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Robert Frederick Kirby

GENERAL INFORMATION

Address:

??Department of Psychology
???E11 Seashore Hall
???University of Iowa
???Iowa City, IA 52242

Tel:???(319) 335-2478

E-mail: robert-kirby@uiowa.edu

EDUCATION

1974-77?Western Washington State College

1976-78?Washington State University
??B.S. in Psychology, Cum Laude

1978-79?University of Washington
??Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute
??Research Assistant

1979-83?University of Virginia
??Department of Psychology?
???Master of Arts??- 1983
???Doctor of Philosophy?- 1984

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1984-88?University of Iowa
??The Cardiovascular Center
??Postdoctoral Fellow

1988-94?University of Iowa
??Department of Psychology and The Cardiovascular Center
??Assistant Research Scientist

1994-95?University of Iowa
??Department of Psychology
??Associate Research Scientist and Interim Academic Coordinator

1995-??University of Iowa
??Department of Psychology
??Academic Coordinator and Adjunct Associate Professor

RESEARCH FOCUS

Developmental aspects of neuroendocrine control of cardiovascular function, body fluid regulation, and thermoregulation (complete description follows in Research Interests).

AWARDS

DuPont Fellowship - 1981-1983

Professor of the Year: Elected by students of the University of Iowa

?chapter of Psi Chi - 1993

NHLBI Postdoctoral Fellowship: Project Title:

?"The Psychobiology of Stress-Induced Hypertension"

?11/18/84-11/01/86

NHLBI Research Grant: "Blood Pressure Determinants in the Young"

?to R. M. Lauer; Program Project Director

?Project Title: "Genetic Factors and Postnatal Salt Intake: Effects on

?Cardiovascular Function and Hypertension."

?A. K. Johnson and R. F. Kirby, Co-investigators

?Award Dates 10/01/85-09/30/90

NHLBI Research Grant 1 RO1 HL48815-01A3

?"Renin-Angiotensin During Development in SHR Hypertension"

?R. F. Kirby, Principal Investigator, 50% Effort

?Award Dates: 12/1/94 - 11/30/97

?Direct Costs: 300,109

NIDA Research Grant 1 RO1 DAO7617-01A4

?"Maternal Drug Abuse: Effects Upon the Offspring"

?I. Gormezano, Principal Investigator

?R. F. Kirby, Co-Principal Investigator, 25% Effort

?Award Dates: 7/01/95 - 6/30/98

?Direct Costs: 508,719

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

International Society for Developmental Psychobiology

Sigma Xi

Society for Neuroscience

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Journal Review:?American Journal of Physiology

???Clinical and Experimental Hypertension

???Hypertension

???Neuroscience Letters

???Pediatric Research

???Psychophysiology

???Developmental Psychobiology

???Physiology and Behavior

???Stress

REFERENCES

Dr. A. K. Johnson Department of Psychology and Pharmacology Seashore Hall University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 Tel: (319) 335-2423	Dr. I. Gormezano Department of Psychology Seashore Hall University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 Tel: (319) 335-2431
Dr. R. McCarty Chairman Department of Psychology University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA 22901 Tel: (804) 924-0679	Dr. D. C. Tucker Department of Psychology University of Alabama-Birmingham Campbell Hall University Station Birmingham, AL 35294 Tel: (205) 934-8885
Dr. I. P. Levin Department of Psychology University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 42242 Tel: (319) 335-2451

PAPERS

Wollen, K. A., Cox, S. D., Coahran, M. M., Shea, D. S., & Kirby, R. F. (1980). Frequency of occurance and concreteness ratings of homograph meanings. Behavioral Research Methods and Instrumentation, 12, 8-15.

McCarty, R., & Kirby, R. F. (1982). Spontaneous hypertension and open-field behavior. Behavioral and Neural Biology, 34, 450-452.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Brunjes, P. C. (1983). Neonatal hyperthyroidism: Effects on sympathetic responses to stress in adult rats. American Journal of Physiology, 245, R95-R99.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Garn, P. G. (1984). Strain differences in sympathetic adrenal medullary responsiveness and behavior. Behavior and Neural Biology, 40, 98-113.

