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Martha L. Blair, Ph.D.

Martha L. Blair, Ph.D.

About Me

Faculty Appointments

Professor Emeritus - Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (SMD)

Credentials

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

Neuroendocrinology (Postdoctoral Sponsor: Wm. F. Ganong), Department of Physiology, University of California at San Francisco 1974 - 1977

Education

PhD | University of Washington. Physiology & Psychology. 1974

BA | Wellesley College. Psychology. 1969

Awards

Dean's Teaching Fellow. 1988 - 1991

Commendation for excellence in first-year medical teaching, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1987

Mellon Foundation Fellow 1985 - 1988

Manuel Goldman Award for Excellence in Medical Teaching, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1983

Research Career Development Award. 1982 - 1987

Commendation for excellence in first-year medical teaching, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1982

Commendation for excellence in first-year medical teaching, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 1981

Mellon Foundation Fellow 1979 - 1982

Young Investigator Award. 1978 - 1981

Sigma Xi. 1969

Research

The goal of our research program is to understand the neural and neuroendocrine mechanisms by which blood pressure and body-fluid balance are regulated. We are particularly interested in those mechanisms that restore blood pressure and volume to appropriate levels when the cardiovascular system is c...
The goal of our research program is to understand the neural and neuroendocrine mechanisms by which blood pressure and body-fluid balance are regulated. We are particularly interested in those mechanisms that restore blood pressure and volume to appropriate levels when the cardiovascular system is challenged by conditions such as blood loss. Because anesthesia alters both sympathetic nervous system and neuroendocrine responses to cardiovascular signals, the majority of our current studies are performed in conscious, unrestrained rats with chronically indwelling vascular catheters.
Our primary research focus is on neural control of the renin-angiotensin system. Renin is a proteolytic enzyme which is secreted by the kidney and results in formation of the peptide hormone angiotensin. Renin secretion increases whenever blood pressure or blood volume decreases below normal levels. Angiotensin causes blood vessels to constrict, and has multiple additional actions which serve to elevate arterial blood pressure and defend blood volume. Our research employs physiological, pharmacological, and neuroanatomical techniques to evaluate the central nervous system and peripheral autonomic pathways that regulate renin release during cardiovascular challenges such as hemorrhage.

We have recently begun to investigate the effects of the female reproductive cycle in cardiovascular regulation. The majority of cardiovascular research has been performed in male subjects. However, recent evidence suggests that estrogen and progesterone may affect multiple facets of cardiovascular regulation. Our recent studies indicate that the ability to restore blood volume after a hemorrhage is significantly affected by the female reproductive cycle. This is an ongoing topic of research.

Publications

Journal Articles

Suppression of Prostate Cancer Cell Rolling and Adhesion to Endothelium by 1 alpha, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3

Hsu, JW; Yasmin-Karim, S; King,M.R.; Wojciechowski, JC; Mickelsen, D.; Blair, M.L.; Ting, HJ; Ma, WL; Lee YF;.

American Journal of Pathology. 2011; .

Capture and enrichment of CD34-positive haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from blood circulation using P-selectin in an implantable device.

Wojciechowski JC, Narasipura SD, Charles N, Mickelsen D, Rana K, Blair ML, King MR

British journal of haematology.. 2008 March 140 (6):673-81. Epub 01/22/2008.

Sex-based differences in physiology: what should we teach in the medical curriculum?

Blair, M.L.

Adv. Physiol. Educ. 2007; 31: 23-25.

Activation of lateral parabrachial nucleus neurons restores blood pressure and sympathetic vasomotor drive after hypotensive hemorrhage.

Blair ML, Mickelsen D

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology.. 2006 September 291 (3):R742-50. Epub 03/30/2006.

Plasma protein and blood volume restitution after hemorrhage in conscious pregnant and ovarian steroid-replaced rats.

Blair ML, Mickelsen D

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology.. 2006 February 290 (2):R425-34. Epub 09/15/2005.

Hormonal responses to the 6-minute walk test in women and men with coronary heart disease: a pilot study.

Radke KJ, King KB, Blair ML, Fitzpatrick PG, Eldredge DH

Heart & lung : the journal of critical care.. 2005 34 (2):126-35. Epub 1900 01 01.

