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Harvey Weiss
Professor
UMDNJ
Dept. of Physiology/Biophysics
675 Hoes Lane
Room CB10
Piscataway. NJ 08854
(732) 235-4626
FAX - 5038
hweiss@umdnj.edu |
How nitric oxide and its second
messenger cyclic GMP serve as a "brake" on myocardial function and
how this changes in disease. II. The relationship between
excitatory amino acid receptors and cerebral oxygen supply and
consumption balance and the changes in disease
In the heart. we are currently exploring the
relationship between signal transduction and the control of local metabolism. We
are focusing on the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP signal transduction system. which
acts as a "brake" on myocardial function. This system exerts significant control
of oxygen supply/consumption through direct effects on myocytes and vascular
smooth muscle. We are attempting to determine the mechanisms through which this
system operates and how problems like myocardial infarction. heart failure and
obesity affect the responses to this system.
In the brain. excitatory amino acids. such as glutamate. increase cerebral
oxygen consumption. The relative importance of the various glutamate receptors
in the control of cerebral metabolism is not known. Activation of these
receptors also affects cerebral blood flow. How the relationship between
cerebral oxygen supply and consumption is affected by these receptors is not
known. We also wish to determine the importance of the various receptor subtypes
in the control of cerebral metabolism during stroke. Excess activation of these
receptors leads to excitotoxicity.
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