Ronald L. Terjung, PhD, DSc
Research Interests
Skeletal muscle, energy metabolism, vascular remodeling, exercise responses and training adaptations
Research Description
Adenine nucleotide metabolism occupies a pivotal role in cell regulation, particularly for skeletal muscle where contractile activity increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis manyfold. The control of ATP concentration in contracting muscle depends upon:
- The control of energy supply pathways;
- Degradation reactions;
- Synthesis reactions from precursors; and
- Contractile activity which determines ATP hydrolysis.
Terjung's lab is evaluating differences in adenine metabolism among skeletal muscle fiber types, critical responses to exercise and adaptations induced by chronic exercise.
Enhanced physical activity represents an important treatment for persons with peripheral arterial insufficiency and leads to meaningful adaptations that increase exercise tolerance. These adaptations include neovascular development to improve a) blood/tissue exchange properties within muscle (enhanced capillarity) and b) flow capacity to active muscle (collateral vessel expansion). The exercise-induced increase in collateral blood flow likely involves the angiogenic growth factors (e.g., bFGF, VEGF). These potent cytokines stimulate neovascularization in experimental ischemia in vivo. The working hypothesis is that neovascularization occurs in response to tissue "need" established by flow deficits (ischemia) and/or by increased demands for vascular support (exercise).
Terjung's research is evaluating:
- The interactions between ischemia, exercise and exogenously infused recombinant angiogenic growth factors;
- The functional significance of the vascular adaptations; and
- The tissue events related to neovacularization.
Professional Background
- Earned PhD, Department of Physiology, University of Iowa.
- Completed National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral training, Washington University School of Medicine.
- Recognized as National Academy of Sciences Foreign Exchange awardee.
- Received NIH Research Career Development Award.
- Fogarty International Fellow
- Received honorary doctorate, conferred by the Medical Academy, Bialystok Poland.
- Received NIH Merit Award.
- Received Cybulski Medal for Scientific Distinction, Polish Physiological Society.
- Received Citation Award, American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
- Presidential Lecture, ACSM.
- Gold Chalk Award, Graduate Professional Council, Univ. of Missouri, 2000.
- Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, 2000.
- Adolph Lecture, Am Physiol Soc EEP Section, EB2008, San Diego, CA
- Served as associate editor and editor, J. Appl. Physiol. and Exercise & Sport Sciences Reviews.
- Served on NIH Study Sections and Scientific Review Panels.
- Research supported by the NIH Institutes, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculosketal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
- Member, Hypertension/Microvasc Study Section, NIH, Bethesda, 2007-2010.
- Chair, Book Committee, American Physiological Society, January 2007-2012.
- Editor-in-Chief, Comprehensive Physiology (Online Handbooks of Physiology) 2009-2012
Selected Publications
- Hancock, C.R., E. Janssen, and R.L. Terjung. Contraction-mediated phosphorylation of AMPK is lower in skeletal muscle of adenylate deficient mice. J. Appl. Physiol. 100:406-413, 2006.
- Carr, A.N., B.W. Howard, H.T. Yang, E. Eby-Wilkens, P. Loos, A. Varbanov, A. Qu, J. Demuth, M.G. Davis, A. Proia, R.L. Terjung, and K.G. Peters. Efficacy of systemic administration of SDF-1 in a model of vascular insufficiency: Support for an endothelium-dependent mechanism. Cardiovasc. Res. 69:925-935, 2006.
- Allen, L.A., R.L. Terjung, and H.T. Yang. Exogenous Fibroblast Growth Factor Increases Collateral Blood Flow In Female Rats with Femoral Artery Occlusion. J. Cardiovasc Pharmacol 47:146-154, 2006.
- Cruze, C.A., F. Su, B.J. Limberg, A.J. Deutsch, P.J. Stoffolano , J. Daia, D.D. Buchanan, H.T. Yang, R.L. Terjung, R.D. Spruella, S.W. Mittelstadt, J.S. Rosenbaum. The Y2 Receptor Mediates Increases in Collateral-Dependent Blood Flow in a Model of Peripheral Arterial Insufficiency. Peptides 28:269-280.2007.
- Taylor, J.C., Z. Li, H.T. Yang, M.H. Laughlin, and R.L. Terjung. Alpha-adrenergic inhibition increases collateral circuit conductance in rats following actue occlusion of the femoral artery. J. Physiol. 586:1649-1667, 2008
- Taylor, J.C., H.T. Yang, M.H. Laughlin, and R.L. Terjung. Alpha-adrenergic and NPY1 receptor control of collateral circuit conductance: Influence of exercise training. J. Physiol. 586:5983-5998, 2008
- Lai, Y., G.D. Thomas, Y. Yue, H.T. Yang, D. Li, C. Long, L. Judge, B. Bostick, J.S. Chamberlain, R.L. Terjung, and D. Duan. Dystrophins carrying spectrin-like repeats 16 and 17 anchor nNOS to the sarcolemma and enhance exercise performance in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy. J. Clin. Invest. 119:624-635, 2009.
- Colleran, P.N., Z. Li, H.T. Yang, M.H. Laughlin, and R.L. Terjung. Vasoresponsiveness of collateral vessels in the rat hindlimb: Influence of training. J. Physiol. 588:1293-1307, 2010.
- Prior, B.M., J. Ren, H.T. Yang, and R.L. TERJUNG. Significant, but limited collateral blood flow increases occur with prolonged training in rats with femoral artery occlusion. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 62:197-205, 2011.
