Laura Hernandez
Professor Lactation Physiology; Affiliate Professor Obstetrics and 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
Turco AE, Oakes SR, Stietz KPK, Dunham CL, Joseph DB, Chathurvedula TS, Girardi NM, Schneider AJ, Gawdzik J, Sheftel CM, Wang P, Wang Z, Bjorling DE, Ricke WA, Tang W, Hernandez LL, Keast JR, Bonev AD, Grimes MD, Strand DW, Tykocki NR, Tanguay RL, Peterson RE, Vezina CM. A neuroanatomical mechanism linking perinatal TCDD exposure to lower urinary tract dysfunction in adulthood. Dis Model Mech. 2021 Jun 24:dmm.049068. doi: 10.1242/dmm.049068. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34164643 Free article.
Connelly MK, Weaver SR, Kuehnl JM, Fricke HP, Klister M, Hernandez LL. Elevated serotonin coordinates mammary metabolism in dairy cows. Physiol Rep. 2021 Apr;9(7):e14798. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14798.PMID: 33835711 Free PMC article.
Cheng AA, Li W, Walker TM, Silvers C, Arendt LM, Hernandez LL. Investigating the complex interplay between genotype and high-fat-diet feeding in the lactating mammary gland using the Tph1 and Ldlr knockout models. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Mar 1;320(3):E438-E452. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00456.2020. Epub 2021 Jan 11.PMID: 33427054 Free PMC article.
Sheftel CM, Hernandez LL. Serotonin stimulated parathyroid hormone related protein induction in the mammary epithelia by transglutaminase-dependent serotonylation. PLoS One. 2020 Oct 23;15(10):e0241192. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241192. eCollection 2020.PMID: 33095824 Free PMC article.
Connelly MK, Marshall AM, Crump PM, Hernandez LL. Short communication: The effect of ruminal administration of 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan on circulating serotonin concentrations. J Dairy Sci. 2020 Nov;103(11):10850-10855. doi: 10.3168/jds.2019-18132. Epub 2020 Sep 18.PMID: 32952021
Wilkens MR, Nelson CD, Hernandez LL, McArt JAA. Symposium review: Transition cow calcium homeostasis-Health effects of hypocalcemia and strategies for prevention. J Dairy Sci. 2020 Mar;103(3):2909-2927. doi: 10.3168/jds.2019-17268. Epub 2020 Jan 15.PMID: 31954573 Free article.
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.
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
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
ADSA Production Division Director
CALS Academic Planning Council
CALS Equity and Diversity Committee
CALS Climate Survey Advisory Committee
Section Editor – Physiology, Journal of Dairy Science
Chair – Animal and Dairy Sciences Climate and Diversity Committee
Chair-Sarah Adcock Mentor Committee
Chair – Sebastian Arriola Tenure Mentor Committee
Co-Director Women in Science and Engineering Learning Community
Graduate admissions committee for the interdisciplinary graduate program in nutritional sciences
Graduate curriculum committee for the endocrine and reproductive physiology program.
UW Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities