Abstract #15

# 15
Homeorhesis and nutrient partitioning.
R. Collier*1, 1University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

Dale Bauman’s journey toward defining and delineating homeorhesis and the concepts around control of nutrient partitioning began with his doctoral studies at the University of Illinois on the genetic differences in the ATP citrate lyase pathway between ruminants and non-ruminants. He was the first to demonstrate the glucose sparing mechanism ruminants evolved to reduce the flow of glucose carbons into fatty acid synthesis sparing glucose for lactose synthesis. As a new assistant professor at the University of Illinois, he and his graduate students produced classic publications on the metabolic adaptations required for onset and maintenance of lactation in ruminant and non-ruminant animals. This work stimulated his thinking on how these metabolic adaptations were coordinated. His work at the University of Illinois also included the role of prolactin in the initiation of lactation in cattle. He continued his work on the biology of prolactin and somatotropin while on sabbatical leave with Allen Tucker at Michigan State University where he began thinking of the role of these hormones in coordinating metabolism with onset of lactation. Subsequently, he moved to Cornell University where he fully developed the concept of homeorhesis and published the complete concept with Bruce Currie; their much cited paper on this subject was published in 1980. Dale went on to demonstrate how homeorhetic regulation was involved in widely varying physiological states including hibernation, pregnancy, starvation, stress, lactation and growth to name a few. In the late 70s recombinant bovine somatotropin became available and Dale worked with multiple forms of this molecule both native and recombinant to study somatotropin as a key homeorhetic regulator. He and his students and colleagues published hundreds of papers, abstracts and reviews over the next quarter century. For these and other contributions to science, Dale was nominated to the National Academy of Science in 1988.

Key Words: homeorhesis, nutrient partitioning, adaptations

Speaker Bio

Dr. Collier received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Zoology from Eastern Illinois University in 1969 and 1973 and his Ph.D. in Dairy Science from the University of Illinois in 1976.  After Post-Doctoral studies at Michigan State University, Dr. Collier joined the Dairy Science Department at the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1981.  In July, 1985, Dr. Collier joined the Monsanto Company first as a Science Fellow then Dairy Research Director and Senior Fellow.  He oversaw worldwide regulatory studies on bovine somatotropin for the Dairy Industry.  From 1987-1999, Dr. Collier was also an Adjunct Professor of the Animal Science Department at the University of Missouri.  In September of 1999, Dr. Collier joined the faculty of the Animal Sciences Department, University of Arizona as Professor of Environmental Physiology.  From July 1, 2001 to December 31, 2005 he was Head of the Animal Sciences Department. From 2005 to 2016 he was Director of the Agricultural Research Complex and Professor of Environmental Physiology in the Animal Sciences Department and subsequently the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences where he currently serves as Professor.  In 2009 he co-founded Amelgo a research company focused on bringing new technologies to the dairy industry.  He is currently CEO of Amelgo which is located in Covington, Kentucky. Dr. Collier is author or coauthor of 250 peer reviewed journal articles, chapters and reviews, 165 abstracts, 65 popular articles and 11 U.S. Patents.  His areas of expertise include environmental and lactation physiology, endocrinology and molecular biology.