Physiology
The Department of Physiology at the University of Otago is the largest Department of Physiology in New Zealand. Established in 1905, the Otago Department of Physiology celebrated its 100th anniversary mid-2005. Over the years we have made major contributions to undergraduate science, physical education, medical, dental, pharmacy and physiotherapy education and we are one of the larger departments in the University. We have contributed markedly to biomedical research both nationally and internationally and have trained many postgraduates, a number of whom have attained high international reputation for their research.
Recent Deposits
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Cholinergic modulation of cortical sensory-evoked responses
Cholinergic inputs to the cortex from the basal forebrain are essential for performing complex behaviours that require precise integration of sensory and motor information. However, the role of the basal forebrain cholinergic ... -
Understanding altered intrinsic heart rate in type 2 diabetes
Heart rate (HR) is generated by sinoatrial node (SAN) intrinsic pacemaking and modulated by autonomic innervation. Within the SAN, intrinsic (ex vivo) HR is determined by the mutual entrainment of the sarcolemmal voltage ... -
Regulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor 2 by protein kinase CK2
The cardiac muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is an intracellular Ca2+ channel responsible for the release of Ca2+ during excitation-contraction coupling. It is also implicated in pathological store-overload-induced Ca2+ ... -
Dissecting alterations to arcuate nucleus neuropeptide Y neural circuitry in a model of polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common form of infertility among women of reproductive age. Despite the prevalence of PCOS, the underlying mechanisms behind how PCOS arises and causes infertility remain poorly ... -
Expression of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine in the Rat Brain during Pregnancy and Lactation
During pregnancy, adaptations occur in the maternal brain and body to ensure optimal nutrition for both the mother and fetus. Over nutrition in the mother can lead to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM in mothers is ... -
The functional role of cardiac non-neuronal cholinergic system in the diabetic heart
In type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), insulin resistance and metabolic derangements reduce glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) expression to decrease glucose uptake, and hence the glucose oxidation in the diabetic heart. Further, ... -
Regulation of DEPTOR Ubiquitination by Uric Acid in the Pancreatic β-Cell
As rates of non-communicable disease such as diabetes mellitus raise the questions regarding how these diseases arise becomes more pertinent. One of the major causes of these types of disease is the effects of the modern ... -
The forgotten arm of the fight-flight response: α-adrenergic control of the diabetic heart and interactions with Calmodulin Kinase 2
In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) chronic metabolic stress and associated hemodynamic dysregulation result in a two-fold increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, making CVD a leading cause of death for T2DM patients ... -
Regulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor 2 by protein kinase CK2
The cardiac muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is an intracellular Ca2+ channel responsible for the release of Ca2+ during excitation-contraction coupling. It is also implicated in pathological store-overload-induced Ca2+ ... -
Arterial Hypertension. Consume Carbon Monoxide?
Epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) are generally responsible for the passive movement of sodium ions through the apical cell membrane of salt absorbing epithelia. Canonical ENaC is composed of three homologous subunits, ... -
Characterisation of Arcuate Nucleus Projections to the Paraventricular Nucleus of Thalamus
The metabolic state (fed or hungry) has been shown to influence varying responses to food-associated cues. Recent studies reveal that the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) may play a critical role as it receives ... -
The α-Adrenergic System and CaMKII in Diabetic Heart Disease
The relationship between diabetes mellitus and heart disease is widely documented, with heart disease being the main cause of mortality in diabetic patients. Diabetes impairs the autonomic nervous system, leading to an ... -
The Role of α-ENaC and δ-ENaC in Breast Cancer Cell Migration
Breast cancer is an important disease worldwide, primarily affecting women, and is the most common and deadliest form of female cancer. This is reflected in New Zealand’s population as breast cancer has high incidence and ... -
The role of O-GlcNAcylation in regulating the function and structure of cardiac ryanodine receptors
Diabetes mellitus is projected to be the leading cause of death worldwide by the year 2030 and has been linked to many cardiovascular disorders, which together are known as, diabetic heart diseases (DHDs). DHDs include ... -
Investigating the mechanisms driving circadian and sex differences in the stress axis
The stress response allows the body to adapt to an ever-changing environment. Stress results in the activation of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. ... -
Is sarcopenia a neurodegenerative disease?
Sarcopenia is a major contributor to the loss of independence and deteriorating quality of life in elderly individuals. It is marked by declining skeletal muscle mass and strength beyond the age of 65. Sarcopenia places ... -
Toll like receptor signalling in human colonic organoids
Three-dimensional primary cultures of colonic epithelium, or colonic organoids, are thought to be a suitable culture system to investigate the properties of human intestinal epithelium and its interaction with commensal ... -
Regulation of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Neuron Activity by Noradrenergic Stress Signals
The stress response is crucial for allowing adaptation to an ever-changing external environment. The neuroendocrine stress response is controlled by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons located within the ... -
Characterising the role of Vascular ENaC for Blood Pressure Regulation
Hypertension is characterised by extracellular fluid volume expansion and increased vascular tone. The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in the kidney has a central role in maintenance of extracellular fluid volume. In the ... -
Impact of Dietary Fatty Acids on Neuronal and Metabolic Health
In the past decades, the worldwide prevalence of obesity has nearly trebled. This trend is mainly caused by the permanent availability of food, the consumption of a Western-style diet, and the sedentary lifestyle of our ...