Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 3 479 7354
- colin.brown@otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- Professor
- Department
- Department of Physiology
- Qualifications
- BSc(Hons) PhD
- Research summary
- Neuroendocrinology
Research
Our research group principally uses electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry to determine how the brain controls birth, lactation, food intake and water balance. We currently focus on the control of the secretion of the hormone, oxytocin, which is necessary for birth and lactation, and is involved in driving increased food intake during pregnancy. We are also investigating how vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone) neurons prevent water loss in the urine to protect from dehydration and how malfunction of vasopressin neurons might contribute to the development of hypertension.