroscience in medicine. (3rd ed.) (pp. 301-358). Totowna, NJ: Humana Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Woodside, B., Augustine, R. A., Ladyman, S. R., Naef, L., & Grattan, D. R. (2008). Role of prolactin in the metabolic adaptations to pregnancy and lactation. In R. S. Bridges (Ed.), Neurobiology of the parental brain. (pp. 249-267). London: Academic Press.
Chapter in Book - Research
Grattan, D. R., & Möderscheim, T. A. E. (2006). Interaction of growth hormone and prolactin in brain circuits. In F. J. Nyberg (Ed.), The somatotrophic axis in brain function. (pp. 111-123). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Chapter in Book - Research
Grattan, D. R. (2001). The actions of prolactin in the brain during pregnancy and lactation. In J. A. Russell, A. J. Douglas, R. J. Windle & C. D. Ingram (Eds.), Progress in Brain Research. (pp. 153-171). London: Elsevier.
Chapter in Book - Research
Hackwell, E. C. R., Ladyman, S. R., Brown, R. S. E., & Grattan, D. R. (2023). Mechanisms of lactation-induced infertility in female mice. Endocrinology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqad049
Journal - Research Article
Hassan, M., Grattan, D. R., & Leitch, B. (2023). Developmental inhibitory changes in the primary somatosensory cortex of the stargazer mouse model of absence epilepsy. Biomolecules, 13, 186. doi: 10.3390/biom13010186
Journal - Research Article
Smiley, K. O., Phillipps, H. R., Fang, C., Brown, R. S. E., & Grattan, D. R. (2023). Mating-induced prolactin surge is not required for subsequent neurogenesis in male mice. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17, 1227726. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1227726
Journal - Research Article
Wall, E. G., Desai, R., Khant Aung, Z., Yeo, S. H., Grattan, D. R., Handelsman, D. J., & Herbison, A. E. (2023). Unexpected plasma gonadal steroid and prolactin levels across the mouse estrous cycle. Endocrinology, bqad070. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqad070
Journal - Research Article
Georgescu, T., Khant Aung, Z., Grattan, D. R., & Brown, R. S. E. (2022). Prolactin-mediated restraint of maternal aggression in lactation. PNAS, 119(6), e2116972119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2116972119
Journal - Research Article
Kamstra, K., Rizwan, M. Z., Grattan, D. R., Horsfield, J. A., & Tups, A. (2022). Leptin regulates glucose homeostasis via the canonical Wnt pathway in the zebrafish. FASEB Journal, 36, e22207. doi: 10.1096/fj.202101764R
Journal - Research Article
Phillipps, H. R., Khant Aung, Z., & Grattan, D. R. (2022). Elevated prolactin secretion during proestrus in mice: Absence of a defined surge. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 34, e13129. doi: 10.1111/jne.13129
Journal - Research Article
Radecki, K. C., Ford, M. J., Phillipps, H. R., Lorenson, M. Y., Grattan, D. R., Yamanaka, Y., & Walker, A. M. (2022). Multiple cell types in the oviduct express the prolactin receptor. FASEB BioAdvances, 4, 485-504. doi: 10.1096/fba.2022-00004
Journal - Research Article
Smiley, K. O., Brown, R. S. E., & Grattan, D. R. (2022). Prolactin action is necessary for parental behavior in male mice. Journal of Neuroscience. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.0558-22.2022
Journal - Research Article
Swart, J. M., Grattan, D. R., Ladyman, S. R., & Brown, R. S. E. (2022). Pups and prolactin are rewarding to virgin female and pregnant mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, e13232. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/jne.13232
Journal - Research Article
Aoki, M., Gamayun, I., Wyatt, A., Grünewald, R., Simon-Thomas, M., Philipp, S. E., … Grattan, D. R., & Boehm, U. (2021). Prolactin-sensitive olfactory sensory neurons regulate male preference in female mice by modulating responses to chemosensory cues. Science Advances, 7(41), eabg4074. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abg4074
Journal - Research Article
Khant Aung, Z., Kokay, I. C., Grattan, D. R., & Ladyman, S. R. (2021). Prolactin-induced adaptation in glucose homeostasis in mouse pregnancy is mediated by the pancreas and not in the forebrain. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12, 765976. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.765976
Journal - Research Article
Ladyman, S. R., Carter, K. M., Gillett, M. L., Khant Aung, Z., & Grattan, D. R. (2021). A reduction in voluntary physical activity in early pregnancy in mice is mediated by prolactin. eLIFE, 10, e62260. doi: 10.7554/eLife.62260
Journal - Research Article
Ladyman, S. R., Larsen, C. M., Taylor, R. S., Grattan, D. R., & McCowan, L. M. E. (2021). Case–control study of prolactin and placental lactogen in SGA pregnancies. Reproduction & Fertility, 2(4), 244-250. doi: 10.1530/RAF-21-0020
Journal - Research Article
Nair, B. B., Khant Aung, Z., Porteous, R., Prescott, M., Glendining, K. A., Jenkins, D. E., Augustine, R. A., Silva, M. S. B., Yip, S. H., Bouwer, G. T., Brown, C. H., Jasoni, C. L., Campbell, R. E., Bunn, S. J., Anderson, G. M., Grattan, D. R., Herbison, A. E., & Iremonger, K. J. (2021). Impact of chronic variable stress on neuroendocrine hypothalamus and pituitary in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 33, e12972. doi: 10.1111/jne.12972
Journal - Research Article