Kirby, R. F., & McCarty, R. (1984). Prenatal stress: Effects on sympathetic nervous system development in laboratory rats. In E. Usdin, R. Kvetnansky, & J. Axelrod (Eds.), Stress: The Role of Catecholamines and Other Nuerotransmitters. Vol. 2. NY: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. Pp. 827-838.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Carey, R. M. (1984). Dopamine may be a neurohormone in the rat adrenal cortex. American Journal of Physiology, 247, E709-E713.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Lymangrover, J. R., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1984). Cardiovascular mechanisms of gamma-MSH. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension, A6(10-27), 1727-1730.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Wolff, D. W., Strandhoy, J. W., Lymangrover, J. R., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1985). Sympathetic nervous system mediation of acute cardiovascular actions of gamma-MSH. Hypertension, 7(Suppl I), I145-I150.

Gruber, K. A., Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., & Lymangrover, J. R. (1985). Natriuretic and hypertensinogenic pro-opiomelanocortin derived peptides. Regulatory Peptides, 11, 118-123.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Carey, R. M. (1986). Effects of dietary sodium on dopamine content of rat adrenal cortex. Physiology and Behavior, 37, 785-789.

Kirby, R. F., & McCarty, R. (1987). Ontogeny of functional sympathetic innervation to the heart and adrenal medulla in the preweanling rat. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System, 19, 67-75.

Kirby, R. F., Callahan, M. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1987). Regional vascular responses to an acute stressor in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System, 20, 185-188.

McCarty, R., Cierpial, M. A., Kirby, R. F., & Jenal, T. J. (1987). Development of cardiac sympathetic and adrenal-medullary responses in borderline hypertensive rats. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System, 21, 43-49.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., Cierpial, M. A., & Jenal, T. J. (1987). Accelerated development of cardiac sympathetic responses in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Behavioral and Neural Biology, 48, 321-333.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1988). Sympathetic terminal mediation of the acute cardiovascular response of gamma-2-MSH. Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System, 24, 179-182.

Callahan, M. F., Cunningham, J. T., Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1988). Role of the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V) region of the rat brain in the pressor response to gamma-2-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Brain Research, 444, 177-180.

Kirby, R. F., Callahan, M. F., McCarty, R., & Johnson, A. K. (1989). Cardiovascular and sympathetic nervous system responses to an acute stressor in borderline hypertensive rats (BHR). Physiology and Behavior, 46, 309-313.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Cunningham, J. T., Eskridge-Sloop, S. L., Johnson, A. K., McCarty, R., & Gruber, K. A. (1989). Central oxytocin systems may mediate a cardiovascular response to acute stress in rats. American Journal of Physiology, 256, H1369-H1377.

McCarty, R., Cierpial, M. A., Murphy, C. A., Konarsky, M., & Kirby, R. F. (1989). Sympathetic responses in neonatal and adult hypertensive rats. In G. R. Van Loon, R. Kvetnansky, R. McCarty, & J. Axelrod (Eds.). Stress: Neurochemical and Humoral Mechanisms. Vol. 1. NY: Gordon and Breach Science Pub. Pp. 255-275.

Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1990). Role of beta-2 adrenoceptors in the cardiovascular response of rats to acute stressors. American Journal of Physiology, 258, H683-H688.

Woodworth, C. W., Knardahl, S., Sanders, B. J., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1990). Dam strain affects cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress in BHR. Physiology and Behavior, 47, 139-144.

Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1990). Effects of sympathetic activation on plasma renin activity in the developing rat. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 253, 152-157.

Kirby, R. F., Woodworth, C. H., Woodworth, G. G., & Johnson, A. K. (1991). Beta-2 adrenoceptor mediated vasodilation: Role in cardiovascular responses to acute stressors in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension--Theory and Practice, A13(5), 1059-1968.

Kirby, R. F., Thunhorst, R. L., & Johnson, A. K. (1992). Effects of a nonpeptide angiotensin receptor antagonist on drinking and blood pressure responses to centrally-administered angiotensins in the rat. Brain Research, 576, 348-350.

Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1992). Regulation of sodium and body fluid homeostasis during development: Implications for the pathogenesis of hypertension. Experientia, 48, 345-351.

Kirby, R. F., Novak, C. M., Thunhorst, R. L., & Johnson, A. K. (1994). Role of beta1 and beta2 adrenoceptors in isoproterenol-induced drinking. Brain Research, 655, 79-84.

Greene, P. J., Kirby, R. F., & Suls, J. (1996). The effects of caffeine on blood pressure and heart rate: A review. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 18(3):201-216.

Blumberg, M. S., Sokoloff, G., & Kirby, R. F. (1997) Heart rate of infant rats during cold challenge is modulated by BAT thermogenesis. American Journal of Physiology, 272:R1308-R1313.

Allen, G. J., Kirby, R. F., & Gormezano, I. (in press) Rabbit maternal cocaine administration: Effects on conditioning of the offspringâs nictatating membrane response. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

Kirby, R.F. and Blumberg, M.S. Cardiovascular responses of infant rats to moderate and extreme thermal challenges. Developmental Psychobiology.

Sokoloff, G., Kirby, R. F., & Blumberg, M S. Further evidence that BAT thermogenesis modulates cardiac rate in infant rats. American Journal of Physiology.

Allen, G. J., Kirby, R. F. & Gormezano, I. Cocaine and the Rabbit Nictitating Membrane Response: associative, nonassociative, sensory and motor effects. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

Kirby, R.F. Sokoloff, G, and Blumberg, M.S. Effects of cold exposure on thermoregulatory and heart rate responses in infant Spontaneously Hypertensive rats.

Kirby, R.F. and Blumberg, M.S. Cardiovascular and thermoregulatory interactions during development in SHR and WKY rats. To be published in Handbook of Hypertension: Development of the Hypertensive Phenotype: Basic and Clinical Studies.

Kirby, R. F. and Johnson, A. K. Preweanling renin-angiotensin system blockade reduces blood pressure in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Kirby, R. F., Henry, M., Novak, C. M., Alt, A., & Johnson, A. K. Preweanling renin-angiotensin-system blockade: Effects on body fluid homeostasis in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Davisson, R.L., Kirby, R.F., & Johnson, A. K. Relative contribution of sympathetic nerves and adrenal medulla to cardiovascular responses during two acute stressors in rats.

Kirby, R. F., & McCarty, R. (1981). Development of adrenal medullary and cardiac responses to sympathetic stimulation in rats. Neuroscience Abstracts, 7, 401.

Kirby, R. F., Wilson, C., & McCarty, R. (1982). Effects of prenatal stress on sympathetic nervous system development and behavior in laboratory rats. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Brunjes, P. C. (1982). Neonatal hyperthyroidism: Effects on sympathetic nervous system responses of adult animals to acute stress. Neuroscience Abstracts, 8, 432.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Weick, B. G. (1982). Nutritional state: Effects on heart ornithine decarboxylase activity. Eastern Psychological Association.

Kirby, R. F., Wilson, C., & McCarty, R. (1983). Thyroxine: Effects of age of administration on morphological and behavioral effects in adult rats. Eastern Psychological Association.

Kirby, R. F., & McCarty, R. (1983). Prenatal stress: Effects on sympathetic nervous system development in laboratory rats. Third Symposium on Catecholamines and Other Neurotransmitters in Stress.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Carey, R. M. (1983). Dopamine may be a neurohormone in the adrenal cortex. Neuroscience Abstracts, 9, 108.

McCarty, R., Kirby, R. F., & Jenal, T. J. (1983). Sympathetic nervous system development in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. International Society for Developmental Psychology.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., Lymangrover, J. R., & Gruber, K. A. (1984). Contributions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to cardiovascular actions of gamma-MSH in unanesthetized rats. Neuroscience Abstracts, 10, 1121.

