Email:
FoleyCM@missouri.edu
DVM, PhD—University of Missouri-Columbia
Lab Information:
325 DCRC
Members—Stacy Bruno, Research Specialist
Research Interests: Neurohumoral
Control of the Cardiovascular System
Teaching: BMS
9467 Neural Control of the Circulation
Our research is aimed at understanding
how the brain controls blood pressure and
the cardiovascular system. Our overall interest
is in neural pathways and neurotransmitter
systems involved in autonomic control of
the circulation. We are focusing primarily
on the interaction of several critical transmitter
systems including glutamate (both ionotropic
and metabotropic receptors), ?-aminobutyric
acid (GABA), angiotensin II, and catecholamines.
In addition, we are interested in how central
nervous system control of blood pressure
is altered by various physiologic and pathophysiologic
states. We currently are involved with projects
that investigate changes in autonomic and
humoral function following specifically
either cardiovascular deconditioning or
pregnancy. Our laboratory strives to integrate
multiple levels of physiology extending
from whole animal studies to expression
changes of specific proteins in particular
regions of the brain. Changes in the GABA
neurotransmitter/receptor system within
the brain seem to be involved in the altered
autonomic control of blood pressure observed
during pregnancy. Our laboratory is investigating
if changes in expression of specific subunits
of the GABAA receptor occur during pregnancy.
We hypothesize that changes in expression
during pregnancy increase the sensitivity
of GABA receptors to positive modulation
by metabolites of progesterone. If so, this
could contribute to altered control of sympathetic
nerve activity observed during pregnancy.
The current studies will evaluate changes
during pregnancy in GABA sensitivity contributing
to control of sympathetic activity and correlate
this altered autonomic control with observed
pattern of expression of GABAA receptor
subunits within specific brain nuclei. Another
project we are involved with is investigating
the effects of cardiovascular deconditioning
which occurs after a period of bedrest or
spaceflight. Deconditioning is associated
with several changes in cardiovascular regulation
including increased incidence of orthostatic
hypotension, which is the inability to maintain
blood pressure when a person stands up,
and a reduced ability to maintain blood
pressure during hemorrhagic events. Since
females have higher incidence of problems
following bedrest or spaceflight, we are
evaluating gender differences in autonomic
control of the circulation following cardiovascular
deconditioning. Defining the central nervous
system mechanisms that account for the changes
in autonomic nervous system function during
these states will increase our understanding
and enhance our ability to treat problems
associated with pregnancy and cardiovascular
deconditioning.
Publications:
Foley CM, Vogl HW, Mueller PM, Hay M, and
Hasser EM. 1999. Cardiovascular response
to group I metabotropic glutamate receptors
in NTS. Am. J. Physiol. 276 (Regulatory
Integrative Comp. Physiol. 45): R1469-R1478.
Foley CM, McAllister RM, and Hasser EM.
2001. Thyroid status influences function
and autonomic contributions to arterial
pressure and heart rate. Am. J. Physiol.
(Heart Circ. Physiol.) 280: H2061-H2068.
Foley CM, Stanton JJ, Price EM, Cunningham
JT, Hasser EM, and Heesch CM. 2003. GABAA
?1 and ?2 receptor subunit expression in
rostral ventrolateral medulla in nonpregnant
and pregnant rats. Brain Res. 975: 196-206.
Mueller PJ, Foley CM, and Hasser EM. 2005.
Hindlimb unloading alters nitric oxide and
autonomic control of resting arterial pressure
in conscious rats. Am. J. Physiol. Regul.
Integr. Comp. Physiol. 289: R140-R147.
Foley CM, Mueller PJ, Hasser EM, and Heesch
CM. 2005. Hindlimb unloading and female
gender attenuate baroreflex mediated sympathoexciation.
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.
289: R1440-R1447.
