Paul J. Fadel, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Pharmacology and PhysiologyOffice Location: MA415 Health Sciences Center
Office Phone: 573-884-5181
FadelP@missouri.edu
Research Interests
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Research Description
Fadel's laboratory's research focus entails the investigation of neural cardiovascular control at rest and during exercise in humans with a specific emphasis on the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Ongoing studies involve assessing sympathetic responses during various physiological manipulations including isometric and aerobic forms of exercise, lower body negative pressure to simulate the effect of gravity when one stands up, and infusions of pharmacological agents. Studies are performed in normal healthy subjects as well as in patients with various pathophysiological conditions such as heart failure and hypertension. Fadel's laboratory obtains direct measures of sympathetic neural firing using the technique of microneurography. This measurement allows for the assessment of moment-to-moment as well as long term changes in sympathetic nerve activity. Also, with the application of partial autospectral and time series analyses to muscle sympathetic neurograms, investigation into the central origin(s) and pattern(s) of sympathetic discharge in humans has begun. Fadel's current research focus is on the neural mechanisms that contribute to exercise-induced sympathoexcitation as well as the peripheral modulators of sympathetically-mediated vasoconstriction in contracting skeletal muscle with a particular emphasis on the potential roles of free radicals and changes in nitric oxide signaling in altering these responses. Considering the continually increasing population of elderly individuals, the future direction of Fadel's lab will be to begin to examine age related alterations in neural cardiovascular control during exercise. Research in this area has been limited and is extremely important considering that an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise increases the risk for mortality in otherwise healthy adults.
Professional Background
- Obtained BS in physical education, Brooklyn College.
- Obtained MS in clinical exercise physiology, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.
- Obtained PhD in biomedical sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center.
- Completed postdoctoral training at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
- Received New Investigator Award, University of Texas Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School.
- Received American Physiological Society, Neural Control & Autonomic Regulation Section Michael J. Brody Young Investigator Award.
- Received American Physiological Society Research Career Enhancement Award.
- Received American Physiological Society, Caroline tum Suden/Frances A. Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award.
Selected Publications
- Fadel, P.J., Z. Wang, H. Watanabe, D. Arbique, W. Vongpatanasin, and G.D. Thomas. Augmented Sympathetic Vasoconstriction in Exercising Forearms of Postmenopausal Women is Reversed by Oestrogen Therapy. Journal of Physiology, 561.3: 893-901, 2004.
- Fadel, P.J., S.M. Barman, S.W. Phillips, and G.L. Gebber. Fractal Fluctuations in Human Respiration. Journal of Applied Physiology, 97: 2056-2064, 2004.
- Fadel, P.J., D.M. Keller, H. Watanabe, P.B. Raven and G.D. Thomas. Noninvasive Assessment of Sympathetic Vasoconstriction in Human and Rodent Skeletal Muscle Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Doppler Ultrasound. Journal of Applied Physiology, 96: 1323-1330, 2004.
- Fadel, P.J., H.S. Orer, S.M. Barman, W. Vongpatanasin, R.G. Victor, and G.L. Gebber. Fractal Properties of Human Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity. AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 286: H1076-H1087, 2004.
- Abbas, A., P.J. Fadel, Z. Wang, D. Arbique, I. Jialal, and W. Vongpatanasin. Contrasting Effects of Oral vs. Transdermal Estrogen on Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and HDL-SAA in Postmenopausal women. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 24: 1-4, 2004.
- Wray, D.W., P.J. Fadel, M.L. Smith, P.B. Raven, and M. Sander. Inhibition of Alpha Adrenergic Vasoconstriction in Exercising Human Thigh Muscles. Journal of Physiology, 555.2: 545-563, 2004.
- Fadel, P.J., Z. Wang, M. Tuncel, H. Watanabe, A. Abbas, D. Arbique, W. Vongpatanasin, R.W. Haley, R.G. Victor, G.D. Thomas. Reflex Sympathetic Activation during Static Exercise is Severely Impaired in Patients with Myophosphorylase Deficiency. Journal of Physiology, 548: 983-993, 2003.
- Fadel, P.J., M. Stromstad, D.W. Wray, S.A. Smith, P.B. Raven and N.H Secher. New Insights into Differential Baroreflex Control of Heart Rate in Humans. AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 284: H735-H743, 2003.
- Ogoh, S., P.J. Fadel, P. Nissen, O. Jans, C. Selmer, N.H. Secher, and P.B. Raven. Baroreflex-Mediated Changes in Cardiac Output and Vascular Conductance in Response to Alterations in Carotid Sinus Pressure during Exercise in Humans. Journal of Physiology, 550.1: 317-324, 2003.