E. Gordon Grau

Ph.D., University of Delaware, 1978
Professor of Zoology
Director, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology

Research Interests:

We are interested in how the neuroendocrine system regulates the developmental and physiological activities of fish and how it coordinates their interactions with their environment. Our investigations focus on hormonal, environmental and social regulation of growth, development, osmoregulation and reproduction. Our studies involve extensive interactions and collaboration with scientists in Japan, China and North America and have produced an average of 5-6 publications in refereed journals per year. This information has found useful application in such diverse areas as biotechnology, medicine and aquaculture. Our facilities for field and laboratory investigations are excellent. We employ a variety of molecular biology and more classical endocrinology techniques: In vitro and in situ measurements of changes in gene expression; in vitro cell and organ culture; immunocytochemistry; radioimmunoassays; radioreceptor assays; second messenger assays; radiotracer studies; microsurgery; and electrophoretic and chromatographic separations. The following papers have been selected to show the variety of our studies.

Recent Publications:

Borski, R. J., L. M. H. Helms, N. H. Richman and E. G. Grau.  1991.  Cortisol
     rapidly reduces prolactin release, and cyclic AMP and 45Ca++ accumulation in
     the cichlid fish pituitary, Oreochromis mossambicus, in vitro.  Proc. Nat. Acad.
     Sci. 88:2758-2762.

Helms, L. M. H., E. G. Grau and R. J. Borski.  1991.  Effects of osmotic pressure
     and somatostatin on the cAMP messenger system of the osmosensitive prolactin
     cell of a teleost fish, the tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).  Gen. Comp. 
     Endocrinol. 83:111-117.

Hourigan, T. F., M. Nakamura, Y. Nagahama, Y. Yamauchi, and E. G. Grau.
     1991.  Histology and ultrastructure and in vitro steroidogenesis of the testis of
     two male phenotypes of the protogynous fish, Thalassoma duprrey (Labridae).
     Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 83:193-217.

Kuwaye, T. T., D. K. Okimoto, S. S. Shimoda, R. D. Howerton, Hao-Ren Lin,
     P. K. T. Pang, and E. G. Grau.  1993.  Effect of 17Alpha-methyltestosterone 
     on the growth of the euryhaline tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, in fresh 
     water and in seawater.  Aquaculture, accepted for publication.   

Weber, G. M., E. S. Farrar, C. K. F. Tom and E. G. Grau.  1994.  Changes in
     whole-body thyroxine and trilodothyronine concentrations and total content 
     during early development and metamophosis of the toad, Bufo marinus.  Gen. 
     Comp. Endocrinol. 94:62-71.

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