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Peter Gluckman, Peter Lobie, Mark Vickers, and
It’s been a busy month. The Centre’s first Annual
Wayne Cutfield attended the Pfizer's Satellite
Report has been completed bar finalisation of the
Workshop: GH and IGF factors and presented
accounts and Board signoff and will soon be available
Murray, Trisha (Accounts), and I have moved into a suite
Last month the Centre formally welcomed recent Post
of offices on the second floor of the Liggins Institute
Doctoral Research Fellow appointments and students
which gives us a physical presence there.
who have started PhD programmes. This month we
Much hard work has gone into advancing contracts. At
Harriet Miles (Clinical Research Fellow, Major
representatives and representatives of the Research
Offices of the Host and partner Institutes a key decision was taken to consolidate the ~85 or so Centre contracts
Harriet is a British paediatrician working as an Endocrine
currently under management around Major Projects.
Research Fellow. She trained at Nottingham University
This will enable simplification of the contracts and a
Medical School receiving a B.Med Sci (Hons)2:1 in 1992
reduction in numbers of 85 to approximately 20 and
and graduating as Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of
allow us to get back to our key focus – science.
Surgery in 1994. Harriet's post graduate medical training has been in Paediatrics, Obstetrics and
Finally Peter and I attended a meeting of CoRE
Gynaecology in New Zealand and the UK. Harriet holds
Directors and Managers at Massey. All the CoREs
a Paediatric National Training Number at Addenbrookes
especially the multi-partner ones have experienced
Hospital, Cambridge and has arranged to have a three
delays in their start up years and face common issues.
The Ministry of Education is currently producing a discussion document on the CoREs.
Harriet arrived at the Liggins Institute in March 2003 to work with Wayne Cutfield, Paul Hofman, and Mark
Harris as an Endocrine Fellow. Her job involves
alternating months working on research projects and
clinical work at Starship Hospital. She is involved in the
The Otago Genomics Facility (OGF) planning and running of a collaborative research project (http://genomics.otago.ac.nz/) was the first high
with Family Associates as part of the CoRE to look at
throughput gene expression microarray facility to be
the effects of In vitro fertilisation on anthropometric
established in New Zealand. To establish the facility a
characteristics, endocrine parameters and DNA
grant of $1.5M was provided to Tony Reeve in 1999
methylation in children between the ages of 4 and 10
from the University of Otago. Now with funding
provided from the NCRGD this will allow the printing of
MWG oligo arrays (20K human and 10K rat) for CoRE members, the wider academic community and
Farhad completed his undergraduate and Masters
commercial customers. The OGF has considerable
studies in the department of Biochemistry at Otago
experience using this technology and the data analysis
University and did his PhD in the department of
tools (usually learning the hard way!) so please contact
Molecular Medicine at the University of Auckland.
us through the web site if you have any questions.
Farhad's PhD project was to identify the signal transduction pathways and the transcription factors
involved in regulating a particular group of cell-surface
Peter Gluckman and Alistair Gunn travelled to San
adhesion molecules called the β7 integrins, which
Francisco for the Annual Meeting of the Pediatric
mediate the homing and retention of lymphocytes to
mucosal sites and chronically inflamed tissues. They showed that the pro-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β
induces β7 gene expression by activating the JNK and
During her undergrad and Honours years, Ayla became
p38 MAPK signalling pathways. Farhad has recently
particularly interested in applied and experimental
joined the National Research Centre for Growth and
behaviour psychology, as well as neuropsychology and
Development as a postdoctoral fellow and is interested
in looking at the epigenetic regulation of gene
Now, Ayla is planning to explore these areas further by
expression in a human breast cancer model.
making use of the multidisciplinary approach at Liggins.
Within her research group (CoRE Major Project 2), she will study the effects of early life nutrition on self-control
Arjan has been working on perinatal hypoxic/ischemic
behaviour and on changes in brain morphology in rats.
brain injury and specifically on neuroprotection since
Dams and offspring will be exposed to various nutritional
1995. He graduated with a PhD from the Department of
environments, e.g. undernutrition during pregnancy or
Pediatrics where he remained working as a post-doc for
overnutrition during lactation. Differences in self-control
a year. Following this Arjan was employed as a post-
behaviour between the experimental groups will be
doc by Prof. Carlos Blanco at the University of
assessed in operant chambers by measuring several
Maastricht in The Netherlands for 2.5 years. While
response dimensions, such as response latencies and
there, Arjan set up and led a research team looking into
frequencies. Self-control is defined as the choice of a
the effects of various injuries and treatments (perinatal
large, delayed reinforcer over a small, immediate
asphyxia, adult chronic mild stress, adult learning and
reinforcer. Therefore, to quantify this behaviour, rats will
memory and prenatal betamethasone) on developmental
receive repeated simultaneous choices between a small
and adult neurogenesis. This in combination with
reinforcer that is delivered shortly after a response to
studying the possible underlying mechanisms of action,
one alternative and a larger reinforcer that is delivered
namely the spatio-temporal changes in neural
after a certain delay to another response alternative. The
shorter delay will vary within a session, according to the
Arjan's current interest lies in the interplay between
rat’s previous response. By changing the delay, the
perinatal brain injury, neurotrophic growth factors, stress
value of the larger reinforcer will increase, decrease, or
and learning and memory and their effects on
equal the smaller reinforcer. The indifference point, the
developmental and postnatal neurogenesis. This, with
value at which the rat chooses either reinforcer with
the primary aim of designing neuroprotective/neural
equal frequency, will be used to quantify self-control.
