Dr Clint Gray, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Home, University of Otago, Wellington

BSc (Hon), PhD
Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Dr Gray has a PhD in Translational Physiology from the University of Nottingham, UK. His PhD focused on understanding how maternal diets high in sugar (fructose) can impact fetal development and subsequent predisposition to disease in the offspring. He then did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland examining the effects of differing maternal diets on fetal vascular development, function and predisposition to adult disease.

Dr Gray's current research projects involve looking at the effects of maternal diet on the uterine environment, blastocyst development, microRNA and gene expression. Utilising Proteomics and metabolomics he is also looking at the effects of preterm birth on liver function and the effects of maternal fructose (sugar-sweetened beverage) consumption on offspring liver development and predisposition to NAFLD.

Dr Gray firmly believes in collaborative research and currently has active collaborations with the Universities of Auckland, Victoria, Otago, Western Ontario, Newcastle, Nottingham and Cambridge. Dr Gray is currently supervising 3 PhD students and he is always interested in hearing from potential MSc and PhD students.

Contact details

If any of Dr Gray's research interests you, please don't hesitate to contact him.

Email clint.gray@otago.ac.nz

Research interests

Maternal diet & pregnancy outcomes
Fructose & sugar-sweetened beverage intake on health
Blastocyst & early Fetal development
Carbohydrate & lipid metabolism
Preterm birth & later life metabolic health

Publications

Sixtus, R. P., Gray, C., Barnes, H., Paterson, E. S. J., Berry, M. J., & Dyson, R. M. (2024). Cardiovascular responses to heat and cold exposure are altered by preterm birth in guinea pigs. Physiological Reports, 12, e70098. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70098 Journal - Research Article

López Vásquez, C. E., Gray, C., Henry, C., & Munro, M. J. (2023). Modelling meningioma using organoids: A review of methodologies and applications. Organoids, 2, 218-230. doi: 10.3390/organoids2040017 Journal - Research Other

Sixtus, R. P., Gray, C., Berry, M. J., & Dyson, R. M. (2023). Preterm-born individuals: A vulnerable population at risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality during thermal extremes? [Review]. Experimental Physiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1113/ep091152 Journal - Research Article

Sixtus, R. P., Berry, M. J., Gray, C. L., & Dyson, R. M. (2023). A novel whole-body thermal stress test for monitoring cardiovascular responses in Guinea pigs. Journal of Thermal Biology, 113, 103500. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103500 Journal - Research Article

Smith, E. V. L. R., Dyson, R. M., Weth, F. R., Berry, M. J., & Gray, C. (2022). Maternal fructose intake, programmed mitochondrial function and predisposition to adult disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 12215. doi: 10.3390/ijms232012215 Journal - Research Other

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2022

Journal - Research Article

Gardner, D. S., & Gray, C. (2022). Development and the art of nutritional maintenance. British Journal of Nutrition, 128, 828-834. doi: 10.1017/s0007114522001490

Saito-Benz, M., Bennington, K., Gray, C. L., Murphy, W. G., Flanagan, P., Steiner, F., … Berry, M. J. (2022). Effects of freshly irradiated vs irradiated and stored red blood cell transfusion on cerebral oxygenation in preterm infants: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics, 176(5), e220152. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.0152

Smith, E. V. L. R., Dyson, R. M., Vanderboor, C. M. G., Sarr, O., Anderson, J., Berry, M. J., … Gray, C. (2022). Maternal fructose intake causes developmental reprogramming of hepatic mitochondrial catalytic activity and lipid metabolism in weanling and young adult offspring. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 999. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020999

Journal - Research Other

2021

Journal - Research Article

Sixtus, R. P., Pacharinsak, C., Gray, C. L., Berry, M. J., & Dyson, R. M. (2021). Differential effects of four intramuscular sedatives on cardiorespiratory stability in juvenile guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). PLoS ONE, 16(11), e0259559. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259559

Sixtus, R. P., Gray, C., Berry, M. J., & Dyson, R. M. (2021). Nitrous oxide improves cardiovascular, respiratory, and thermal stability during prolonged isoflurane anesthesia in juvenile guinea pigs. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 9, e00713. doi: 10.1002/prp2.713

