Laura Hernandez
Associate Professor - Lactation Biology; Affiliate Professor - Obstetrics & Gynecology
Research, Instruction
1675 Observatory Dr
864A Animal Sciences
Madison, WI 53706
Post-Doctoral Fellow – Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Cincinnati (2008-2011)
PhD University of Arizona (2008)
Master’s of Science, New Mexico State University (2004)
Bachelor’s of Science, New Mexico State University (2002)
Selected Peer-Reviewed Articles
Cheng AA, Li W, Hernandez LL. Transcriptomic analysis investigating the interaction between peripheral serotonin and high fat diet feeding on mammary gene expression in mid-lactation mice. 2020. Physiol Genomics. 52(1):47-55. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00073.2019. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31814535.
Deer EM, Welch B, Hernandez LL, Seeley RJ, and Grayson BE. 2020. Nutrient and hormone composition of milk is altered in rodent dams post-bariatric surgery. J. Dev. Orig. Health Dis. 11(1):71-77. Doi: 10.1017/S2040174419000424. Epub. Ahead of print. PMID:31397254. PMCID:PMC6934892.
Kuehnl JM, Connelly MK, Dzidic A, Lauber M, Fricke HP, Klister M, Olstad E, Balbach M, Timiln E, Pszczolkowski V, Crump PM, Reinemann DJ, Hernandez LL∫. 2019. The effects of incomplete milking and increased milking frequency on milk production rate and milk composition. J. Anim. Sci. 97(6):2424-2432. PMID:30982896. PMCID:PMC6541812.
Weaver SR, Xie C, Charles JF, Hernandez LL. 2019. In utero and lactation exposure to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine compromises pup bones at weaning. Sci. rep. 9(1):238. PMID:30659249.
Kessler EC, Wall SK, Hernandez LL, Gross JJ, Bruckmaier RM. 2019. Short Communication: Mammary gland tight junction permeability after parturition is greater in dairy cows with elevated circulating serotonin concentrations. J. Dairy Sci. 102(2):1768-1774. PMID:30580948.
Metzger SA, Hernandez LL, Skarlupka JH, Walker TM, Suen G, Ruegg PL. 2018. A cohort study of the milk microbiota and inflamed bovine mammary glands from dryoff through 150 days in milk. Front. Vet Sci. Oct 9;5:247. eCollection 2018. PMID: 30356776.
Weaver SR, Fricke HP, Xie C, Aiello RJ, Charles JF, Hernandez LL. 2018. Peripartum dietary supplementation of a small molecule inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 compromises infant, but no maternal, bone. Am. J. Endocrinol. Metab. Oct 23. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 30351987.
Weaver SR, HP Fricke, C Xie, RJ Lipinski, CM Vezina, JF Charles, and LL Hernandez. 2018. Peripartum fluoxetine reduces maternal trabecular bone after weaning and elevates mammary gland serotonin and PTHrP. Endocrinology. 159(8):2850-2862. PMID:29893816.
Slater CJ, EL Endres, SR Weaver, AA Cheng, MR Lauber, SF Endres, E Olstad, A DeBruin, PM Crump, E Block, and LL Hernandez. (2018). Interaction of 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan and negative dietary cation-anion difference on calcium homeostasis in multiparous peripartum dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 101(6):5486-5501. PMID:29605319.
Weaver SR and LL Hernandez. (2018). Could use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during lactation cause persistent effects on maternal bone? J. Mammary Gland Biol. Neoplasia. Epub ahead of print. Mar 30. PMID:29603039.
Martinez N, RM Rodney, E Block, LL Hernandez, CD Nelson, IJ Lean, and JEP Santos. (2018). Effects of prepartum dietary cation-anion difference and source of vitamin D in dairy cows: Health and reproductive responses. J. Dairy Sci. Mar;101(3):2653-2578. PMID: 29274983.
Rodney RM, N Martinez, E Block, LL Hernandez, P Celi, CD Nelson, JEP Santos, IJ Lean. (2018). Effects of prepartum dietary cation-anion difference and source of vitamin D in dairy cows: Vitamin D, mineral, and bone metabolism. J. Dairy Sci. Mar;101(3):2519-2543. PMID: 29274979.
Weaver SR, NJ Jury, KA, Gregerson, ND Horseman, LL Hernandez. (2017). Characterization of mammary specific disruptions for Tph1 and Lrp5 during murine lactation. Sci. Rep. 9(7):15155. PMID: 29123193.
Weaver, SR, AS Prichard, NL Maerz, AP Prichard, EL Endres, LE Hernandez-Castellano, MS Akins, RM Bruckmaier, and LL Hernandez. (2017). Elevating serotonin pre-partum alters the Holstein dairy cow hepatic adaptation to lactation. PLoS One. 12(9):e0184939. PMID:28922379.
Weaver SR, Prichard AP, Endres EL, Newhouse SA, Peters TL, Crump PM, Akins MS, Crenshaw TD, Bruckmaier, Hernandez LL. (2016). Elevation of circulating serotonin improves calcium dynamics in the dairy cow transition period. J. Endocrinol. 230(1):105-123. PMID: 27390301.
Selected Book Chapters
Hernandez LL, GE Dahl, and RJ Collier. 2017. Regulation of the lactating mammary gland. Large Dairy Herd Management. 3rd Edition.
Undergraduate Courses
DY SCI 305 – Lactation Physiology (3 credits, Fall)
Course Description: The course focuses on lactation physiology across mammalian species. Structure and function of mammary glands; hormonal control of mammary development and lactation; cellular mechanisms of milk synthesis; the chemistry of milk synthesis; mastitis and other abnormalities of mammary functions. This course has a laboratory component.
Requirements: (ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 or ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 and ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152) and (BMOLCHEM 314 or BIOCHEM 501 or concurrent enrollment)
AN SCI/DY SCI 373 – Animal Physiology (3 credits, Spring/Summer)
Course Description: Students will develop an understanding of physiological processes that regulate the body, learn the anatomy and function of different physiological systems, describe interactions between organ systems, study regulation of an organ system from the molecular to whole animal level, and identify differences between species in the same systems.
Requirements: ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 or (BOTANY/BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 151 and BOTANY/BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 152)
Inter-Ag 175 – WISE Seminar (1 credit, Fall/Spring)
Course Description: Weekly seminar/discussion for the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) learning community. Speakers drawn from all fields of math, science, and engineering on campus. Students meet to learn about research on campus and to discuss the impact of research in their daily lives. Enroll Info: Cons inst. Preference given to residents of the WISE learning community. Open to Freshmen
Requirements: Reserved Class Section for residents of Women in Science and Engineering in Waters Hall
Graduate Courses
AN SCI/DY SCI 875 – Pregnancy, Parturition & Lactation (Odd Springs)
Requirements: Graduate/professional standing
Chair – Animal and Dairy Sciences Climate and Diversity Committee
Chair – Sebastian Arriola Tenure Mentor Committee
CALS Equity and Diversity Committee
CALS Research Advisory Council
Co-Director Women in Science and Engineering Learning Community
CALS Climate Survey Advisory Committee
Section Editor – Physiology, Journal of Dairy Science
Graduate admissions committee for the interdisciplinary graduate program in nutritional sciences
Graduate curriculum committee for the endocrine and reproductive physiology program.
Alfred Toepfer Faculty Fellow (2014)
ADSA Foundation Scholar Award in Production (2017)
UW Vilas Faculty Fellowship (2018-2019)
U.S. Patent 8,133,916. Issued March 13, 2012. Control of Milk Production and Mammary Gland Involution.
U.S. Patent 9,585,870. Issued March 7, 2017. Compositions and methods for improving lactation.