Advanced Research Fellow
- Email Address
- a.ross@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 438633
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Research Overview
In our research we are investigating how different foods and their constituents inform fullness and satiety to the brain. The objectives are to identify how cells of the gut and liver respond differently to different nutrients, and also how these nutrients may differentially affect metabolism to promote improved health. We are also interested in how diet-induced differences in the gut microbiome may alter host metabolism and health. The research results should provide evidence which, after validation in human trials, may be released as advice to the general public, or as product formulation advice to the food or drug industry aimed at healthy weight management.
We use molecular biology and biochemical approaches including Next Generation Sequencing, Real-time PCR, in situ hybridization and Western blotting to identify target genes and exploit novel in vivo agonist/antagonist or antibody delivery in techniques aimed at addressing functional responses.
Research team
Prof Alexandra Johnstone
Claire Fyfe - Research Assistant
Gail Hepseed - Research assistant
Funding and Grants
Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) grant number BB/K001043/1 entitled: Inflammatory signals regulate neuroendocrine control of growth and energy balance through re-modelling of mammalian hypothalamus.
Page 1 of 2 Results 1 to 50 of 51
Resident gut microbiota community determines the efficacy of soluble fiber in reducing adiposity
Shallangwa, S. M., Ross, A. W., Walker, A. W., Morgan, P. J.Frontiers in Microbiology, vol. 15, 1392016Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAntimicrobial effects of synthetic phenolic antioxidants on dietary fibre degrading bacteria
Shallangwa, S., Morgan, P. J., Walker, A. W., Ross, A. W.Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, vol. 81, no. OCE1, 47Contributions to Journals: Abstracts- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665122000477
Diet induced obesity is independent of metabolic endotoxemia and TLR4 signalling, but markedly increases hypothalamic expression of the acute phase protein, SerpinA3N
Dalby, M. J., Aviello, G., Ross, A. W., Walker, A. W., Barrett, P., Morgan, P. J.Scientific Reports, vol. 8, 15648Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33928-4
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/11307/1/s41598_018_33928_4.pdf
Dietary Uncoupling of Gut Microbiota and Energy Harvesting from Obesity and Glucose Tolerance in Mice
Dalby, M. J., Ross, A. W., Walker, A. W., Morgan, P. J.Cell Reports, vol. 21, no. 6, pp. 1521-1533Contributions to Journals: ArticlesExpression of the retinoic acid catabolic enzyme CYP26B1 in the human brain to maintain signaling homeostasis
Stoney, P. N., Fragoso, Y., Bu Saeed, R., Ashton, A., Goodman, T., Simons, C., Gomaa, M. S., Sementilli, A., Sementilli, L., Ross, A. W., Morgan, P. J., McCaffery, P. J.Brain Structure and Function, vol. 221, no. 6, pp. 3315-3326Contributions to Journals: ArticlesA neuroendocrine role for chemerin in hypothalamic remodelling and photoperiodic control of energy balance
Helfer, G., Ross, A. W., Thomson, L. M., Mayer, C. D., Stoney, P. N., McCaffery, P. J., Morgan, P. J.Scientific Reports, vol. 6, 26830Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26830
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/6018/1/srep26830.pdf
Effects of Dietary Fibre (Pectin) and/or Increased Protein (Casein or Pea) on Satiety, Body Weight, Adiposity and Caecal Fermentation in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats
Adam, C. L., Gratz, S. W., Peinado, D. I., Thomson, L. M., Garden, K. E., Williams, P. A., Richardson, A. J., Ross, A. W.PloS ONE, vol. 11, no. 5, e0155871Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSoluble Fermentable Dietary Fibre (Pectin) Decreases Caloric Intake, Adiposity and Lipidaemia in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats
Adam, C. L., Thomson, L. M., Williams, P. A., Ross, A. W.PloS ONE, vol. 10, no. 10, e0140392Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPhotoperiod Regulates Lean Mass Accretion, but Not Adiposity, in Growing F344 Rats Fed a High Fat Diet
Ross, A. W., Russell, L., Helfer, G., Thomson, L. M., Dalby, M. J., Morgan, P. J.PloS ONE, vol. 10, no. 3, 0119763Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPhotoperiodic effects on seasonal physiology, reproductive status and hypothalamic gene expression in young male F344 rats
Tavolaro, F. M., Thomson, L. M., Ross, A. W., Morgan, P. J., Helfer, G.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 79-87Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12241
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4213/1/Tavolaro_et_al_2015.pdf
Dose-dependent effects of a soluble dietary fibre (pectin) on food intake, adiposity, gut hypertrophy and gut satiety hormone secretion in rats
Adam, C. L., Williams, P. A., Garden, K. E., Thomson, L. M., Ross, A. W.PloS ONE, vol. 10, no. 1, 0115438Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115438
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4269/1/fetchObject.pdf
A Thyroid Hormone Challenge in Hypothyroid Rats Identifies T3 Regulated Genes in the Hypothalamus and in Models with Altered Energy Balance and Glucose Homeostasis
Herwig, A., Campbell, G., Mayer, C., Boelen, A., Anderson, R. A., Ross, A. W., Mercer, J. G., Barrett, P.Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association, vol. 24, no. 11, pp. 1575-1593Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2014.0169
Different types of soluble fermentable dietary fibre decrease food intake, body weight gain and adiposity in young adult male rats
Adam, C. L., Williams, P. A., Dalby, M. J., Garden, K., Thomson, L. M., Richardson, A. J., Gratz, S. W., Ross, A. W.Nutrition & Metabolism, vol. 11, 36Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-11-36
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3743/1/1743_7075_11_36.pdf
Neuromedin U partly mimics thyroid stimulating hormone and triggers Wnt/β-Catenin signalling in the photoperiodic response of F344 rats
Helfer, G., Ross, A. W., Morgan, P. J.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 25, no. 12, pp. 1264-1272Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12116
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3047/1/Helfer_et_al_2013.pdf
Patterning of retinoic acid signaling and cell proliferation in the hippocampus
Goodman, T., Crandall, J. E., Nanescu, S. E., Quadro, L., Shearer, K., Ross, A., McCaffery, P.Hippocampus, vol. 22, no. 11, pp. 2171-2183Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hipo.22037
Photoperiodic Expression of Two RALDH Enzymes and the Regulation of Cell Proliferation by Retinoic Acid in the Rat Hypothalamus
Shearer, K. D., Stoney, P. N., Nanescu, S. E., Helfer, G., Barrett, P., Ross, A. W., Morgan, P. J., McCaffery, P.Journal of Neurochemistry, vol. 122, no. 4, pp. 789-799Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2012.07824.x
Photoperiod regulates vitamin A and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in F344 rats
Helfer, G., Ross, A. W., Russell, L., Thomson, L. M., Shearer, K. D., Goodman, T. H., McCaffery, P. J., Morgan, P. J.Endocrinology, vol. 153, no. 2, pp. 815-824Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2011-1792
Thyroid hormone signalling genes are regulated by photoperiod in the hypothalamus of F344 rats
Ross, A. W., Helfer, G., Russell, L., Darras, V. M., Morgan, P. J.PloS ONE, vol. 6, no. 6, e21351Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021351
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3623/1/Thyroid_hormone.pdf
Photoperiodic regulation of retinoic acid signaling in the hypothalamus
Shearer, K. D., Goodman, T. H., Ross, A., Reilly, L., Morgan, P. J., McCaffery, P. J. A.Journal of Neurochemistry, vol. 112, no. 1, pp. 246-257Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06455.x
Divergent regulation of hypothalamic neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein by photoperiod in F344 rats with differential food intake and growth
Ross, A., Johnson, C. E., Bell, L., Reilly, L., Duncan, J., Barrett, P., Heideman, P. D., Morgan, P. J.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 21, no. 7, pp. 610-619Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2009.01878.x
Photoperiod Regulates Genes Encoding Melanocortin 3 and Serotonin Receptors and Secretogranins in the Dorsomedial Posterior Arcuate of the Siberian Hamster
