Eileen M. Hasser

Research interests

• Hypertension and the hormonal control of blood pressure, especially effects in the brain
• Neurohumoral regulation of the circulation

Research summary

Hasser’s research focuses on neurohumoral control of the circulation. The primary interest is in cardiovascular reflex control of the sympathetic nervous system and blood pressure, and how these reflex systems are modulated under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Currently, the laboratory is involved in three primary projects.

The primary goal of the first project is to determine the neurotransmitter/receptor mechanisms involved in altered reflex control of blood pressure in acute and chronic hypertension.

The second project examines the mechanisms responsible for circulatory dysfunction due to cardiovascular deconditioning following prolonged exposure to space flight or bed rest. This project evaluates changes in both cardiovascular regulation and vascular function which may be responsible for the consequences of deconditioning.

The third area of investigation focuses on the reflex effects of circulating humoral factors, which are released under various physiological and pathophysiological states, and subsequently act in the central nervous system to alter cardiovascular regulation. This project examines the central nervous system neurotransmitters and pathways involved in these effects. These questions are examined utilizing conscious animals which are chronically instrumented for recording of blood pressure, blood flow and sympathetic nerve activity. In addition, anesthetized preparations are utilized for experiments involving electrical and chemical stimulation of specific brain regions, microinjections of neurotransmitter agonists and antagonists and central neurophysiological recording. The overall goal of this work is to understand the central nervous system mechanisms underlying cardiovascular regulation in normal and disease states.

Lab staff

• Charlie
• Dana

Select publications

• Dorsal motor vagal neurons can elicit bradycardia and reduce anxiety-like behavior. Strain MM, Conley NJ, Kauffman LS, Espinoza L, Fedorchak S, Martinez PC, Crook ME, Jalil M, Hodes GE, Abbott SBG, Güler AD, Campbell JN, Boychuk CR. iScience. 2024 Feb 6;27(3):109137. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109137. eCollection 2024 Mar 15. PMID: 38420585
• Early central cardiovagal dysfunction after high fat diet in a murine model.Strain MM, Espinoza L, Fedorchak S, Littlejohn EL, Andrade MA, Toney GM, Boychuk CR. Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 21;13(1):6550. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-32492-w. PMID: 37085567
• Protein Kinase C-Dependent Effects of Neurosteroids on Synaptic GABAA Receptor Inhibition Require the δ-Subunit. Littlejohn EL, Boychuk CR. Front Physiol. 2021 Oct 25;12:742838. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.742838. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34759836
• Interplay Between Systemic Metabolic Cues and Autonomic Output: Connecting Cardiometabolic Function and Parasympathetic Circuits. Espinoza L, Fedorchak S, Boychuk CR. Front Physiol. 2021 Mar 11;12:624595. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.624595. eCollection 2021. PMID: 33776789
• Diabetes, and its treatment, as an effector of autonomic nervous system circuits and its functions. Espinoza L, Boychuk CR. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2020 Oct;54:18-26. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2020.06.006. Epub 2020 Jul 25. PMID: 32721846