Alison Mostyn

Contact

• workSutton Bonington Campus
  Sutton Bonington
  Leicestershire
  LE12 5RD
  UK
• work0115 951 6586
• alison.mostyn@nottingham.ac.uk

Biography

Alison Mostyn graduated with a first class BSc (hons) in Biomedical Science (Pharmacology) from the University of Aberdeen (1998) and went on to study for a PhD in the School of Human Development, University of Nottingham; graduating in 2001. She then spent 2 years at Imperial College Wye Campus in the Animal Research Section, Department of Agricultural Sciences as a post-doctoral scientist followed by 2 years as a University of Nottingham Senior Research Fellow in the School of Human Development. In 2006 she moved to the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy as a Lecturer in Biological Sciences. Alison joined the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science in 2009 as a Lecturer in Comparative Cellular Physiology.

Expertise Summary

Alison Mostyn is a Lecturer in Comparative Cellular Physiology and is module convener for year 2 Endocrine (D12ECN), co-convenor for year 4 Endocrine(D14ENC) and leads the Pharmacology week in Principles of Clinical Veterinary Science (D13PVS). Alison is a member of the University of Nottingham Women in Science, Engineering and Technology WinSET group (working group of University Research Committee) and deputy editor of Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

Research Summary

Developmental origins of health and disease Animal and human epidemiological studies have established that sub-optimal maternal diet throughout pregnancy results in offspring that are at increased… read more

Recent Publications

• HYDE MJ, MOSTYN A, MODI N and KEMP PR, 2012. The Health Implications Of Birth By Caesarean Section. Biological Reviews Of The Cambridge Philosophical Society. 87(1), 229-43
• ALMOND, K, BIKKER, P, LOMAX, M, SYMONDS, M E and MOSTYN, A, 2011. The influence of maternal protein nutrition on offspring development and metabolism: the role of glucocorticoids In: 'Nutrition and health: cell to community' Postgraduate Symposium. 1-6
• LYMN JS, MOSTYN A., 2010. Audience response technology: Engaging and empowering non-medical prescribing students in pharmacology learning BMC Medical Education. 10, 73
• WILLIAMS, PJ, MARTEN, N, WILSON, V, LITTEN-BROWN, JS, CORSON, AM, CLARKE, L, SYMONDS, ME and MOSTYN, A, 2009. Influence of birth weight on gene regulators of lipid metabolism and utilisation in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs. Reproduction (Cambridge, England). 138(3), 609-617

• View all publications

Current Research

Developmental origins of health and disease Animal and human epidemiological studies have established that sub-optimal maternal diet throughout pregnancy results in offspring that are at increased risk of later metabolic disease including diabetes and obesity. This has become known as the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis. Many DOHaD studies are based upon under-nutrition during pregnancy; however, dietary excess is more characteristic of the diets consumed by many pregnant women in the developed world. Many regulators of lipid and glucose metabolism are nutritionally sensitive in the developing fetus and, if altered, may transmit long-lasting adverse changes to the offspring. Low birth-weight offspring may be particularly at risk. Many of the genes which regulate fat and glucose metabolism are sensitive to changes in nutrition during fetal development, therefore may be affected by maternal over, or under-nutrition. If these genetic changes are long-lasting and persist into adulthood they may impair the physiological and endocrine systems in the offspring and lead to disease such as type 2 (or age onset) diabetes or obesity. Similarly, low birth-weight offspring, who may have experienced sub-optimal conditions in the womb, are also at an increased risk of metabolic diseases and often develop greater fat stores than their normal weight siblings. The exact timing and type of nutritional imbalance may be crucial in determining the outcome for the offspring. I am using several porcine models with collaborators from Imperial College, Cambridge and Southampton University to investigate the effects of low birth weight and maternal diet on long and short term effects on cellular physiology, in particular in adipose tissue, liver and muscle. Influence of genotype Neonatal mortality is greater in commercial porcine genotypes compared to the ancient Meishan breed that rapidly lay down adipose tissue, despite lower birth weight and large litter size. Meishan sows are obese and produce milk with a higher fat content than commercial sows, which may be one factor responsible for the apparent resistance to hypoglycaemia and hypothermia observed in their piglets. I am investigating the role of adipose tissue development and genes which regulate metabolism on neonatal survival in these animals. Influence of delivery method Evidence is emerging from animal and human studies that caesarean section delivery is associated with long-term physiological changes, as well as the well-known short term effects. Along with a collaborator from Imperial College, I am investigating the molecular changes in adipose tissue, liver and muscle in response to caesarean section delivery.