Gruber, K. A., Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Wilkin, L. D., Mitchell, L., D., McRae-Deguerurce, A., Ohman, L. E., Lymangrover, J. R., & Johnson, A. K. (1984). Gamma MSH: A hypotensogenic peptide derived from the pro-opiocortin. Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Ohman, L. E., Gruber, K. A., & Johnson, A. K. (1985). Area postrema and subfornical organ lesions attenuate acute cardiovascular actions of gamma-MSH. Sixth Annual Winter Neuropeptide Conference.

Kirby, R. F., Pontow, S., Callahan, M. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1985). Sympathetic control of renin release in developing rats. Federation Proceedings, 44, 1363.

Lemke, C., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1985). Effects of preweanling naltrexone treatment on open field behavior and hot plate sensitivity in rats. Federation Proceeding, 44, 423.

Ohman, L. E., Callahan, M., Kirby, R., & Johnson, A. K. (1985). Alpha-adrenergic antagonist stimulation of water intake in the rat. Federation Proceedings, 44, 723.

Gruber, K. A., Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Degueurce, A. M., Wilkin, L., D., Lymangrover, J. R., & Johnson, A. K. (1985). Sodium homeostasis: The role of the central nervous system and gamma-MSH secretion. International Symposium on Peptides and Ion Transport.

Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1985). Sympathetic control of plasma renin activity in developing rats. Neuroscience Abstracts, 11, 1153.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Brody, M. J., & Johnson, A. K. (1985). Role of alpha-1 and beta-adrenergic receptors in the cardiovascular responses shown to classically conditioned defense reaction in the rat. Neuroscience Abstracts, 11, 1270.

Kirby, R. F., Callahan, M. F., Cunningham, J. T., Johnson, A. K., & McCarty, R. (1986). Cardiovascular and sympathetic nervous system responses to acute stress in genetically borderline hypertensive rats. Federation Proceedings, 45, 1426.

Pontow, S. E., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1986). A comparison of sympathetic nervous system control of plasma renin activity in preweanling spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Federation Proceedings, 45, 4320.

Johnson, A. K., Callahan, M. F., Cunningham, J. T., & Kirby, R. F. (1986). Lesions of the AV3V attenuate cardiovascular responses to acute footshock stress. Federation Proceedings, 45, 4318.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1986). Bretylium pretreatment alters the cardiovascular responses to gamma-MSH in rats. Federation Proceedings, 45, 837.

Cunningham, J. T., Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1986). Forebrain periventricular lesions inhibit pressor responses to intravenous gamma-2-MSH. Federation Proceedings, 45, 1347.

Kirby, R. F., Pontow, S. E., & Johnson, A. K. (1986). Parental influences upon cardiovascular regulation in the BHR. Neuroscience Abstracts, 12, 582.

Kirby, R. F., Pontow, S., Abboud, A., & Johnson, A. K. (1987). Cardiovascular and plasma renin activity responses to prenalterol in preweanling Sprague-Dawley rats. Federation Proceedings, 46, 1118.

Cunningham, J. T., McGinity, K., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1987). Decreases in AV3V norepinephrine content produce drinking response deficits to angiotensin II (ANG II). Federation Proceedings, 46, 1235.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Eskridge, S. L., Cunningham, J. T., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1987). Blockade of hindbrain VI vasopressin (VP) receptors blocks the tachycardia response to acute footshock stress (FS). Federation Proceedings, 46, 1251.

Eskridge, S. L., Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1987). Increased circulating gamma MSH releases hypophyseal vasopressin. Federation Proceedings, 46, 795.

Kirby, R. F., Fisher, R., Woodworth, C. H., & Johnson, A. K. (1987). Beta-2 adrenoceptors influence the cardiovascular response to an acute stressor in the borderline hypertensive rat. Neuroscience Abstracts, 13, 1034.

Woodworth, C. H., Knardahl, S., Sanders, B. J., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1987). The borderline hypertensive rat: Reciprocal F1 hybrids compared. Neuroscience Abstracts, 13, 746.

Callahan, M. F., Kirby, R. F., Cunningham, J. T., Eskridge, S. L., Johnson, A. K., & Gruber, K. A. (1987). Role of hindbrain vasopressin projections in the cardiovascular (CV) response to stress. Neuroscience Abstracts, Suppl. 22, S329.