rescue strategies for use in infants and preterm babies.
Once the behavioural component of the experiment has been completed, I will assess the effect of the diets on
Hannah Gibbons BSc (Hons) (Major Project 7)
differences in the morphology of brain structures.
Hannah arrived from England in 1997 and worked as a
Measurements will include cortical, ventricular,
Research Technician in the Molecular Neurophysiology
hippocampal, hypothalamic, and arcuate nuclei volumes
Laboratory headed by Professor Janusz Lipski. In
December 1998, she moved to the Molecular
Neuropharmacology Laboratory where she worked with Professor Mike Dragunow as a Research Technician. In
James has recently commenced a PhD under Professor
July 2000, Hannah started her PhD in the area of
Tony Reeve. His project will form part of Project 5 of the
neuroinflammation whilst continuing to work in the
CoRE and will investigate the relationship between DNA
laboratory, assuming the position of an Assistant
methylation patterns in response to heritable alterations
Research Fellow. The CoRE postdoctoral position
(Major Project 7, Neuroinflammation) follows on from
James completed his BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry at
research undertaken in Hannah's PhD and has allowed
Otago University in 2001. For the next two years he
her to stay in an expanding field that is known to play a
continued to work in the Biochemistry department as an
crucial role in the pathogenesis of several
Assistant Research Fellow, investigating domain
assembly of some quirky invertebrate haemoglobins.
Christopher Rumball (Major Project 1)
Most of his days were spent performing atomic force microscopy, LC/MS and computer-based protein
Christopher has recently arrived in Auckland from
Invercargill having worked at Christchurch and Southland Hospitals over the past year, in both general
James' current project germinated from a paper
medicine and emergency medicine. 2002 was spent
describing how genomic DNA methylation levels are
studying at Liverpool in tropical medicine, followed by six
dramatically reduced in humans with a common
months working for Medecins sans Frontieres,
polymorphism involved in folate metabolism, under low
something he hopes to do again in the not-so-distant
dietary folate conditions. DNA methylation is an
future. At the Liggins Christopher is beginning a PhD in
important epigenetic trait, regulating DNA integrity and
foetal physiology supervised by Jane Harding.
gene expression, and aberrant DNA methylation has been implicated in a number of pathologies, including
Ayla trained as a technical biological assistant in
Firstly, he wants to see if by simply re-supplementing
Germany. In 1989 she immigrated to NZ and made use
folate (a single-carbon source), he can restore normal
of the many opportunities NZ offered and explored
genomic DNA methylation levels in these individuals.
various employments. As a tour guide, bushcraft
Additionally, James wants to see what specific elements
instructor, and volunteer for DOC, Ayla was able to
of their DNA are being hypomethylated under low folate
develop her passion for the great NZ outdoors. Her later
conditions, i.e. are any genes being preferentially
work with people with physical and intellectual
hypomethylated and hence having their expression
disabilities sparked Ayla's interest in studying
altered, that may be facilitating a propensity toward
Thanks to the encouragement from her partner and family, Ayla began her tertiary education four years ago.
Larissa Christophidas (Major Project 6)
normal feed on NZ farms. Treatment ewes were mated on the condensed tannin-containing legume Lotus
Larissa's interest in medical research led her to study a
corniculatus for 63 days, which increases the absorption
degree in science at the University of Melbourne, where
of essential amino acids. Ewes mated on lotus
she majored in Pharmacology. She particularly enjoyed
consistently had higher lambing % and in one study
her introduction to scientific research by way of a
lamb mortality between birth and weaning was reduced.
summer studentship and her Honours year research
Other experiments have been conducted with ewes
project, which focussed on the regulation of the hormone
grazing drought pasture during mating and therefore
leptin by the sympathetic nervous system. Larissa has
worked for two biotechnology companies. Her first position involved studying oxidative phosphorylation; the
Supplementing with willow cuttings for 70 days during
second involved screening natural product extracts for
mating increased lambing % and reduced lamb mortality
in some but not all experiments. Willow contains condensed tannins and is higher in protein content than
Based at the Liggins Institute Larissa's PhD project is
drought pasture; it can therefore be expected to also
part of Theme 3 Project 6: Saving the Immature Brain.
increase the absorption of essential amino acids.