Lesions of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle augment the renin response to blood loss but do not alter hypothalamic Fos expression.

Jaworski RL, Blair ML

Brain research bulletin.. 2004 July 1563 (6):451-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Pregnancy alters lateral parabrachial nucleus but not hypothalamic Fos expression following hypotensive hemorrhage.

Jaworski RL, Piekut D, Blair ML

Brain research bulletin.. 2002 March 1557 (5):595-602. Epub 1900 01 01.

Parabrachial nucleus modulates cardiovascular responses to blood loss.

Blair ML, Jaworski RL, Want A, Piekut DT

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology.. 2001 April 280 (4):R1141-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Forebrain pathways mediating stress-induced hormone secretion.

Van de Kar LD, Blair ML

Frontiers in neuroendocrinology.. 1999 January 20 (1):1-48. Epub 1900 01 01.

Role of paraventricular nucleus parvicellular neurons in the compensatory responses to graded hemorrhage.

Blair ML, Want A, Olschowka JA, Piekut D

The American journal of physiology.. 1998 July 275 (1):R278-85. Epub 1900 01 01.

Sympathetic activation cannot fully account for increased plasma renin levels during water deprivation.

Blair ML, Woolf PD, Felten SY

The American journal of physiology.. 1997 April 272 (4 Pt 2):R1197-203. Epub 1900 01 01.

Female reproductive cycle influences plasma volume and protein restitution after hemorrhage in the conscious rat.

Slimmer LM, Blair ML

The American journal of physiology.. 1996 September 271 (3 Pt 2):R626-33. Epub 1900 01 01.

Conditioned increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) number and corticosterone secretion in the rat.

Buske-Kirschbaum A, Grota L, Kirschbaum C, Bienen T, Moynihan J, Ader R, Blair ML, Hellhammer DH, Felten DL

Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior.. 1996 September 55 (1):27-32. Epub 1900 01 01.

Role of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in cardiovascular regulation.

Blair ML, Piekut D, Want A, Olschowka JA

Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology.. 1996 February 23 (2):161-5. Epub 1900 01 01.

Beta-adrenergic control of renin in sodium-deprived conscious dogs: renal versus extrarenal location.

Blair ML, Gengo FM

Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology.. 1995 August 73 (8):1198-202. Epub 1900 01 01.

Dual adrenergic control of renin during nonhypotensive hemorrhage in conscious dogs.

Blair ML, Hisa H, Sladek CD, Radke KJ, Gengo FM

The American journal of physiology.. 1991 June 260 (6 Pt 1):E910-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Area postrema: essential for support of arterial pressure after hemorrhage in rats.

Skoog KM, Blair ML, Sladek CD, Williams WM, Mangiapane ML

The American journal of physiology.. 1990 June 258 (6 Pt 2):R1472-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Adrenergic control of renin during dietary sodium deprivation in conscious dogs.

Hisa H, Chen YH, Radke KJ, Izzo JL, Sladek CD, Blair ML

The American journal of physiology.. 1989 June 256 (6 Pt 1):E863-71. Epub 1900 01 01.

Lesion of the area postrema region attenuates hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Mangiapane ML, Skoog KM, Rittenhouse P, Blair ML, Sladek CD

Circulation research.. 1989 January 64 (1):129-35. Epub 1900 01 01.

Adrenergic control of renin in euhydrated and water-deprived conscious dogs.

Chen YH, Hisa H, Radke KJ, Izzo JL, Sladek CD, Blair ML

The American journal of physiology.. 1988 December 255 (6 Pt 1):E793-800. Epub 1900 01 01.

Attenuation of spontaneous hypertension in rats by a vasopressin antagonist.

Sladek CD, Blair ML, Sterling C, Mangiapane ML

Hypertension.. 1988 November 12 (5):506-12. Epub 1900 01 01.

Abnormalities in hypothalamic and neurohypophysial vasopressin content are not a consequence of hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Sladek CD, Devine MA, Felten SY, Aravich PF, Blair ML

Brain research.. 1988 March 29445 (1):39-46. Epub 1900 01 01.

