Research Interests:
The focus of the laboratory is to delineate neuroendocrine mechanisms for the control of secretory function of the adrenal cortex. A major goal is to define the role of adrenal innervation on the control of adrenal corticoid secretion. The secretion and growth of the adrenal cortex is dependent on the pituitary hormone, ACTH. Our work has shown that autonomic neural activity contributes to basal and stress-induced corticosteroid secretion, but the central and peripheral neural pathways involved have not been delineated.
Experiments are directed toward defining the central and peripheral neural circuitry that mediates hypothalamic control of pituitary-adrenal function. In addition to monitoring plasma ACTH and corticosteroid responses, the activity of hypothalamic neurons is assessed by immunolabeling for the immediate early gene product, Fos. Changes in neural and endocrine function are determined after acute and chronic activation of stress pathways.
Other ongoing studies are determining the central and peripheral mechanisms that control rapid decreases in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity observed during water restriction-induced drinking in rats. Experiments showing a physiological link between changes in corticosterone and vasopressin during dehydration have led to work defining the central neural substrate for this association.
Selected Publications:
Arnhold MM, Wotus C, Engeland WC. Differential regulation of parvocellular neuronal activity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus following single vs. repeated episodes of water restriction-induced drinking. Exp Neurol. 2007 Jul;206(1):126-36. Epub 2007 May 3.
Ulrich-Lai YM, Figueiredo HF, Ostrander MM, Choi DC, Engeland WC, Herman JP. Chronic stress induces adrenal hyperplasia and hypertrophy in a subregion-specific manner. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Nov;291(5):E965-73.
Wotus C, Arnhold MM, Engeland WC. Dehydration-induced drinking decreases Fos expression in hypothalamic paraventricular neurons expressing vasopressin but not corticotropin-releasing hormone. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Mar;292(3):R1349-58.
Ulrich-Lai YM, Arnhold MM, Engeland WC. Adrenal splanchnic innervation contributes to the diurnal rhythm of plasma corticosterone in rats by modulating adrenal sensitivity to ACTH. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Apr;290(4):R1128-35.
Geerling JC, Engeland WC, Kawata M, Loewy AD. Aldosterone target neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius drive sodium appetite. J Neurosci. 2006 Jan 11;26(2):411-7.
Engeland, W.C. and M.M. Arnhold Neural circuitry in the regulation of adrenal corticosterone rhythmicity. Endocrine , Special Topic: Recent Developments in Neuroendocrinology 28: 325-332, 2006.
Engeland, W. C., W. B. Ennen, A. Elayaperumal, D. A. Durand and B. K. Levay-Young Zone-specific cell proliferation during compensatory adrenal growth in rats. Am. J. Physiol. (Endo.Metab.) 288: E298-306, 2005.
Ulrich-Lai, Y.M. and W.C. Engeland Sympatho-adrenal activity and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation. In " Handbook on Stress, Immunology and Behavior ", Vol. 15, eds. T. Steckler, N.Kalin, and J.M.H.M. Reul, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, pp. 419-435, 2005.
Former Graduate Students:
Michelle Arnhold (Ph.D. 2008, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Ada I. Fraticelli, (M.S. 2001, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Yve Ulrich-Lai, (Ph.D. 2002, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Cheryl Wotus (Ph.D. 2003, Neuroscience, University of Minnesota).
Michael P. Jasper (Ph.D., Neurobiology, Brown University) Employed
as Senior Manager, Medical Writing at Millennium Pharmaceuticals,
Cambridge, MA
Jagruti Patel (M.S., Biomedical Science, Brown University), Employed
as Plastic Surgeon, Beverly Hospital, Beverly, MA
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