2020

Journal - Research Article

Smith, E. V. L. R., Dyson, R. M., Berry, M. J., & Gray, C. (2020). Fructose consumption during pregnancy influences milk lipid composition and offspring lipid profiles in guinea pigs. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11, 550. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00550

Soo, J. Y., Wiese, M. D., Dyson, R. M., Gray, C. L., Clarkson, A. N., Morrison, J. L., & Berry, M. J. (2020). Methamphetamine administration increases hepatic CYP1A2 but not CYP3A activity in female guinea pigs. PLoS ONE, 15(5), e0233010. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233010

2019

Journal - Research Article

Fan, J.-L., O'Donnell, T., Gray, C. L., Croft, K., Noakes, A. K., Koch, H., & Tzeng, Y.-C. (2019). Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances cerebrovascular CO₂ reactivity in a sex-specific manner. Journal of Applied Physiology, 127, 760-769. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01116.2018

Shaw, J. C., Dyson, R. M., Palliser, H. K., Gray, C., Berry, M. J., & Hirst, J. J. (2019). Neurosteroid replacement therapy using the allopregnanolone-analogue ganaxolone following preterm birth in male guinea pigs. Pediatric Research, 85, 86-96. doi: 10.1038/s41390-018-0185-7

Journal - Research Other

Saito-Benz, M., Gray, C., Tzeng, Y.-C., Atkinson, G., & Berry, M. J. (2019). Cerebral oxygenation and cardiorespiratory stability following liberal transfusion in preterm neonates [Brief report]. Acta Paediatrica, 108, 559-561. doi: 10.1111/apa.14631

2018

Journal - Research Article

Morrison, J. L., Botting, K. J., Darby, J. R. T., David, A. L., Dyson, R. M., Gatford, K. L., Gray, C., … Berry, M. J. (2018). Guinea pig models for translation of the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis into the clinic. Journal of Physiology, 596(23), 5535-5569. doi: 10.1113/JP274948

Journal - Research Other

Morrison, J. L., Berry, M. J., Botting, K. J., Darby, J. R. T., Frasch, M. G., Gatford, K. L., … Gray, C. L., … Tellam, R. L. (2018). Improving pregnancy outcomes in humans through studies in sheep. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 315, R1123-R1153. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00391.2017

2017

Journal - Research Article

Gray, C., McCowan, L. M., Patel, R., Taylor, R. S., & Vickers, M. H. (2017). Maternal plasma miRNAs as biomarkers during mid-pregnancy to predict later spontaneous preterm birth: A pilot study. Scientific Reports, 7, 815. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-00713-8

Albert, B. B., Vickers, M. H., Gray, C., Reynolds, C. M., Segovia, S. A., Derraik, J. G. B., … Cutfield, W. S. (2017). Fish oil supplementation to rats fed high-fat diet during pregnancy prevents development of impaired insulin sensitivity in male adult offspring. Scientific Reports, 7, 5595. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05793-0

Segovia, S. A., Vickers, M. H., Gray, C., Zhang, X., & Reynolds, C. M. (2017). Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation improves maternal high fat diet-induced programming of metabolic dysfunction in adult male rat offspring. Scientific Reports, 7, 6663. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07108-9

Berry, M. J., Saito-Benz, M., Gray, C., Dyson, R. M., Dellabarca, P., Ebmeier, S., … Elder, D. E., & Richardson, V. F. (2017). Outcomes of 23- and 24-weeks gestation infants in Wellington, New Zealand: A single centre experience. Scientific Reports, 7, 12769. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12911-5

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Saito Benz, M., Dyson, R., Gray, C., Gately, C., Jackson, P., & Berry, M. (2017). Blood transfusion for anaemia of prematurity: Current practice in Australia and New Zealand neonatal units. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 53(Suppl. 2), (pp. 86-87). doi: 10.1111/jpc.13494_255

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Smith, E., Dyson, R., Gray, C., & Berry, M. (2017, September). Potential therapeutic interventions to prevent later life predisposition to non-communicable disease, following preterm birth. Poster session presented at the Otago Spotlight Series: Child Health Research, Wellington, New Zealand.

Sixtus, R., Dyson, R., Gray, C., & Berry, M. (2017, September). Cardiovascular and thermoregulatory consequences of preterm birth. Poster session presented at the Otago Spotlight Series: Child Health Research, Wellington, New Zealand.