Johnson, A. K., & Kirby, R. F. (1987). The effects of beta-2 adrenoceptor blockade on the cardiovascular responses to acute footshock stress in borderline hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. Neuroscience Abstracts, Suppl. 22, S333.

Kirby, R. F., Woodworth, C. H., & Johnson, A. K. (1988). Beta-2 adrenoceptor mediated vasodilation in the hypertensive rat. Neuroscience Abstracts, 14, 615.

Kirby, R. F., Woodworth, C. H., & Johnson, A. K. (1989). Cardiovascular responses to vasodilators in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats. Sixth Annual Symposium on SHR and Related Studies.

Olson, A. L., Perlman, S., Page, W. V., Kirby, R. F., & Robillard, J. E. (1989). Hepatic and renal renin gene expression in suckling borderline hypertensive rats. Society for Pediatric Research.

Kirby, R. F., Woodworth, C. H., Woodworth, G. G., & Johnson, A. K. (1989). Differential cardiovascular effects of footshock and airpuff stressors in Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats. Neuroscience Abstracts, 15, 274.

Woodworth, C. H., Kirby, R. F., Woodworth, G. G., & Johnson, A. K. (1989). Spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats show behavioral differences but cardiovascular similarities in tactile startle. Neuroscience Abstracts, 15, 274.

Robillard, J. E., Kirby, R. F., Page, W. V., Olson, A. L., & Perlman, S. (1990). Effect of dietary salt manipulation on kidney renin gene expression in artificially-reared newborn WKY rats. American Pediatric Society.

Knardahl, S., Kirby, R. F., Davisson, R., & Johnson, A. K. (1990). Effects of beta-2 adrenoceptor antagonism on regional blood flow changes to stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. FASEBJ, Vol. 4, A856.

Davisson, R., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1990). Adrenomedullary contribution to stress-induced vasodilation mediated by beta-2 adrenoceptors in the rat. Neuroscience Abstracts, 16, 862.

Robillard, J. E., Kirby, R. F., Page, W. V., Olson, A. L., & Perlman, s. (1990). Effect of dietary salt manipulation on kidney renin gene expression in artificially-reared newborn WKY rats. American Pediatric Society.

Robillard, J. E., Page, W. V., Kirby, R. F., Olson, A. L., & Perlman, s. (1990). Effects of dietary salt manipulation on tissular renin and angiotensinogen gene expression in artificially-reared newborn WKY rats. American Society of Nephrology.

Kirby, R. F., Thunhorst, R. L., & Johnson, A. K. (1991). Effects of DuP 753 on dipsogenic challenges in the rat. FASEB J, Vol. 5(5), A1145.

Janes, M., Kirby, R., Werth, J., & Johnson, A. K. (1991). Increased dietary sodium chloride suppresses plasma renin activity in the artificially-reared preweanling rat. FASEB J, Vol. 5(5), A657.

Kirby, R. F., Page, W. V., Cutshall, S., Porter, C. C., & Robillard, J. E. (1991). Effect of dietary salt manipulation on kidney renin gene expression in artificially reared newborn SHR and WKY rats. American Pediatric Society.

Page, W. V., Kirby, R. F., Cutshall, S., Porter, C. C., & Robillard, J. E. (1991). Regulation of angiotensinogen (Ag) gene expression in newborn SHR and WKY rats: Effects of dietary sodium. American Pediatric Society.

Thunhorst, R. L., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1992). Effects of renal denervation on salt appetite during hypovolemia in the rat. FASEB J, Vol. 6(5), A1837.

Kirby, R. F., Nanda, A., Henry, M., & Johnson, A. K. (1992). Preweanling losartan treatment reduces adult blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. FASEB J, Vol. 6(5), 1872.

Kirby, R. F., Henry, M., Alt, A., Novak, C., Reveiz, A., & Johnson, A. K. (1992). Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade during preweanling development produces long-term increases in water intake in rats. Neuroscience Abstracts, 18, 742.

Uyehara, C. F. T., deSilva, A., Matsuda, L., Kirby, R. F., Robillard, J. E., & Nakamura, K. T. (1993). Removal of maternal influence in the neonatal period does not alter the development of genetic hypertension in artificially reared spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). American Pediatric Society.