• HYDE MJ, MOSTYN A, MODI N and KEMP PR, 2012. The Health Implications Of Birth By Caesarean Section. Biological Reviews Of The Cambridge Philosophical Society. 87(1), 229-43
• ALMOND, K, BIKKER, P, LOMAX, M, SYMONDS, M E and MOSTYN, A, 2011. The influence of maternal protein nutrition on offspring development and metabolism: the role of glucocorticoids In: 'Nutrition and health: cell to community' Postgraduate Symposium. 1-6
• LYMN JS, MOSTYN A., 2010. Audience response technology: Engaging and empowering non-medical prescribing students in pharmacology learning BMC Medical Education. 10, 73
• WILLIAMS, PJ, MARTEN, N, WILSON, V, LITTEN-BROWN, JS, CORSON, AM, CLARKE, L, SYMONDS, ME and MOSTYN, A, 2009. Influence of birth weight on gene regulators of lipid metabolism and utilisation in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs. Reproduction (Cambridge, England). 138(3), 609-617
• SARAH MCMULLEN AND ALISON MOSTYN, 2009. Animal models for the study of the developmental origins of health and disease. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 68(3), 1-15
• WILLIAMS, A., MOSTYN, A. and FYSON, R., 2009. Nursing and social work students' perceptions of lecturing by non-university practitioners. Journal of interprofessional care. 23(1), 98-100
• MOSTYN, A AND SYMONDS, ME, 2009. Early programming of adipose tissue function: a large-animal perspective. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 68(4), 393-400
• LITTEN, JC, MOSTYN,A, LAWS,J, CORSON,A, SYMONDS,ME and CLARKE,L, 2008. Effect of Acute Administration of Recombinant Human Leptin during the Neonatal Period on Body Temperature and Endocrine Profile of the Piglet. Neonatology. 93(3), 171-177
• MOSTYN A, BOS PM, LITTEN JC, LAWS J, SYMONDS ME and CLARKE L, 2008. Differential Effects Of Thyroid Hormone Manipulation And Beta Adrenoceptor Agonist Administration On Uncoupling Protein Mrna Abundance In Adipose Tissue And Thermoregulation In Neonatal Pigs. Organogenesis. 4(3), 182-7
• GNANALINGHAM M, HYATT M, BISPHAM J, MOSTYN A, CLARKE L, BUDGE H, SYMONDS M and STEPHENSON T, 2008. Maternal Dexamethasone Administration And The Maturation Of Perirenal Adipose Tissue Of The Neonatal Sheep. Organogenesis. 4(3), 188-94
• YAKUBU, D.P., MOSTYN, A., HYATT, M.A., KURLAK, L.O., BUDGE, H., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2007. Ontegeny and nutritional programming of mitochondrial proteins in the ovine kidney, liver and lung Reproduction. 134, 823-830
• YAKUBU, D.P., MOSTYN, A., HYATT, M.A., KURLAK, L.O., BUDGE, H., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2007. Ontegeny and nutritional programming of mitochondrial proteins in the ovine kidney, liver and lung Reproduction. 134, 823-830
• SYMONDS, M., BUDGE, H., MOSTYN, A., STEPHENSON, T. and GARDNER, D., 2007. Maternal diet through pregnancy: the key to future good health of the next generation?. In: SARAH V WATKINS, ed., Nutrition Research Advances: Reducing diets: new research New York: Nova Science Publishers Inc. 223-240
• YAKUBU, D.P., MOSTYN, A., WILSON, V., PEARCE, S., ALVES-GUERRA, M.C., PECQUEUR, C., MIROUX, B., BUDGE, H., STEPHENSON T. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2007. Different effects of maternal parity, cold exposure and nutrient restriction in late pregnancy on the abundance of mitochondrial proteins in the kidney, liver and lung of postnatal sheep Reproduction. 133, 1241-1252
• WILLIAMS, P. J., LITTEN, J. C., CORSON, A. M., CLARKE, L., SYMONDS, M. E. and MOSTYN, A., 2007. P2-98 The influence of birth weight on FABP4 and muscle triacylglyceride levels in skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. VOL 83(SUPP/1), S156
