Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center

University of Missouri

Related Links

• Medical Pharmacology and Physiology profile

Steven S. Segal, PhD

Research Interests

Placeholder

Research Description

Segal's research is focused on understanding the control of tissue blood flow in light of how oxygen delivery increases in response to metabolic demand. During exercise, the recruitment of skeletal muscle fibers (motor units) generates electrical and chemical signals in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of the microvessels that control the distribution and magnitude of muscle blood flow.

Segal's experiments center on elucidating the cellular and molecular events which initiate these signals, how such signals are transmitted from cell to cell to orchestrate vasodilation and vasoconstriction in microvascular networks, and how these integrative processes are governed by the nervous system. Intravital video microscopy enables direct observations of blood flow control in the mammalian microcirculation. Histochemistry and vascular casting are used to quantify the architecture of neural and microvascular networks. Intracellular recording with dye labeling reveals cell-specific electrical signals which determine the contractile status of smooth muscle and its regulation by the endothelium. Calcium imaging provides unique insight into cellular responses which reflect the activity of ion channels and key regulatory enzymes. Complementary studies of isolated microvessels and their constitutive cells enable even greater resolution of specific regulatory processes.

Pharmacology, immunolabeling, and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction are used to resolve the functional expression of proteins which mediate cell-to-cell coupling through gap junctions and electrical signaling through ion channels. Collaborative studies using transgenic mice afford unique insight into how particular signaling pathways affect control processes within the microcirculation. In turn, these basic relationships are being explored in light of how aging affects microvascular structure and function.

Opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral training include: molecular physiology of vascular cells, electrical and optical monitoring of cell signaling, microsurgery and microdissection, intravital video microscopy, conventional and immunohistochemistry, evaluation of gene expression, and modeling the biophysical properties of cells and tissues.

Professional Background

Selected Publications