Fiona Hollinshead

Associate Professor Clinical Sciences

B217 VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL (

(970) 297-4023 view faculty website

About Fiona

Dr. Fiona Hollinshead is a distinguished figure in veterinary science, recognized for her extensive expertise in small animal reproduction. Prior to her current position at CSU, Dr. Hollinshead dedicated 12 years to establishing a thriving small animal reproduction referral practice in New Zealand, serving as the primary reproductive consultant for esteemed organizations such as the NZ Guide Dogs, NZ Assistance and Mobility Dogs, and various law enforcement dog breeding programs. Dr. Hollinshead’s contributions extend beyond clinical practice. She has collaborated with institutions globally, such as the Hamilton and Auckland Zoos in New Zealand and the Smithsonian Institute in the United States, facilitating breeding programs for endangered species. At CSU, she leads the small animal reproduction service with Dr. Greg Burns. Together, they've established a robust referral caseload, contributing significantly to the training of future reproductive specialists and veterinary professionals. Her commitment to education and outreach is evident through the development of specialized courses in canine semen freezing and trans-cervical insemination (TCI), as well as her active involvement with the International Working Dog Association (IWDA), offering workshops and seminars at conferences. Dr. Hollinshead's research at the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratories (ARBL) focuses on cutting-edge areas, including late embryonic stem cell culture in equine and canine species, the study of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for potential therapeutic applications in regenerative and reproductive medicine, and the development of a 3-D 'organoid' culture system as a superior model for studying reproductive physiology and diseases in large and small domestic species. Notably, she is an integral member of the Theriogenology Foundation committee, having trained numerous residents in small and large animal reproduction over the past two decades. Her extensive body of work comprises 11 book chapters and over 55 scientific and clinical publications in the field of small animal reproduction and assisted reproductive technologies. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Hollinshead is a dedicated mother to two boys, sharing a passion for outdoor activities in the vibrant Colorado landscape.

Education

Ph.D., University of Sydney, Australia, 2004Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney, Australia, 1996

Certifications

Diplomate, American College of Theriogenologists

Publications

Riley E. Thompson, Gerrit J. Bouma and Fiona K. Hollinshead, 2022 The roles of extracellular vesicles and organoid models in female reproductive physiology. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 3186. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23063186 Kelsey Martin, Agata Parsons, Greg Burns, Gerrit J. Bouma, Fiona Hollinshead, 2022 A unique case of SRY-negative XX sex reversal in a mixed breed dog: How to clinically approach cases with anatomical sexual disorders: Clinical Theriogenology 14, 110-114. Riley E. Thompson, Melinda A. Meyers, Budhan S. Pukazhenthi and Fiona K. Hollinshead, 2021 Evaluation of growth, viability, and structural integrity of equine endometrial organoids following cryopreservation. Cryobiology 104; 56-62 PMID: 34788682 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.11.003Hollinshead F.K. and Hanlon D.W. (2018) Normal progesterone profiles during estrus in the bitch: A prospective analysis of 1420 estrous cycles. Theriogenology 125, 37-42M. Ontiveros, D. Hanlon, F. Hollinshead (2018) Seminomas and an Interstitial Cell Tumor in an 8 year old male Husky. Clinical Theriogenology 10; 2, 97-106Hollinshead F.K. and Hanlon D.W. (2017) Factors affecting the reproductive performance of bitches: A prospective cohort study involving 1203 inseminations with fresh and frozen semen. Theriogenology 101, 62-72Hyatt J, Jarratt G, Hollinshead F and Hanlon DW. (2017) The effect of early postpartum intervention on the reproductive performance of anovulatory anestrus New Zealand dairy cows. Clinical Theriogenology 9; 1, 137-143Hollinshead F.K., Walker, C. and Hanlon D. W. (2016) Determination of the normal reference interval for Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) in bitches and use of AMH as a potential predictor of litter size. Reprod. Dom. Anim. 51; 3, 1-6Hollinshead F.K. and Krekeler N. (2016) ‘Feline Pyometra: to spay or not to spay’. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 18; 1, 21-33Klewitz,J., Struebing, C., Rohn, K., Goergens, A., Martinsson, G., Orgies, F., Probst, J., Hollinshead, F., Bollwein, H. and Sieme, H. (2015) Effects of age, parity, and pregnancy abnormalities on foal birth weight and uterine blood flow in the mare Theriogenology 83, 721-729Malik, R., Howe, P. and Hollinshead, F. (2011) Deslorelin Implants - A New Choice in Feline Reproductive Medicine. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 13, 874-875Hollinshead, F. K., Hanlon, D. W., Gilbert R. O., Krekeler N. and Volkmann, D. H. (2010) Calcium, parathyroid hormone, oxytocin and venous pH profiles in the whelping bitch. Theriogenology 73, 1276-1283Morton, K. M., Catt, S. L, Hollinshead, F. K., Maxwell, W. M. C. and Evans, G. (2005). The effect of gamete co-incubation time during in vitro fertilisation with frozen-thawed unsorted and sex-sorted spermatozoa on the development of in vitro matured adult and prepubertal ewe oocytes. Theriogenology 64, 363-377O’Brien, J. K., Stojanov, T., Heffernan S. J., Hollinshead, F. K., Vogelnest, L., Maxwell, W. M.C. and Evans, G. (2005). Flow cytometric sorting of non-human primate sperm nuclei. Theriogenology 63, 246-259Morton, K. M., Catt, S. L., Hollinshead, F. K., Maxwell, W. M. C. and Evans, G. (2004). Production of lambs after the transfer of fresh and cryopreserved in vitro produced embryos from prepubertal lamb oocytes and unsorted and sex-sorted frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Reprod. Dom. Anim. 39, 454-461Evans, G., Hollinshead, F. K. and Maxwell, W. M. C. (2004) Preservation and artificial insemination of sexed semen. Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 16, 455-464Maxwell, W. M. C., Evans, G., Hollinshead, F. K., Morton, K., Bathgate, R., De Graaf, S. P., Eriksson, B., Gillan, L., Morton, K. and O’Brien, J. K. (2004) Integration of sperm sexing technology into the ART toolbox. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 82-83, 79-95Hollinshead, F. K., O’Brien, J. K., Maxwell, W. M. C and Evans, G. (2004). Assessment of in vitro sperm characteristics after flow cytometric sorting of frozen-thawed bull spermatozoa. Theriogenology 62, 958-968

Research Specialty

Early gestational equine and canine mesenchymal stem cellsExtracellular vesiclesOrganoid 3D culture modelsSemen cryopreservationAnti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) Small animal (predominantly), equine, exotic/wildlifeBreeding management and performanceLarge-scale working dog colonies; male and female infertility, ultrasonography during gestation in the bitch, semen biology and optimization of canine semen cryopreservation, contraception in small animals, isolation and characterization of equine and canine extracellular vesicles/exosomes for potential future therapeutic use for fertility and osteoarthritis, 3-D cell culture models of oviductal and endometrial organoids to study disease.Clinical ExpertiseCanine and feline reproduction and artificial reproductive technologies