• MOSTYN,A., SEBERT,S., LITTEN,J.C., PERKINS,K.S., LAWS,J., SYMONDS,M. and CLARK,L., 2006. Influence of Porcine Genotype on the Abundance of Thyroid Hormones and Leptin in Sow Milk and its Impact on Growth, Metabolism and Expression of Key Adipose Tissue Genes in Offspring Journal of Endocrinology. 631-640
• MOSTYN, A., WILLIAMS, P.J., LITTEN, J.C., PERKINS, K.S., CORSON, A.M., CLARKE, L. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2006. Differences in fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) 3 and 4 mRNA expression in skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue between normal-birth-weight and low- and high-birth-weight porcine offspring at days 7 and 14 of postnatal life PROCEEDINGS- NUTRITION SOCIETY OF LONDON. VOL 66(SPI/OCA/B), 57A
• PEARCE, S., BUDGE, H., MOSTYN, A., GENEVER, E., WEBB, R., INGLETON, P., WALKER, A.M., SYMONDS, M.E. and STEPHENSON, T., 2005. Prolactin, the prolactin receptor and uncoupling protein abundance and function in adipose tissue during development in young sheep Journal of Endocrinology. 184(2), 351-359
• GNANALINGHAM, M.G., MOSTYN, A., WANG, J., WEBB, R., KEISLER, D.H., RAVER, N., ALVES-GUERRA, M.C., PECQUEUR, C., MIROUX, B., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2005. Tissue specific effects of leptin administration on the abundance of mitochondrial proteins during neonatal development. Journal of Endocrinology. 187(1), 81-88
• GNANALINGHAM, M.G., MOSTYN, A., WEBB, R., KEISLER, D.H., RAVER, N., ALVES-GUERRA, M.C., PECQUEUR, C., MIROUX, B., SYMONDS, M.E. and STEPHENSON, T., 2005. Differential effects of leptin administration on the abundance of UCP2 and glucocorticoid action during neonatal development American Journal of Physiology. VOL 289(NUMB 6), E1093-E1100
• GNANALINGHAM, M.G., MOSTYN, A., DANDREA, J., YAKUBU, D.P., SYMONDS, M.E. and STEPHENSON, T., 2005. Ontogeny and nutritional programming of uncoupling protein-2 and glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the ovine lung Journal of Physiology. 565(1), 159-169
• MOSTYN, A., LITTEN, J. C., PERKINS, K. S., EUDEN, P. J., CORSON, A. M., SYMONDS, M. E. and CLARKE, L., 2005. Influence of size at birth on the endocrine profiles and expression of uncoupling proteins in subcutaneous adipose tissue, lung, and muscle of neonatal pigs American Journal of Physiology. 288(6), R1536-R1542
• GNANALINGHAM, M.G., MOSTYN, A., FORHEAD, A.J., FOWDEN, A.L., SYMONDS, M.E. and STEPHENSON, T., 2005. Increased uncoupling protein-2 mRNA abundance and glucocorticoid action in adipose tissue in the sheep fetus during late gestation is dependent on plasma cortisol and triiodothyronine Journal of Physiology. 567(1), 283-292
• GNANALINGHAM, M.G., MOSTYN, A., SYMONDS, M.E. and STEPHENSON, T., 2005. Ontogeny and nutritional programming of adiposity in sheep: potential role of glucocorticoid action and uncoupling protein-2 American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 289(5), R1407-R1415
• LITTEN, J. C., MOSTYN, A., PERKINS, K. S., CORSON, A. M., SYMONDS, M. E. and CLARKE, L., 2005. Effect of Administration of Recombinant Human Leptin during the Neonatal Period on the Plasma Concentration and Gene Expression of Leptin in the Piglet Biology of the Neonate. VOL 87(NUMBER 1), 1-7
• PEARCE, S., BUDGE, H.J., MOSTYN, A., KORUR, N., WANG, J., INGLETON, P. and SYMONDS M.E. AND STEPHENSON, T., 2005. Differential effects of maternal cold exposure and nutrient restriction on prolactin receptor and uncoupling protein 1 abundance in adipose tissue during development in young sheep Adipocytes. 1(1), 57-64
• GNANLINGHAM, M.G., MOSTYN, A., GARDNER, D., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M., 2005. Developmental regulation of adipose tissue: nutritional manipulation of local glucocorticoid action and uncoupling protein 2 Adipocytes. 1(4), 221-228
