He teaches undergraduate classes in Physiology of Lactation and graduate classes in Lactation Biology. Dr. Sheffield's research program is focused on understanding the mechanisms controlling mammary gland development and differentiation. Research projects include the mechanisms of hormone action on mammary tissue, cross talk among hormone signaling pathways and the molecular regulation of growth factor production in mammary tissue. Species studied include bovine, human and rodents. Model systems include whole animal studies, cell culture models and cell-free biochemical systems.
Approaches are generally at a biochemical and molecular level.
Students in the Sheffield laboratory train in Dairy Science or in interdisciplinary training programs in Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology or Environmental Toxiology. Prospective students should have a solid background in basic sciences, including biology, chemistry and biochemistry. Estrogen enhances epidermal growth factor induced DNA synthesis in mammary epithelial cells. Fenton, S.E. and L.G. Sheffield. 1993. Fenton, S.E. and L.G. Sheffield.