Pharmacology of Hypertension-Debra I. Diz, Ph.D.
(left to right: Exazevia Logan, Toni Espinosa, Nori Isa, Ellen Tommasi, Debra Diz, Amy Arnold, Shea Davis, Hossam Shaltout)
The objective of my laboratory is to investigate the mechanistic relation between the brain and kidney in the long-term control of arterial pressure and body fluid volume. Our lab explores the normal function of specific peptidergic systems that interact with cardiovascular reflex areas of the brain by examining actions of peptide transmitters at specific brain sites and by assessing neurotransmitter release. We also investigate the pathological changes that occur in these systems that lead to hypertension. We use neuropharmacolological and physiological approaches, in vitro receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Another area we examine is the interaction of the neural and hormonal system with the kidney, looking at renal ischemia and hypertension. Current projects focus on the role of the brain and renal renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems in hypertension and obesity during aging. Collaborations with other Hypertension Center labs expand my neuropharmacological approach to include exploring cardiovascular function from the cellular to the whole animal level.