Using the P3 rat brain injury model as a model for the brain injuries seen in extreme pre-term infants, her work
These experiments suggest that increasing the
will focus on endogenous repair factors induced in the
absorption of essential amino acids in ewes during
brain after injury. Larissa has immensely enjoyed the
mating and early pregnancy definitely increases lambing
beginning of her PhD studies and is looking forward to
% and may reduce lamb mortality between birth and
making more of a contribution to the CoRE over the next
weaning. Analysis of the data suggests that to measure
effects on lamb mortality we need to increase ewe numbers per group from 100 to 300-500. We have
Sumudu Ranasinghe (Himani Sumudumalee; Major
increased ewe numbers to 300 in our 2004 expt. and
have also fed lotus longer into pregnancy than in
Sumudu arrived from Sri Lanka seven years ago. Her
previous years. Mating has been more condensed this
passion for science guided her to start her scientific
year, by running all ewes with vasectomised rams before
career, at University of Auckland, as a Bachelor of
intact rams were introduced. We have also taken blood
Technology majoring in Biomedical Science in the year
samples from 100 ewes/group this year, at intervals
2000. In 2002/2003 Sumudu had the opportunity to step
throughout the study. Ultrasound pregnancy scanning
into the practical aspect of science through the summer
studentship programme, in which she investigated the
The field studies are supported by a grant from Meat
changes in elastin content of small airways in chronic
and Wool Innovations (i.e. sheep farmer levy money).
We are applying to the CORE to investigate the
In 2003, she did her honours project with Professor
mechanisms of how these nutritional treatments at
Richard Faull’s research group, in which she
mating/early pregnancy might increase lamb survival
demonstrated that cell proliferation occurs in the
subependymal layer along the entire ventricular system
The effects of dam’s uterine environment on the
of the normal adult human brain. Now, Sumudu is doing
development of her daughter’s mammary gland and
her PhD at the Liggins Institute with Professor Murray
Mitchell and A/Professor Chris Williams, investigating the mechanisms of vulnerability in the immature brain
A low plane of nutrition during pregnancy restricts the
growth of the ovine fetal mammary gland. Discussion was centred round an experimental design to firstly,
verify that these large effects on fetal mammary gland
Jo completed her Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in
development are repeatable and, secondly, to determine
Marketing) and Bachelor of Science (majoring in
if the inhibition of growth in the fetus restricts future
Pharmacology) conjoint degree in 2001, at the University
of Auckland. She continued her studies in science, and
Preliminary results from the 2003 mid-pregnancy
pursued a Masters degree in Pharmacology for the next
two years. Jo's project was in the area of anti-cancer research, under the supervision of A/Prof James Paxton.
Lamb birthweight has important implications for survival
During this time she also completed a summer project
particularly in multiple born lambs. Farmers can
with A/Prof Nick Holford in pharmacometrics.
manipulate birthweights to a degree by either feeding pregnant ewes on a high level of nutrition or by mid-
This year Jo is looking forward to her PhD in Prof Mike
pregnancy shearing. The mechanism by which shearing
Dragunow’s lab. She will be investigating mechanisms
increases birthweight and the post-natal effects on the
of neuroinflammation in the human brain. In addition,
progeny in terms of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
she is actively involved in postgraduate student affairs,
function, metabolism and behaviour are unclear. In
addition the intergenerational effects of dam nutrition during pregnancy on twin and triplet born lambs has not
Contributed by Hugh Blair and Catriona Jenkinson
We conducted two studies in 2003. The first study
The effects of periconceptual feeding of lotus on ewe
explored the effects of mid-pregnancy shearing. The
and lamb endocrinology and fetal and lamb survival -
findings of that study were yarding plus the 24 hour fast
commonly associated with shearing did not produce an increase in birthweight. However shearing produced an
Experiments have been conducted on Massey's dryland
increase of 0.3kg in lamb birthweight compared with
farm in the Wairarapa, near Masterton. Control ewes
lambs born to control animals. Therefore indicating that
were mated on perennial ryegrass-based pastures, the
the birthweight effects of shearing is not due to fasting
and yarding associated with shearing. Mid-pregnancy
birth weight and survival and therefore another co-hort of
shearing had no significant effect on ewe and lamb
behaviour in the 12 hrs after birth. The lamb’s cortisol
2003 results from the Suffolk x Cheviot maternal
response to castration was significantly different
between singleton and twin lambs born to mid-pregnancy shorn ewes with single lambs from shorn
A summary of the key outcomes to date, were
ewes having the greatest cortisol response. In 2004 we
presented. Data analyses showed that the Cheviot
aim to repeat this study in order to determine the
mothers suppressed the birth weights of crossbred
repeatability of this finding. The second study explored
lambs to about the same weight as cheviot lambs.
the effects of mid- to late-pregnancy nutritional stress in
Suffolk mothers elevated birth weights of crossbred
twin and triplet lambs. The behaviour of the year old twin
lambs to about the same weight as Suffolk lambs.
and triplet ewe hogget progeny born to either adequately
Experimental procedures for 2004 were discussed.
or inadequately fed ewes was assessed using an Arena test and the results showed no differences in behaviour.
