Department of Physiology Seminar Series
Mordecai P. Blaustein, M.D.
Professor
Department of Physiology
Director of Maryland Center for Heart, Hypertension &
Kidney Disease
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
Room 4AB100, Noon- 1:00pm, Thursday, March 9, 2006
“Salt Licks and Salt Tricks: How Salt Elevates Blood Pressure”
Research Interest:
Calcium ions play critical roles in most cellular activities, including fertilization, cell
division, motility and contraction, excitability and secretion. Moreover, altered Ca2+
regulation and signaling plays a key role in many pathological conditions. My research
concerns the regulation of the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration and its role in normal and
pathological cell signaling, especially in vascular smooth muscle (with a focus on the
pathogenesis of salt-dependent hypertension) and in the nervous system.
The sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (S/ER) accumulates and stores Ca 2+ for
subsequent release as “signal Ca2+”. We identified a "signaling complex" region, termed the
“PlasmERosome”, that regulates Ca2+ storage and signaling. The PLasmERosome consists of
3 main elements: certain plasma membrane (PM) microdomains, the adjacent "junctional"
S/ER (jS/ER), and the tiny pocket of cytosol between the PM and jS/ER. Ca2+ is regulated
within this cytosolic region by specific ion channels, transporter isoforms and receptors
contained within the PM microdomains. This, in turn, regulates Ca2+ storage and Ca2+
release (i.e., the Ca2+ signals) from the S/ER. The aim of our research program is to identify
the component transporters within these complexes, and to determine how the complexes are
organized and how they influence local and global Ca2+ concentrations and signaling. We
employ a variety of molecular and cellular biological and biophysical methods, including
digital imaging. Various transgenic mouse lines are used to measure blood pressure in intact
animals and to study the properties of isolated small arteries, individual myocytes, and
cultured myocytes, neurons and astrocytes. Our findings are unraveling the molecular links
between salt and hypertension.
Persons with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids or services are requested to contact Josie
Martinez at least 24 hours prior to this seminar so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Department of Physiology: Josie Martinez
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