Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Kurtis G. Cornish, Ph.D.

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ACADEMIC DEGREES:
Graduate School:        Wake Forest University
Postdoctoral Training:  University of Nebraska Medical Center

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Contact Name: Kurtis G. Cornish, Ph.D.
Phone Number: (402) 559-4372
e-mail address: kcornis@unmc.edu

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• GRANT SUPPORT (last 3 years):

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Cardiovascular Research Training Program, National Institutes of Health, $565,792, 07/01/98 to 06/30/2002,  Irving H. Zucker, Director.

ANeuro-Circulatory Function in Heart Failure@, National Institutes of Health, $3,869,416, 07/05/99 to 06/30/2004, Irving H. Zucker, Program Director.  Animal Core, $422,879, Core B, Kurtis G. Cornish, PI

“Short Course: Integrative and Organ Systems Pharmacology”.  Submitted National Institutes of Health 06/25/04.  David Bylund PI, Kurtis G. Cornish, Co-investigator, Peter Abel, Co-Investigator. $560,105.  06/01/2005 - 05/30/2007.

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• PUBLICATIONS (last 3-5 years):

Iverson, P.L., Cornish, K.G., Iverson, L.J., Mata, J.E., Bylund, D.B.   Bolus intravenous injections of phosphorothioate oligonucleosides cause severe hypotension by acting as α1 adrenergic receptor antagonists.  Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 160:289-296, 1999.

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 70Liu, J-L, Pliquett,R.U, Brewer,R., Cornish, K.G., Shen, Y-T., Zucker, I-H.  Chronic Endothelin - 1 Blockade reduces sympathetic nerve activity in rabbits with heart failure.  AM. J. Physiol. Regulatory Integragive Comp Physiol. 280: R1906-R1913, 2001.

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 104Liu, J-L., Pliquett, R. U., Brewer, E., Cornish, K.G., Shen, Y-T. and I.H. Zucker. Chronic endothelin-1 blockade reduces sympathetic nerve activity in rabbits with heart failure. Am. J. Physiology  280:R1906-R1913, 2001

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 138Pliquett, R.U, Cornish, K.G, Peuler, J.D. Zucker, I.H.  Simvastatin Normalizes Autonomic Neural Control in Experimental Heart Failure.  Circulation 107:2493-2498, 2003.

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 172Wang, Y., Patel, K.P., Cornish, K.G., Channon, K.M., Zucker, I.H.  nNOS Gene Transfer to RVLM Improves Baroreflex Function in Rats with Chronic Heart Faliure.  AM. J Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.  285:H1667-2003, 2003

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 206Pliquett, R.U, Cornish, K.G, Patel, K.P, Schultz , H.D., Peuler, J.D., Zucker, I.H.  Amelioration of Depressed Cardiopulmonary Reflex Control of Sympathetic Nerve Activity by Short-Term Exercise Training in Male Rabbits with Heart Failure. J. Appl Physiol 95:1883-1888. 2003

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 240Pliquett, R. U., Cornish, K.G. and I. H. Zucker.  Simvastatin Therapy Restores Sympathovagal Balance in Experimental Heart Failure.  J. Appl. Physiology 95:700-704, 2003

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 274Wang, Y., Liu, X-F., Cornish, KG., Zucker, IH., Patel, KP.   Effects of nNOS Antisense in the Paraventricular Nucleus on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Ratswith Heart Failure.  In Press AM. J. Physiol. 05, 2004.

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 308Gao L., Wang W., Li Y-L., Schultz H.D., Liu D., Cornish K.G., Zucker I.H.  Superoxide Mediates Sympatho-Excitation in Heart Failure: The Roles of Angiotensin II and NAD(P)H Oxidase.  Submitted Circ. Res.  06, 2004

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 342Autonomic Components of Nasopharyngeal Stimulation in Conscious Rabbits: The Role of Angiotensin II Manuscript Number: JAP-01322-2004

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 376Sympatho-excitation by central Ang II: The roles for AT1 receptor upregulation and NAD(P)H oxidase in the RVLM Author list: 1)  Lie Gao 2)  Wang Wei 3)  Yu-Long Li 4)  Harold Schultz 5)  Dongmei Liu 6)  Kurtis Cornish 7)  Irving Zucker (In Press)

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• PREVIOUS GRADUATE STUDENTS/POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS (present location):

Postdoctoral Fellow: Majed Barazanji, M.D., whereabouts unknown.
Doctoral Student: Ardith Ryberg, M.D, Ph.D., Department of Cardiology, Creighton Medical School, Omaha.
Masters Student: Timothy McCulloch, M.S., M.D., present whereabouts unknown.

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• CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:

Currently, not funded as a PI.  Current work is related to the Study of Heart Failure.  However, research interests remain as stated below.

Appropriate countermeasures for cardiovascular and overall deconditioning have been the subject of intense investigation for years. The most successful countermeasure to counter the orthostatic deconditioning experienced immediately upon regress has been the use of volume loading with Anormal saline@ just prior to re-entry.  While this has decreased the immediate orthostatic intolerance, it does not address long-term deconditioning.  One observation has been that growth hormone secretion is significantly depressed during space flight.  GH has the potential of reversing many of the general consequences observed due to deconditioning; it tends to increase extracelular volume a well as improving cardiac performance.  Additionally, it also holds the potential of preventing some of the deconditioning effects observed in muscle and bone.

The objectives of this study, then, are to: 1) determine in the tethered monkey the dose-response effect of GH on ECV, the baroreceptor reflex and the renal control of ECV; 2) demonstrate that GH restores water imbalance that occurs during simulated μG by increasing water intake and decreasing water loss; 3) demonstrate that GH restores the renal control of volume during μG through its action on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system; and 4) demonstrate that GH restores the alterations in the baroreflex control of blood pressure that occurs during simulated μG and that this is, in part, due to the RAA system.  Information from this study can then be advanced to human studies with the intent of eventually integrating GH treatment into the countermeasure procedures used in astronauts.  

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• SPECIALIZED LABORATORY/CLINICAL RESEARCH RESOURCES:

Extensive experience in chronic animal preparation including cardiovascular instrumentation of dogs, monkeys, rabbits and rats.