Integrating the effects of individual loci with
An insulin tolerance test was also conducted on the ewe
quantitative genetic and environmental variance into
hoggets and the results showed no difference in the
a model of fetal growth - Patrick Morel, Hugh Blair
cortisol and glucose response. In 2004 we aim to
determine the reproductive success of these hoggets by
Growth in animals is a complex process, which involves
recording mating success and lamb birthweights.
interaction between animal genotype and environment.
The effects of dam’s uterine environment on the
A superior understanding of the growth process can be
development of her offspring’s skeletal system -
obtained when all the available information and concepts
are synthesized, transformed into mathematical algorithms, and integrated into a growth simulation
Further discussion was requested on the use of
computer program. Recently, a theoretical simulation
singletons as opposed to twins in studying the effect of
model linking individual gene actions, pig growth
genetics (fat/lean) of the fetus on birth weight and size,
modelling and non-linear optimisation mathematics has
as well as the relationship between lean and mineral
been developed to investigate genome by diet nutrient
masses in the new born and growing lamb.
The long-term effects of being born to an overfed
Finding Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for muscle and
teenage mother - Paul Kenyon, Steve Morris and
fat traits in Texel sheep - Patricia Johnson
By mating Texel sires that are heterozygous at DNA
Currently 30% (2.4 million in total) of hogget’s (7 – 8
markers around Myostatin to commercial dams, we
months old) in New Zealand are mated to lamb at 12
produced two identifiable groups of progeny (those
months of age, instead of the traditional 2 years of age
inheriting different copies of the marker from their sire).
system with the proportion increasing each year.
We were able to show that those progeny that inherited
Currently farmers are offering very high levels of
a particular copy of the marker had increased leg muscle
herbage to their in-lamb hoggets to try to ensure that her
weight and decreased leg fat weight but with no
mature weight and lifetime performance is not impaired.
differences in leg bone weight or meat quality. Such QTL
The effects of this are not well understood. Studies
searches offer the opportunity to define regions of DNA
conducted at the Rowett lead by Jacqueline Wallace
where variations in the DNA account for variations seen
have examined the affects of pregnancy nutrition in
in phenotypes, which can then lead on to the discovery
adolescent ewes on lamb birth weight and survival with
high level of nutrition being associated with small birth weights and low survival rates. However the hoggets in
these studies are significantly younger (5 – 7 vs. 8 – 9 months) than hoggets traditionally mated in
New Zealand, they tend to have higher mating weights
Science Planning Day, Dunedin. Focus on genomics
(44 – 48 vs. 32 – 45 kg), they are fed concentrates
rather than pasture, embryo transfer is used. Therefore
extrapolation of these results into the New Zealand farming system is problematic.
New Zealand Society of Animal Production/NRCGD joint session on Forming the partnership between animal
In the 2003, Massey conducted study 206 singleton-
production and medical science: Influence of early
bearing eight-month-old ewe hoggets were randomly
development on lifetime outcomes across agriculture
split into 3 nutritional treatments 13 days after the mid-
and health including models for the study of metabolism
point of mating. The ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ nutritional
and health. For further details, contact Steve
groups were managed in such a manner that they
increased total live weight during pregnancy by 12, 20 and 28 kg respectively. ‘High’ group hoggets had a
Agenda items for Executive Committee Meeting to
greater depth of body fat in late pregnancy (2.5, 3.8 and
Barbara Sessions, (k.goldstone@auckland.ac.nz)
5.4 mm respectively for ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’
hoggets). However, these treatments failed to affect
Executive Committee and Board of Governance
lamb birth weight although by weaning ‘low’ group’
lambs were significantly lighter than all other groups (by 2 kg).
Potential future studies of the offspring were discussed.
Contributions to the next Newsletter are most welcome
In addition a further study is being conducted at Massey
and should be sent to k.goldstone@auckland.ac.nz by
University in 2004 to re-examine the effects of
pregnancy nutrition, under pastoral conditions on lamb
This Preferred Drug List (PDL) is a guide to care- and cost-effective medications covered on the QualChoice Enhanced Formulary. This list is not al -inclusive nor a guarantee of coverage. Plan benefit design is the final determinate of coverage. Certain medications may be subject to Quantity Limits (QL), Prior Authorization (PA) or Step Therapy (ST). The use of generic drugs can save both y