Soo, J. Y., Wiese, M., Dyson, R., Gray, C., Clarkson, A., Morrison, J., & Berry, M. (2017, September). The effect of methamphetamine on drug metabolism: A pilot study. Poster session presented at the Otago Spotlight Series: Child Health Research, Wellington, New Zealand.

Barnes, H., Dyson, R., Gray, C., Anderson, J., & Berry, M. (2017, September). Investigating potential NAFLD predisposition in preterm guinea pigs. Poster session presented at the Otago Spotlight Series: Child Health Research, Wellington, New Zealand.

2016

Journal - Research Article

Gray, C., Gardiner, S. M., Elmes, M., & Gardner, D. S. (2016). Excess maternal salt or fructose intake programmes sex-specific, stress- and fructose-sensitive hypertension in the offspring. British Journal of Nutrition, 115(4), 594-604. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515004936

Pileggi, C. A., Segovia, S. A., Markworth, J. F., Gray, C., Zhang, X. D., Milan, A. M., … Roy, N. C., … Cameron-Smith, D. (2016). Maternal conjugated linoleic acid supplementation reverses high-fat diet-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and inflammation in adult male rat offspring. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 310(5), R432-R439. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00351.2015

Mumme, K., Gray, C., Reynolds, C. M., Vickers, M. H., Harrison, C. J., Stanley, J. L., … Sulek, K. (2016). Maternal-fetal hepatic and placental metabolome profiles are associated with reduced fetal growth in a rat model of maternal obesity. Metabolomics, 12(5), 83. doi: 10.1007/s11306-016-1014-9

Pileggi, C. A., Hedges, C. P., Segovia, S. A., Markworth, J. F., Durainayagam, B. R., Gray, C., … Cameron-Smith, D. (2016). Maternal high fat diet alters skeletal muscle mitochondrial catalytic activity in adult male rat offspring. Frontiers in Physiology, 7, 546. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00546

Albert, B. B., Vickers, M. H., Gray, C., Reynolds, C. M., Segovia, S. A., Derraik, J. G. B., … Cutfield, W. S. (2016). Oxidized fish oil in rat pregnancy causes high newborn mortality and increases maternal insulin resistance. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative & Comparative Physiology, 311(3), R497-R504. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00005.2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Segovia, S. A., Vickers, M. H., Zhang, X. D., Gray, C., & Reynolds, C. M. (2016). Conjugated linoleic acid improves metabolic and inflammatory profiles in offspring exposed to maternal high fat diet. Reproductive Sciences, 23(Suppl. 1), (pp. 95A). [Abstract]

Soo, J., Berry, M., Dyson, R., Gray, C., & Morrison, J. L. (2016). Sex specific effect of preterm birth on mRNA expression of drug transporters in guinea pig liver. Proceedings of the Australian Physiological Society (AuPS) and Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB) Conference. Retrieved from http://aups.org.au/

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Soo, J., Berry, M., Dyson, R., Gray, C., & Morrison, J. L. (2016, September). Effect of preterm birth on mRNA expression of drug transporters in guinea pig liver. Poster session presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Fetal and Neonatal Physiological Society (FNPS), Cambridge, UK.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Darby, J. R., Berry, M., Dyson, R., Gray, C., & Morrison, J. L. (2016, September). Preterm birth coupled with antenatal glucocorticoid treatment increases cardiac MR and 11β-HSD1 in adult life. Verbal presentation at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Fetal and Neonatal Physiological Society (FNPS), Cambridge, UK.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Li, M., Reynolds, C. M., Sloboda, D. M., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2015). Maternal taurine supplementation attenuates maternal fructose-induced metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation and partially reverses adverse metabolic programming in offspring. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 26(3), 267-276. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2014.10.015

Reynolds, C. M., Segovia, S. A., Zhang, X. D., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2015). Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation during pregnancy and lactation reduces maternal high-fat-diet-induced programming of early-onset puberty and hyperlipidemia in female rat offspring. Biology of Reproduction, 92(2), 40. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.125047

Gray, C., Vickers, M. H., Segovia, S. A., Zhang, X. D., & Reynolds, C. M. (2015). A maternal high fat diet programmes endothelial function and cardiovascular status in adult male offspring independent of body weight, which is reversed by maternal conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation. PLoS ONE, 10(2), e0115994. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115994

