Peter J. Hansen, Ph.D.
University of Florida
Department of Animal Sciences
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Postdoctoral, University of Florida

Dr. P.J. Hansens's Homepage

The principal area of research focus is the elucidation of the cellular and molecular processes by which cellular stress disrupts embryonic function and the intercellular defense systems that embryos use to limit these effects. Research in the laboratory demonstrated that preimplantation embryonic development is disrupted by exposure to elevated temperature and that embryos acquire resistance to elevated temperature as they proceed through development. It was also shown that embryonic resistance to heat shock is controlled by genetic factors, with embryos from Bos indicus being more resistant to heat shock than embryos from B. taurus. Moreover, embryonic thermotolerance can be enhanced by manipulating heat shock protein synthesis and treatment with the survival factor, insulin-like growth factor-1. My current focus is on understanding the molecular basis for these determinants of thermotolerance with emphasis on the role of apoptosis, heat shock protein synthesis, and free radical metabolism.

Applied studies have used the knowledge gained from studies of embryo physiology to develop new management strategies for increasing dairy cattle fertility. In embryo transfer schemes, embryos are typically transferred to recipients at a stage of development at which they have acquired substantial resistance to heat shock. It has been demonstrated in the laboratory that pregnancy rate during periods of heat stress can be improved through the use of embryo transfer. Increasing fertility during heat stress has been a difficult task and embryo transfer represents the first successful approach to doing so. Current research is devoted to improving the practicality of using embryo transfer as a tool for enhancing fertility in dairy cattle exposed to heat stress or with low fertility.   Much of the new focus in the laboratory is on understanding how maternally derived molecules like CSF2 and IGF1 can alter the pattern of preimplantation development to enhance embryonic and fetal survivial. 

A second area of research is focused on immunological interactions between the conceptus and mother. Much of this work centers on progesterone since this hormone plays an important role in suppressing uterine immune function during pregnancy. It is believed progesterone acts, at least in part, by inducing secretion of other molecules that inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. In sheep, the model species for much of the work, this molecule has been identified as a protein called ovine uterine serpin. Recently, it was shown that ovine uterine serpin can also inhibit growth of several tumor cell lines and an emerging area of research will be to characterize the mechanism and test possible anticarcinogenic properties of the protein.

A third area of research focuses on understanding the molecular correlates of the evolutionary development of the epitheliochorial placenta.  Work has focused on phylogenetic changes in the uterine serpin genes.

Finally, efforts are being initiated to understand the genetic control of fertility and thermotolerance.

Representative Publications:

Hansen, P.J. and Fear, J.M. (2011) Cheating death at the dawn of life:  Developmental control of apoptotic repression in the preimplantation embryo.  Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.413, 155-158 

Stewart, B.M., Block, J., Morelli, P., Navarette, A.E., Amstalden, M., Bonilla, L., Hansen,P.J., and Bilby, T.R. (2011) Efficacy of embryo transfer in lactating dairy cows during summerusing fresh or vitrified embryos produced in vitro with sex-sorted semen. J Dairy Sci. 94,3437-33445

Loureiro, B., Block, J., Favoreto, M.G., Carambula, C., Pennington, K.,A., Ealy, A.D., and Hansen, P.J. (2011) Consequences of conceptus exposure to colony stimulating factor 2 on survival, elongation, interferon-t secretion and gene expression.  Reproduction 141, 617-624

Bonilla, A.Q.S., Ozawa, M., and Hansen, P.J. (2011) Timing and dependence upon mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling for pro-developmental actions of insulin-like growth factor 1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo.  Growth Hormone IGF Res. 21, 107-111 

Fields, S.D., Hansen, P.J., and Ealy, A.D. (2011) Fibroblast growth factor requirements for in vitro development of bovine embryos.  Theriogenology 75, 1466-1475 

Bonilla, A.Q.S., Oliveira, L.J., Ozawa, M., Newsom, E.M., Lucy, M.C., and Hansen, P.J. (2011) Developmental changes in thermoprotective actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the preimplantation bovine embryo. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 332, 170-179 

Ozawa, M., and Hansen, P.J. (2011) A novel method for purification of inner cell mass and trophectoderm cells from blastocysts using magnetic activated cell sorting. Fertil. Steril. 95, 799-802 

Fear, J.M., and Hansen, P.J. (2011) Developmental changes in expression of genes involved in regulation of apoptosis in the bovine preimplantation embryo. Biol. Reprod. 84, 43-51 

Loureiro, B., Oliveira, L.J., Favoreto, M.G., and Hansen, P.J. (2011) Colony-stimulating factor 2 inhibits induction of apoptosis in the bovine preimplantation embryo.  Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 65, 578-588 

Padua, M.B., Kowalski, A.A., Cañas, M.Y., and Hansen, P.J. (2010) The molecular phylogeny of uterine serpins and its relationship to evolution of placentation. FASEB J. 24, 526-537.