Nilaweera, K. N., Archer, Z. A., Campbell, G. P., Mayer, C., Balik, A., Ross, A., Mercer, J., Ebling, F. J. P., Morgan, P. J., Barrett, P.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 123-131Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01810.x
Diurnal profiles of hypothalamic energy balance gene expression with photoperiod manipulation in the Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus
Ellis, C., Moar, K., Logie, T., Ross, A., Morgan, P. J., Mercer, J.American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 294, no. 4, pp. R1148-R1153Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00825.2007
Hypothalamic thyriod hormone in appetite and energy balance regulation
Herwig, A., Ross, A., Nilaweera, K., Morgan, P. J., Barrett, P.Obesity Facts, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 71-79Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000123428
Hypothalamic Thyroid Hormone Catabolism Acts as a Gatekeeper for the Seasonal Control of Body Weight and Reproduction
Barrett, P., Ebling, F. J. P., Schuhler, S., Wilson, D. L., Ross, A., Warner, A., Jethwa, P., Boelen, A., Visser, T. J., Ozanne, D. M., Archer, Z. A., Mercer, J., Morgan, P. J.Endocrinology, vol. 148, no. 8, pp. 3608-3617Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2007-0316
Photoperiodic regulation of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 1, GPR50 and nestin in tanycytes of the third ventricle ependymal layer of the Siberian hamster
Barrett, P., Ivanova, E., Graham, E. S., Ross, A., Wilson, D. L., Ple, H., Mercer, J., Ebling, F. J., Schuhler, S., Dupre, S. M., Loudon, A., Morgan, P. J.Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 191, no. 3, pp. 687-698Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.1.06929
Dynamic regulation of gene expression in the dmpARC and ependymal layer in the Siberian hamster during seasonal weight change
Barrett, P., Wilson, D. L., Mercer, J., Ross, A., Bell, L., Ebling, F. J. P., Schuhler, A., Morgan, P. J.Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 7-8Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2006.03.016
The suppressor of cytokine signalling 3, SOCS3, may be one critical modulator of seasonal body weight changes in the Siberian hamster, Phodopus sungorus
Tups, A., Barrett, P., Ross, A., Morgan, P. J., Klingenspor, M., Mercer, J.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 139-145Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2005.01394.x
What can we learn from seasonal animals about the regulation of energy balance?
Morgan, P. J., Ross, A., Mercer, J., Barrett, P.Progress in Brain Research, vol. 153, pp. 325-337Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6123(06)53019-5
Photoperiodic regulation of histamine H3 receptor and VGF messenger ribonucleic acid in the arcuate nucleus of the Siberian hamster
Barrett, P., Ross, A., Balik, A., Littlewood, P. A., Mercer, J., Moar, K., Sallmen, T., Kaslin, J., Panula, P., Schuhler, S., Ebling, F. J., Ubeaud, C., Morgan, P. J.Endocrinology, vol. 146, no. 4, pp. 1930-1939Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2004-1452
Temporal changes in gene expression in the arcuate nucleus precede seasonal responses in adiposity and reproduction
Ross, A., Bell, L., Littlewood, P. A., Mercer, J., Barrett, P., Morgan, P. J.Endocrinology, vol. 146, no. 4, pp. 1940-1947Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2004-1538
Photoperiodic regulation of hypothalamic retinoid signaling: Association of retinoid X receptor gamma with body weight
Ross, A., Webster, C. A., Mercer, J., Moar, K., Ebling, F. J., Schuhler, S., Barrett, P., Morgan, P. J.Endocrinology, vol. 145, no. 1, pp. 13-20Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2003-0838
Photoperiodic programming of body weight through the neuroendocrine hypothalamus
Morgan, P. J., Ross, A., Mercer, J., Barrett, P.Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 177, no. 1, pp. 27-34Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe pars tuberalis as a target of the central clock
Ross, A. W., Morgan, P. J.Cell and Tissue Research, vol. 309, no. 1, pp. 163-171Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-002-0582-3
How does the melatonin receptor decode a photoperiodic signal in the pars tuberalis?
