Adrian Bradley

Stress, reproduction and chemical communication in marsupials. Effects of stress on ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. Vertebrate ecophysiology.

Adrian Bradley’s laboratory focuses on the following areas:

The role of hormones on behaviour in vertebrates, especially marsupials.Chemical communication in vertebratesStructure and function of the vomeronasal and olfactory organs in marsupials and their role in stress and reproduction.Vertebrate ecophysiology, with emphasis upon marsupials inhabiting environments ranging from cool temperate to subtropical rainforests.Metabolic strategies in adaptation in vertebrates.The effect of stress upon the brain, and modulation of adrenocortical and reproductive axes.Effect of stress on accelerated ageing and neurodegenerative processes in the brain of marsupials.Effect of stress and ageing upon cognitive performance and the role of the hippocampus. Includes the effect of stress on hippocampal neuronal connectivity and function.The pathogenesis of peptic ulcer in small marsupials, a model in which Helicobacter sp. do not appear to be involved. Reproduction, chemical communication and social organization in marsupial glidersThe Bradley laboratory has carried out some of the pioneering work on pituitary-adrenocortical and pituitary-gonadal function in marsupials and was the first to describe the role of free cortisol in the spectacular annual mortality of males in populations of small dasyurid marsupials. These studies also demonstrated the significant role of haemorrhage from gastric ulcers in contributing to the male mortality.This laboratory employs a range of sensitive endocrine techniques both in the laboratory and in the field to interpret metabolic and reproductive strategies that are used by a range of vertebrates as they adapt to changes in the physical and social environment during their life history.Neuroendocrine studies use immunohistochemical, confocal and EM techniques to examine neurons and glial cells within the hippocampus and in the olfactory and vomeronasal pathways..Dr Bradley has ongoing collaborative projects in various locations that include the Daintree World Heritage Rainforest Region, North Queensland, South Stradbroke Island, Tasmania and in Kluane National Park, Yukon, Canada. Previous collaborative projects have been carried out on mammal populations in the following locations:In Western Australia, the Kimberley, the SW wheatbelt, Karri forests and islands off the West Australian coast,Moreton Island, North & South Stradbroke Islands, QueenslandKakadu National Park, Northern TerritoryThe Daintree World Heritage area, North QueenslandForest and alpine mammals in Tasmania and VictoriaYunnan Province, SW ChinaKluane National Park, Yukon, Canada