Kirby, R. F., Alt, A., Novak, L., Flanagan, L., Henry, M., & Johnson, A. K. (1993). Effects of preweanling losartan treatment on humoral systems regulating body fluid balance. Neuroscience Abstracts, 19, 1238.

Novak, C., Blumberg, M., Thunhorst, R., Johnson, A. K., & Kirby, R. F. (1993). The relative contributions of beta-1 and beta-2 adrenoreceptors to isoproterenol-induced drinking. Neuroscience Abstracts, 19, 1696.

Porter, C. C., Cutshall, S. I., Kirby, R. F., Page, W. V., & Robillard, J. E. (1994). Renal alpha-1B adrenergic receptor (a1b-AR) response to dietary sodium (Na) in artificially reared Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rat pups. Society for Pediatric Research.

Thunhorst, R. L., Kirby, R. F., & Johnson, A. K. (1994). Renal denervation selectively reduces salt appetite in rats. Neuroscience Abstracts,

Kirby, R. F., Marshall, K. A., & Johnson, A. K. (1994). Antagonism of angiotensin type1 receptors stimulates plasma renin activity in preweanling SHR and WKY rats. Neuroscience Abstracts,

Perdomo, E., Johnson, A. K., & Kirby, R. F. (1996). Mother/pup interactions during preweanling development in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Neuroscience Abstracts.

Kirby, R.F., Sokoloff, G., & Blumberg, M.S. (1996). Thermoregulatory responses to cold challenge in infant spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology.

Blumberg, M.S., Sokoloff, G., & Kirby, R.F. (1996). Infant rat ultrasound as by-product: Cardiovascular considerations. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology.

Blumberg, M. S., Sokoloff, G., & Kirby, R. F. (1997). BAT thermogenesis contributes directly to the maintenance of cardiac rate in infant rats and hamsters during cold exposure. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology.

Kirby, R. F., Perdomo, E., Deaver, K., Sokoloff, G., & Blumberg, M. S. (1997). Diminished BAT thermogenesis in infant SHR compared to WKY rats. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology.

Perdomo, E., Deaver, K., Johnson, A. K., & Kirby, R. F. (1997). Mother/pup contact patterns in SHR and WKY and cross-fostered animals across the light/dark cycle. International Society for Developmental Psychobiology.

Perdomo, E., Johnson, A. K., & Kirby, R. F. (1997).Effects of beta-blockade on the thermogenic response to cold exposure in Wistar Kyoto and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Neuroscience Abstracts.

COLLOQUIA

The Development of Sympathetic Nervous System Control of Renin Release in Laboratory Rats. Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. May 1986.

Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Renin-Angiotensin System in Genetic Models of Hypertension in the Developing Rat. The Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. September 1986.

Sympathetic Nervous System Control of the Renin-Angiotensin System During Development in Normal and Pathological States. Southwest Regional Primate Institute, San Antonio, TX. March 1987.

Question Authority: Lessons from Behavioral Pharmacology. Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. April 1993.

Role of the Renin-Angiotensin System in the Development of Hypertension. The Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. November 1994

SYMPOSIA

Kirby, R. F., Callahan, M. F., & Johnson, A. K. Regional vascular responses to acute stress in hypertensive rats. Symposia on Behavior and Arterial Hypertension, Fifth European Winter Conference on Brain Research, Vars-Les-Claux, France. March 1985.

Kirby, R. F., Johnson, A. K., & Callahan, M. F. Hemodynamic Response Patterns to an Acute Stressor in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Applied Psychophysiology in Hypertension, Satellite Symposium to the 11th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension, Bonn, Germany. September 1986.

Kirby, R. F. Central Control of Regional Hemodynamic Responses to Environmental Stressors. Symposia on Neural Mechanisms in Cardiovascular Regulation, Saxtons River, Vermont. June 1990.

