The Endocrinology Research Laboratory under the direction of Dr Saul Powell is presently focused on the study of the role of intracellular oxidative stress and cardiac contractile dysfunction. Areas of focus include:

1. The role of proteosome removal of oxidized proteins in cardiac contractile function. Proteosomes are cytoplasmic units whose role is to remove damaged proteins. The laboratory is studying whether actin, an important cytoskeletal protein is oxidized during ischemia of the heart and whether removal of oxidized actin by proteosomes is important for the recovery of normal function in an ischemic rat heart model. The link between proteosome function and myocardial cell apoptosis is also being investigated in our laboratory.
2. The role of diabetes-induced hyperglycemia on oxidation of actin proteins in the heart. Diabetes mellitus is associated with greater morbidity and mortality following an acute ischemic myocardial event. The interrelationships between hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and reperfusion injury is being studied in a rat heart model.
3. There are new oral drugs, thiazolidenediones that are PPAR-alpha and -gamma activators, which have several actions favorable to cardiac function in diabetics. First, these agents are insulin sensitizers which lower insulin level and improve glucose uptake in various tissues. Secondly, these agents may reduce ischemic reperfusion injury by a variety of mechanisms. We are interested in studying the actions of these agents on myocardial tissue during reperfusion injury.