Irving H. Zucker

Irving H. Zucker


Professor and Chair
Ph.D. 1972, New York Medical College
Specialty: Cardiovascular physiology
Major Interest: Neural control of the circulation; angiotensin II; nitric oxide; reactive oxidant stress

Lab page: www.wix.com/izucker/zuckerlab

Curriculum Vitae

Our research focuses on the role of the central brain mechanisms on neurohormonal adjustments in cardiovascular regulation in the setting of experimental chronic heart failure. We are interested in the role of substances such as angiotensin II, nitric oxide and reactive oxidant stress as important mediators of sympathetic excitation in the setting of chronic heart failure. Molecular, cellular and whole animal techniques are used to understand abnormal cardiovascular and neural regulation in heart failure. In addition, we are extremely interested in the role of exercise training in ameliorating some of the abnormalities we have found in the central nervous system of animals with heart failure.

These techniques are providing important new information about normal cardiovascular physiology and about the pathophysiology of heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases.

Students in this laboratory learn surgical preparation of chronically instrumented animals and techniques for measuring a variety of cardiovascular parameters in awake, chronically instrumented animals. Molecular biological techniques such as Western blots, real time RT PCR and histological techniques are routinely used.
Zucker figure

  1. Zucker IH, Patel KP, Schultz HD. Normal Stimulation. Heart Fail Clin, 8(1):87-99, 2012. [PMID: 22108729]
  2. Xiao L, Gao L, Lazartigues E, Zucker IH. Brain-selective Overexpression of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme 2 Attenuates Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Enhances Baroreflex Function in Chronic Heart Failure. Hypertension, 58(6):1057-65, 2011. [PMID: 22025374]
  3. Kar S, Gao L, Belatti DA, Curry PL, Zucker IH. Central Angiotensin (1-7) Enhances Baroreflex Gain in Conscious Rabbits with Heart Failure. Hypertension, 58(4):627-34, 2011. [PMID: 21844487]
  4. Zucker IH, Zimmerman MC. The Renin-angiotensin System in 2011: New Avenues for Translational Research. Curr Opin Pharmacol, 11(2):101-4. 2011 [PMID: 21371939]
  5. Gao L, Zucker IH. AT2 Receptor Signaling and Sympathetic Regulation. Curr Opin Pharmacol, 11(2):124-30, 2011. [PMID: 21159555]