Reynolds, C. M., Vickers, M. H., Harrison, C. J., Segovia, S. A., & Gray, C. (2015). Maternal high fat and/or salt consumption induces sex‐specific inflammatory and nutrient transport in the rat placenta. Physiological Reports, 3(5), e12399. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12399

Gray, C., Harrison, C. J., Segovia, S. A., Reynolds, C. M., & Vickers, M. H. (2015). Maternal salt and fat intake causes hypertension and sustained endothelial dysfunction in fetal, weanling and adult male resistance vessels. Scientific Reports, 5, 09753. doi: 10.1038/srep09753

Li, M., Reynolds, C. M., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2015). Preweaning GH treatment normalizes body growth trajectory and reverses metabolic dysregulation in adult offspring after maternal undernutrition. Endocrinology, 156(9), 3228-3238. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1041

Li, M., Reynolds, C. M., Segovia, S. A., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2015). Developmental programming of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: The effect of early life nutrition on susceptibility and disease severity in later life. BioMed Research International, 2015, 437107. doi: 10.1155/2015/437107

Segovia, S. A., Vickers, M. H., Zhang, X. D., Gray, C., & Reynolds, C. M. (2015). Maternal supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid in the setting of diet-induced obesity normalises the inflammatory phenotype in mothers and reverses metabolic dysfunction and impaired insulin sensitivity in offspring. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 26(12), 1448-1457. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.07.013

Reynolds, C. M., Gray, C., Li, M., Segovia, S. A., & Vickers, M. H. (2015). Early life nutrition and energy balance disorders in offspring in later life. Nutrients, 7(9), 8090-8111. doi: 10.3390/nu7095384

Reynolds, C. M., Segovia, S. A., Zhang, X. D., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2015). Maternal high-fat diet-induced programing of gut taste receptor and inflammatory gene expression in rat offspring is ameliorated by CLA supplementation. Physiological Reports, 3(10), e12588. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12588

Gray, C., Vickers, M. H., Dyson, R. M., Reynolds, C. M., & Berry, M. J. (2015). Magnesium sulfate has sex-specific, dose-dependent vasodilator effects on preterm placental vessels. Biology of Sex Differences, 6, 22. doi: 10.1186/s13293-015-0040-z

Berry, M., Gray, C., Wright, K., Dyson, R., & Wright, I. (2015). Premature guinea pigs: A new paradigm to investigate the late-effects of preterm birth. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, 6(2), 143-148. doi: 10.1017/S2040174414000592

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Li, M., Gray, C., Reynolds, C., Segovia, S., Patel, R., & Vickers, M. (2015). Pre-weaning growth hormone treatment reverses metabolic and cardiovascular disorders in offspring arising as a consequence of maternal undernutrition. Endocrine Reviews, 36(2, Suppl.), THR-445. Retrieved from https://www.endocrine.org/

Mumme, K. D., Gray, C., Reynolds, C., Vickers, M. H., Harrison, C., Stanley, J. L., … Sulek, K. (2015). Increased maternal fat and/or salt intake alters the placental metabolome. Reproductive Sciences, 22(Suppl. 1), (pp. 374A). [Abstract]

Segovia, S. A., Vickers, M. H., Zhang, X. D., Gray, C., & Reynolds, C. M. (2015). Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation ameliorates maternal obesity-induced programming of metabolic dysfunction in male rat offspring. Reproductive Sciences, 22(Suppl. 1), (pp. 98A). [Abstract]

Albert, B., Vickers, M. H., Gray, C., Reynolds, C., Derraik, J., Cameron-Smith, D., … Cutfield, W. (2015). Supplementation with oxidised fish oil in pregnancy markedly increases neonatal mortality in male rat offspring. International Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology, 2015(Suppl. 1 ), O41. doi: 10.1186/1687-9856-2015-S1-O41

2014

Journal - Research Article

Reynolds, C. M., Li, M., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2014). Early-life growth hormone treatment to offspring of undernourished mothers alters metabolic parameters in primary adipocytes in adulthood. Growth Factors, 32(1), 34-40. doi: 10.3109/08977194.2013.870169

