Neuroendocrine,
Autonomic and
Other Homeostatic Systems
The integration
of endocrine and autonomic systems with behavior is
required to keep physiological systems in balance
or to maintain homeostasis. The impairment of specific
homeostatic mechanisms results in a variety of disorders
including obesity, hypertension, gastric ulceration
and depression. Members of the Neuroendocrine, Autonomic
and Other Homeostatic Systems group use molecular,
cellular, systems and behavioral approaches to understand
how the nervous system operates to maintain whole
body function in the face of an ever changing environment.
Some of the current questions in this research area
include: how do different brain regions interact to
influence food intake and energy expenditure; what
areas of the brain subserve opiate control of food
preference; what is the neuroendocrine circuitry that
controls secretion of stress hormones; what behavioral
conditions are responsible for stress-induced ulceration;
how do endocrine and sympathetic systems interact
to control blood pressure; how do hormones control
invertebrate neurodevelopment. The methodology used
in these studies includes molecular biology, electrophysiology,
animal behavior, radiotelemetry for cardiovascular
monitoring, radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemistry
and confocal microscopy. There is extensive collaboration
and interaction between laboratories, including journal
clubs and a graduate course in neuroendocrine and
autonomic control.
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