The primary focus of research is endothelium-dependent regulation of the coronary circulation in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Mechanisms mediating coronary vasodilation and vasoconstriction, including the role of nitric oxide synthase, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor and endothelin, are currently being studied. Second messeger systems evaluated in vascular smooth muscle include guanylate cyclase and cytochrome P450 pathways. Experimental techniques used include measurement of vascular reactivity in microvessels ( 200 microns diameter), measurement of enzyme levels using Western and Northern blot analysis, and measurement of blood flow velocity in the whole animal. Mechanisms mediating endothelial dysfunction in disease states such as hypertension, cardiomyopathy and septic shock are currently being evaluated with funds from the NIH, Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association, Georgia Affiliate.

Grant Support as Principal Investigator

TBA

Honors and Awards

TBA

Invited Speaker

TBA

Publications

Jones LF and Tackett RL. Chronic cocaine treatment enhances the responsiveness of the left anterior descending coronary artery and the femoral artery to vasoactive substances. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 255:1366-1370, 1990.

Jones LF, Gutterman DD, and Brody MJ. Patterns of hemodynamic responses associated with central activation of coronary vasoconstriction. Am J Physiol 262 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 31):R276-R283, 1992.

Jones LF and Brody MJ. Characterization of the coronary vasoconstriction produced by rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) stimulation in rats. Am J Physiol 262 (Heart Circ Physiol 31):H437-H442, 1992.

Jones LF and Brody MJ. Coronary blood flow is dependent on the release of vascular nitric oxide. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 260:627-631, 1992.

ones LF, Landas SK, and Johnson AK. Measurement of coronary blood flow with pulsed Doppler flowmeter in conscious rats. Am J Physiol (Heart Circ Physiol), in press, 1993.

Fuchs, LC. Superoxide anions contribute to impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in coronary arteries of young cardiomyopathic hamsters. Endothelium 4:141-149, 1996 (Invited Paper).

Fuchs, L.C., Nuno, D.W., Lamping, K.G. and Johnson, A.K. Characterization of endothelium-dependent vasodilation and vasoconstriction in coronary arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Am. J. Hypertension 9:475-483, 1996.

Hoque, A., Marczin, N., Catravas, J.D. and Fuchs, L.C. Anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital enhances lipopolysaccharide-induced cardiovascular dysfunction in rats. Shock 6:365-370, 1996.

Fuchs, L.C., Landas, S.K. and Johnson, A.K. Behavioral stress alters coronary vascular reactivity in borderline hypertensive rats. J Hypertension 15:301-307, 1997.

Carrier, G.O., Fuchs, L.C., Winecoff, A.P., Giulumian, A.D. and White, R.E. Nitrovasodilators relax mesenteric microvessels by cyclic GMP-induced stimulation of Ca-activated K+ channels. Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiol.42) H76-H84, 1997.

Gutierrez, J., Clark, S.G., Giulumian, A.D. and Fuchs, L.C. Superoxide anions contribute to impaired regulation of blood pressure by nitric oxide synthase during the development of cardiomyopathy. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 282: 1643-1649, 1997.

Clark, S.G. and Fuchs, L.C. Role of nitric oxide and Ca++-dependent K+ channels in mediating heterogeneous microvascular responses to acetylcholine in different vascular beds. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 282: 1473-1479, 1997.

Fuchs, L.C., Clarke, N. and Hoque, A.M. Correlation between the vascular and hemodynamic effects of behavioral stress in Wistar Kyoto and borderline hypertensive rats. Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol.43) R375-R382, 1998.

Giulumian, A.D., Pollock, D.M., Clarke, N. and Fuchs, L.C. Coronary vascular reactivity is improved by endothelin-A receptor blockade in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol.43)in press, 1998.

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