Osmotic regulation of vasopressin and renin in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Sladek CD, Chen YH, Aravich PF, Blair ML

Hypertension.. 1987 November 10 (5):476-83. Epub 1900 01 01.

The area postrema in deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension in rats.

Fink GD, Pawloski CM, Blair ML, Mangiapane ML

Hypertension.. 1987 June 9 (6 Pt 2):III206-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Evidence against a pressor role for vasopressin in spontaneous hypertension.

Sladek CD, Blair ML, Mangiapane M

Hypertension.. 1987 April 9 (4):332-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Effects of lesions of hypothalamic catecholamines on blood pressure, fluid balance, vasopressin and renin in the rat.

Davis BJ, Blair ML, Sladek JR, Sladek CD

Brain research.. 1987 March 3405 (1):1-15. Epub 1900 01 01.

Elevation of plasma renin activity by alpha-adrenoceptor agonists in conscious dogs.

Blair ML, Chen YH, Hisa H

The American journal of physiology.. 1986 December 251 (6 Pt 1):E695-702. Epub 1900 01 01.

Vasopressin and renin response to plasma volume loss in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Sladek CD, Blair ML, Chen YH, Rockhold RW

The American journal of physiology.. 1986 March 250 (3 Pt 2):H443-52. Epub 1900 01 01.

Influence of renal perfusion pressure on alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulation of renin release.

Blair ML, Chen YH, Izzo JL

The American journal of physiology.. 1985 March 248 (3 Pt 1):E317-26. Epub 1900 01 01.

Renal norepinephrine overflow during graded renal nerve stimulation before and after beta-adrenoceptor blockade.

Chen YH, Blair ML, Izzo JL

Journal of the autonomic nervous system. 1984 November 11 (3):285-95. Epub 1900 01 01.

Cholinergic stimulation of vasopressin release in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Sladek CD, Blair ML

Hypertension.. 1984 6 (6 Pt 1):855-60. Epub 1900 01 01.

Stimulation of renin secretion by alpha-adrenoceptor agonists.

Blair ML

The American journal of physiology.. 1983 January 244 (1):E37-44. Epub 1900 01 01.

Further studies on the role of angiotensin in the osmotic control of vasopressin release by the organ-cultured rat hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system.

Sladek CD, Blair ML, Ramsay DJ

Endocrinology.. 1982 August 111 (2):599-607. Epub 1900 01 01.

Effects of angiotensin II on membrane current in cardiac Purkinje fibers.

Kass RS, Blair ML

Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology.. 1981 September 13 (9):797-809. Epub 1900 01 01.

Inhibition of renin secretion by intrarenal alpha-adrenoceptor blockade.

Blair ML

The American journal of physiology.. 1981 June 240 (6):E682-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Vasopressin and renin response to dehydration in aged rats.

Sladek CD, McNeill TH, Gregg CM, Blair ML, Baggs RB

Neurobiology of aging.. 1981 2 (4):293-302. Epub 1900 01 01.

Role of peripheral adrenoreceptors and vasopressin in the suppression of plasma renin activity by L-dopa in carbidopa-treated dogs.

Blair ML, Reid IA, Keil LC, Ganong WF

The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.. 1979 September 210 (3):368-72. Epub 1900 01 01.

Effect of L-dopa on plasma renin activity with and without inhibition of extracerebral dopa decarboxylase in dogs.

Blair ML, Reid IA, Ganong WF

The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.. 1977 July 202 (1):209-15. Epub 1900 01 01.

Elevation of plasma renin activity during avoidance performance in baboons.

Blair ML, Feigl EO, Smith OA

The American journal of physiology.. 1976 September 231 (3):772-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Books

Drugs, Enzymes and Receptors of the Renin-Angiotensin System (2000)

Chapter: Renin secretion: Old concepts and new theories (Commentary)

Authors: Blair, M. L.

Publisher: Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam 2000

Vasopressin (1991)

Chapter: Effects of vasopressin analogue in hypertension

Authors: Sladek, C.D., M.L. Blair, and M.L. Mangiapane

Publisher: John Libbey Eurotext Limited, London 1991