Morgan, P. J., Messager, S., Webster, C., Barrett, P., Ross, A.Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol. 460, pp. 165-174Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-46814-X_18
Photoperiod regulates growth, puberty and hypothalamic neuropeptide and receptor gene expression in female Siberian hamsters
Adam, C. L., Moar, K., Logie, T., Ross, A., Barrett, P., Morgan, P. J., Mercer, J.Endocrinology, vol. 141, no. 12, pp. 4349-4356Contributions to Journals: ArticlesRegulation of leptin receptor, POMC and AGRP gene expression by photoperiod and food deprivation in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of the male Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
Mercer, J., Moar, K. M., Morgan, P. J., Ross, A.Appetite, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 109-111Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPhotoperiod regulates arcuate nucleus POMC, AGRP, and leptin receptor mRNA in Siberian hamster hypothalamus
Mercer, J., Moar, K., Ross, A., Hoggard, N., Morgan, P. J.American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 278, no. 1, pp. R271-81Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDecoding photoperiodic time through Per1 and ICER gene amplitude
Messager, S., Ross, A., Barrett, P., Morgan, P. J.PNAS, vol. 96, no. 17, pp. 9938-9943Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMelatonin receptors and signal transduction mechanisms
Barrett, P., Morris, M., Choi, W. S., Ross, A., Morgan, P. J.Biological Signals and Receptors, vol. 8, no. 1-2, pp. 6-14Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000014563
oPer1 is an early response gene under photoperiodic regulation in the ovine pars tuberalis
Morgan, P. J., Ross, A., Graham, E. S., Adam, C. L., Messager, S., Barrett, P.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. 319-323Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2826.1998.00232.x
A novel interaction between inhibitory melatonin receptors and protein kinase C-dependent signal transduction in ovine pars tuberalis cells
Ross, A., Webster, C. A., Thompson, M., Barrett, P., Morgan, P. J.Endocrinology, vol. 139, no. 4, pp. 1723-1730Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.139.4.1723
Mel 1a melatonin receptor expression is regulated by protein kinase C and an additional pathway addressed by the protein kinase C inhibitor Ro 31-8220 in ovine pars tuberalis cells
Barrett, P., Davidson, G., Hazlerigg, D. G., Morris, A., Ross, A., Morgan, P. J.Endocrinology, vol. 139, no. 1, pp. 163-171Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.139.1.163
The use of DNA fingerprinting to assess monozygotic twinning in Meishan and Landrace x Large White pigs
Ashworth, C. J., Ross, A., Barrett, P.Reproduction, Fertility and Development, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 487-490Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/RD99010
Melatonin suppresses the induction of AP-1 transcription factor components in the pars tuberalis of the pituitary
Ross, A., Barrett, P., Mercer, J., Morgan, P. J.Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, vol. 123, no. 1, pp. 71-80Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe ovine pars tuberalis secretes a factor(s) that regulates gene expression in both lactotropic and nonlactotropic pituitary cells
Morgan, P. J., Webster, C. A., Mercer, J., Ross, A., Hazlerigg, D. G., MacLean, A., Barrett, P.Endocrinology, vol. 137, no. 9, pp. 4018-4026Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.137.9.4018
Phosphorylation of CREB in ovine pars tuberalis is regulated both by cyclic AMP-dependent and cyclic AMP-independent mechanisms
McNulty, S., Ross, A. W., Shiu, K. Y., Morgan, P. J., Hastings, M. H.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 8, no. 8, pp. 635-645Contributions to Journals: ArticlesInterrelationships of protein and oestradiol secretion by conceptuses and endometrium from Meishan pigs on days 11-15 of pregnancy
Ashworth, C. J., Ross, A. W., Flint, A. P. F.Animal Reproduction Science, vol. 43, no. 2-3, pp. 123-135Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4320(96)01476-5
Melatonin Regulates the Phosphorylation of CREB in Ovine pars Tuberalis
MCNULTY, S., Ross, A., Barrett, P., HASTINGS, M. H., Morgan, P. J.Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 523-532Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCOMPARISONS BETWEEN PERIPHERAL PROGESTERONE CONCENTRATIONS IN CYCLIC AND PREGNANT LANDRACE X LARGE WHITE AND MEISHAN GILTS
ASHWORTH, C. J., ROSS, A. W., HALEY, C. S.Reproduction, Fertility and Development, vol. 6, no. 6, pp. 777-782Contributions to Journals: ArticlesNAD turnover and utilisation of metabolites for RNA synthesis in a reaction sensing the redox state of the cytochrome b6f complex in isolated chloroplasts
Pearson, C. K., Wilson, S. B., Schaffer, R., Ross, A. W.European Journal of Biochemistry, vol. 218, no. 2, pp. 397-404Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1993.tb18389.x