Integrative Physiology Faculty/Staff

Research Interests:

Sympathetic control of vascular smooth muscle function. The factors that determine the time course of sympathetically-mediated vasoconstriction are investigated in physiological and pathophysiological conditions, such as diabetes mellitus. The research project includes functional studies in humans, experimental animals, and isolated vascular rings. In addition, the role of adrenergic receptors is investigated by transfection studies in isolated vascular smooth muscle cells.
Role of nitric oxide in cardiovascular control and interaction with the sympathetic nervous system. Blood pressure and heart rate control and hemodynamic responses to environmental stressors (heat stress, air jet stress) are investigated in conscious knock-out mice, specifically lacking the endothelial or neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase. In addition, the effects of nitric oxide on catecholamine synthesis (e.g. tyrosine hydroxylase) and its cellular mechanisms are studied in chromaffin cells isolated from adrenal glands obtained from eNOS and nNOS knock-out mice.
Vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictors in atherosclerosis. The mechanisms leading to vascular hyperresponsiveness to angiotensin and other vasoconstrictors are investigated in Apo E and LDL receptor double knock-out mice, that are predisposed to atherosclerosis. The research project includes in-vivo studies and experiments in isolation.

Stauss HM, Rarick KR, Deklotz RJ, and Sheriff DD. Frequency response characteristics of whole body autoregulation of blood flow in rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 296, 2009.

Stauss HM, Petitto CE, Rotella DL, Wong BJ, and Sheriff DD. Very low frequency blood pressure variability is modulated by myogenic vascular function and is reduced in stroke-prone rats. J Hypertens 26: 1127-1137, 2008.

Kolb B, Rotella DL, and Stauss HM. Frequency response characteristics of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 292: H432-H438, 2007.

Langager AM, Hammerberg BE, Rotella DL, and Stauss HM. Very low frequency blood pressure variability depends on voltage-gated L-type Ca⁺⁺-channels in conscious rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 292: H1321-H1327, 2007.

Stauss HM. Identification of blood pressure control mechanisms by power spectral analysis. Clin and Exper Pharmacol and Physiol 34: 362-368, 2007.

Stauss HM. Physiologic mechanisms of heart rate variability. Rev Bras Hipertens 14: 8-15, 2007.

Stauss HM. Power spectral analysis in mice - What are the appropriate frequency bands? Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 2006.

Stauss HM, Moffitt JA, Chapleau MW, Abboud FM, and Johnson AK. Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity estimated by the sequence technique is reliable in rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 291: H482-H483, 2006.

Martinka P, Fielitz J, Patzak A, Regitz-Zagrosek V, Persson PB, and Stauss HM. Mechanisms of Blood Pressure Variability-induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Dysfunction in Mice with Impaired Baroreflex. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 288: R767-R776, 2005.