• MOSTYN, A., LITTEN, J.C., PERKINS, K.S., ALVES-GUERRA, M.C., PECQUEUR, C., MIROUX, B., SYMONDS, M.E. and CLARKE, L., 2004. Influence of genotype on the differential ontogeny of uncoupling protein 2 and 3 in subcutaneous adipose tissue and muscle in neonatal pigs Journal of Endocrinology. 183(1), 121-131
• MOSTYN, A., PEARCE, S., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2004. Hormonal and nutritional regulation of adipose tissue mitochondrial development and function in the newborn Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes. 112(1), 2-9
• SYMONDS, M.E., GOPALAKRISHNAN, G., BISPHAM, J., PEARCE, S., DANDREA, J., MOSTYN, A., RAMSAY, M.M. and STEPHENSON, T., 2003. Maternal nutrient restriction during placental growth, programming of fetal adiposity and juvenile blood pressure control Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry. 111(1), 45-52
• BUDGE, H., DANDREA, J., MOSTYN, A., EVENS, Y., WATKINS, R., SULLIVAN, C., INGLETON, P., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2003. Differential effects of fetal number and maternal nutrition in late gestation on prolactin receptor abundance and adipose tissue development in the neonatal lamb Pediatric Research. 53(2), 302-308
• MOSTYN, A., PEARCE, S., BUDGE, H., ELMES, M., FORHEAD, A. J., FOWDEN, A. L., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M. E., 2003. Influence of cortisol on adipose tissue development in the fetal sheep during late gestation Journal of Endocrinology. 176(1), 23-30
• MOSTYN, A, WILSON, V, DANDREA, J, YAKUBU, D P, BUDGE, H, ALVES-GUERRA, M C, PECQUEUR, C, MIROUX, B, SYMONDS, M E and STEPHENSON, T, 2003. Ontogeny and nutritional manipulation of mitochondrial protein abundance in adipose tissue and the lungs of postnatal sheep. British Journal of Nutrition. 90(2), 323-8
• GNANALINGHAM, G., MOSTYN, A., WILSON, V., YAKUBU, D., GOPALAKRISHNAN, G., SYMONDS, M. and STEPHENSON, T., 2003. Ontogeny of the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel in the ovine fetus, neonate and adolescent lung Early Human Development. 71(1), 91
• SYMONDS, M.E., MOSTYN, A., PEARCE, S., BUDGE, H. and STEPHENSON, T., 2003. Endocrine and nutritional regulation of fetal adipose tissue development Journal of Endocrinology. 179(3), 293-9
• YAKUBU, D., GOPALAKRISHNAN, G., MOSTYN, A., RHIND, S., KYLE, C., BROOKS, A., RAE, M., STEPHENSON,T. and SYMONDS, M., 2003. Maternal nutrient restriction between early to mid gestation reduces mitochondrial cytochrome C abundance in the kidney of the resulting offspring at two years of age Archives of Disease in Childhood. 88(4), A12
• MOSTYN, A., BISPHAM, J., PEARCE, S., EVENS, Y., RAVER, N., KEISLER, D.H., WEBB, R., STEPHENSON, T. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2002. Differential effects of leptin on thermoregulation and uncoupling protein abundance in the neonatal lamb FASEB Journal. 16(11), 1438-1440
• BISPHAM, J., BUDGE, H., MOSTYN, A., DANDREA, J., CLARKE, L., KEISLER, D. H., SYMONDS, M. E. and STEPHENSON, T., 2002. Ambient temperature, maternal dexamethasone, and postnatal ontogeny of leptin in the neonatal lamb Pediatric Research. 52(1), 85-90
• BUDGE, H., MOSTYN, A., WILSON, V., KHONG, A., WALKER, A. M., SYMONDS, M. E. and STEPHENSON, T., 2002. The effect of maternal prolactin infusion during pregnancy on fetal adipose tissue development Journal of Endocrinology. 174(3), 427-433
• BRAMELD, J.M., MOSTYN, A., DANDREA, J., STEPHENSON, T.J., DAWSON, J.M., BUTTERY, P.J. and SYMONDS, M.E., 2000. Maternal nutrition alters the expression of insulin-like growth factors in fetal sheep liver and skeletal muscle Journal of Endocrinology. 167(3), 429-37