Reynolds, C. M., Vickers, M. H., Harrison, C. J., Segovia, S. A., & Gray, C. (2014). High fat and/or high salt intake during pregnancy alters maternal meta-inflammation and offspring growth and metabolic profiles. Physiological Reports, 2(8), e12110. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12110

Segovia, S. A., Vickers, M. H., Gray, C., & Reynolds, C. M. (2014). Maternal obesity, inflammation, and developmental programming. BioMed Research International, 2014, 418975. doi: 10.1155/2014/418975

Gray, C., Li, M., Patel, R., Reynolds, C. M., & Vickers, M. H. (2014). Let-7 miRNA profiles are associated with the reversal of left ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension in adult male offspring from mothers undernourished during pregnancy after preweaning growth hormone treatment. Endocrinology, 155(12), 4808-4817. doi: 10.1210/en.2014-1567

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Reynolds, C. M., Gray, C., Harrison, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2014). Maternal high-fat and/or salt consumption induces sex-specific inflammatory and angiogenic changes in the placenta. Reproductive Sciences, 21(3, Suppl.), (pp. 384A). [Abstract]

Gray, C., Reynolds, C. M., Harrison, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2014). Maternal salt and fat intake impairs uterine artery vasodilation and causes endothelial dysfunction in the fetal aorta, weanling resistance vessels and hypertension in adult offspring. Reproductive Sciences, 21(3, Suppl.), (pp. 165A). [Abstract]

2013

Journal - Research Article

Reynolds, C. M., Li, M., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2013). Preweaning growth hormone treatment ameliorates adipose tissue insulin resistance and inflammation in adult male offspring following maternal undernutrition. Endocrinology, 154(8), 2676-2686. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1146

Reynolds, C. M., Li, M., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2013). Pre-weaning growth hormone treatment ameliorates bone marrow macrophage inflammation in adult male rat offspring following maternal undernutrition. PLoS ONE, 8(7), e68262. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068262

Gray, C., Long, S., Green, C., Gardiner, S. M., Craigon, J., & Gardner, D. S. (2013). Maternal fructose and/or salt intake and reproductive outcome in the rat: Effects on growth, fertility, sex ratio, and birth order. Biology of Reproduction, 89(3), 51. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.109595

Gray, C., Li, M., Reynolds, C. M., & Vickers, M. H. (2013). Pre-weaning growth hormone treatment reverses hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in adult male offspring of mothers undernourished during pregnancy. PLoS ONE, 8(1), e53505. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053505

Gray, C., Al-Dujaili, E. A., Sparrow, A. J., Gardiner, S. M., Craigon, J., Welham, S. J. M., & Gardner, D. S. (2013). Excess maternal salt intake produces sex-specific hypertension in offspring: Putative roles for kidney and gastrointestinal sodium handling. PLoS ONE, 8(8), e72682. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072682

Li, M., Reynolds, C. M., Sloboda, D. M., Gray, C., & Vickers, M. H. (2013). Effects of taurine supplementation on hepatic markers of inflammation and lipid metabolism in mothers and offspring in the setting of maternal obesity. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e76961. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076961

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gray, C., Li, M., Reynolds, C. M., & Vickers, M. H. (2013). Pre-weaning growth hormone treatment reverses hypertension, endothelial dysfunction and alters heart development in adult male offspring induced as a consequence of maternal undernutrition. Endocrine Reviews, 34(4, Suppl.), MON-512. Retrieved from https://www.endocrine.org

2011

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Gray, C. (2011). The effects of dietary fructose and salt on maternal, fetal and adult offspring growth, metabolic status and cardiovascular health (PhD). University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. Retrieved from http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/12093/

2009

Journal - Research Article

Rhodes, P., Craigon, J., Gray, C., Rhind, S. M., Loughna, P. T., & Gardner, D. S. (2009). Adult-onset obesity reveals prenatal programming of glucose-insulin sensitivity in male sheep nutrient restricted during late gestation. PLoS ONE, 4(10), e7393. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007393

2008

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gray, C., Rhodes, P., Rhind, S., & Gardner, D. (2008). Protein restriction during early gestation impairs renal function in sheep with adult-onset obesity. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 67, E385. doi: 10.1017/S0029665108000591