Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content Skip to side navigation

Principal InvestigatorTeodora Georgescu image

Dr Teodora Georgescu

Email teodora.georgescu@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 556 5460

Research interests

My research group focuses on the adaptations to autonomic functions that occur during pregnancy and lactation, driven by changes in maternal hormone levels. These physiological adaptations are crucial for both maternal health and the development of the offspring. Pregnancy induces significant elevations in hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, and lactogenic hormones. We aim to uncover how these pregnancy hormones act on their receptors in the brain to regulate autonomic functions, such as fever, breathing, and cardiovascular responses during pregnancy. Inadequate adaptations in these systems can lead to pregnancy complications like gestational hypertension and dyspnoea, highlighting the need to understand these mechanisms.

Our laboratory employs techniques such as radio telemetry, ex vivo and in vivo calcium imaging, viral manipulation of neuronal circuits, and immunohistochemistry to investigate how maternal hormones impact the brain to regulate physiological functions. By investigating these processes, we aim to ultimately improve maternal and foetal health.

Clinical conditions

  • Infections and fevers
  • Dyspnoea
  • Preeclampsia

Georgescu Laboratory staff and students

Andy Stewart image 114wAndy Stewart, PhD student
Email stean207@student.otago.ac.nz

Anita Jessie Clark, Honours student

Andrew Habin Lee, MSc student

Research Funders

Publications

Ladyman, S. R., Georgescu, T. R., Stewart, A. M., Khant Aung, Z., Cheong, I., Grattan, D. R., & Brown, R. S. E. (2025). Prolactin modulation of thermoregulatory circuits provides resilience to thermal challenge of pregnancy. Cell Reports, 44(4), 115567. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115567 Journal - Research Article

Stewart, A., Grattan, D., & Georgescu, T. (2024, August). Investigating the role of lactogenic hormones in the suppression of fever during late pregnancy. Verbal presentation at the BMS Postgraduate Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Papaioannou, P., Georgescu, T. R., Grattan, D. R., & Yip, S. H. (2024, August-September). Reconfiguration of the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neuronal network in lactating rats. Poster session presented at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Lee, A. H., McBryde, F. D., Paton, J. F. R., Grattan, D. R., & Georgescu, T. (2024, August-September). Investigating the mechanism driving pregnancy-induced changes in respiration. Poster session presented at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Fay, L., Grattan, D. R., & Georgescu, T. (2024, August-September). Investigating fever suppression in pregnancy: The acute effects of prostaglandin on prolactin-receptor containing neurons in the preoptic area. Poster session presented at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Back to top