Kirby, R. F. RAS During Development in Pathogenesis of Hypertension. Symposia on Maternal Influences in the Pathogenesis of CV Disease, American Psychological Society, Washington, DC. June 1991.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

?My current research is focused on the role of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) and sympathetic nervous system in the maintenance of body fluid and cardiovascular homeostasis. These systems play a critical role in the regulation of body fluid and cardiovascular regulation because they serve as the interface between the central nervous system and peripheral tissues that maintain homeostasis. The two primary directions of research that are examined are: (i) What role do the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin systems play in maintaining homeostasis during preweanling development and how does this shape adult function, and (ii) how do environmental stressors affect sympathetic control of cardiovascular function and can specific response patterns be related to pathological states such as high blood pressure? Both of these lines of investigation make extensive use of an animal model of human essential hypertension known as the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). This strain has been genetically bred to develop high blood pressure in adulthood and demonstrate sympathetic and behavioral hyperresponsiveness to stress that has been proposed as an etiological factor in their hypertension. The use of SHR in my work serves as an applied line research that can answer basic questions on the role of development in shaping adult function.

?Hydromineral balance is maintained through a balancing act between neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating ingestion and excretion. In the young rat, the shift of ingestive behavior from suckling to the independent selection of appropriate fluid and electrolytes is a necessary event that must occur for the development of independence. Effective neuroendocrine mechanisms to regulate both ingestion and excretion in a cohesive manner must therefore be functional before this shift can occur.

?

?In the young spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), ingestive behavior and retention mechanisms are altered in a direction that could lead to their high blood pressure in later life. Water intake, sodium appetite, and sodium retention are all elevated at the time of weaning. Because each of these phenomena may be influenced by RAS activity, and the reports of increased RAS activity during preweanling development in SHR, I hypothesized that increased RAS activity in SHR during preweanling development may lead to their adult expression of hypertension. This hypothesis was addressed by blocking receptors for the hormone during the late preweanling period, when a pup shifts from suckling to independent ingestive behavior. While this hypothesis was supported by the finding of reduced blood pressure in adult SHR, two other interesting responses were found to result from RAS blockade during the preweanling period. First, body weight development is suppressed during the period of blockade, and second, there is a selective increase in water intake that persists into adulthood.

?In a series of studies, we have demonstrated that the effects on body weight and water intake do not occur if RAS blockade is delayed until after weaning and occur in both the hypertensive strain of rats and their normotensive control strain. In contrast, the blood pressure reduction only occurs in the hypertensive strain of rats and does not occur in the control strain. These findings suggest that preweanling development serves as a sensitive period in which activity of the RAS shapes behavioral mechanisms regulating hydromineral balance and cardiovascular regulation into adulthood.

?Our adult studies have examined sympathetic control of cardiovascular function in response to environmental stressors. We have been especially interested in sympathetic activity in rats of varying genetic predispositions to develop hypertension. Numerous investigators have proposed a key role for sympathetic responses to stress in the etiology of human essential hypertension. Studies in the SHR have lent support to this view. The SHR express high blood pressure and increased sympathetic and behavioral reactivity to environmental stressors. In our studies, we have found that SHR respond to stressors with a characteristic change in cardiovascular function referred to as the "defense response" that includes increased heart rate and a directing of blood to skeletal muscles. By recording blood pressure and blood flow to specific vascular beds we have found that blood pressure can be maintained at resting levels even though flow to specific vascular beds is drastically changed. This reapportioning of blood flow is exaggerated in the SHR compared to their normotensive control strain even though both strains show similar changes in arterial blood pressure. Therefore the behavioral hyperresponsiveness of SHR to stress is reflected by specific blood flow changes driven by centrally-mediated activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

?The changes in sympathetic activity, blood flow, and behavior serve as indices of central activation to a stressor. By examining the cardiovascular response patterns to stressors that vary in their ability to produce hypertension, we may identify the central nervous system pathways that become activated. The outcome of these studies may indicate why some stressors produce pathological changes, such as high blood pressure, and the central nervous system sites that mediate this disorder.

Teaching and Student Supervision

Courses Taught:?Neurobiology and Behavior (lab)

???General Psychology

???Fundamentals of Neuropsychology

???Developmental Psychobiology

???Behavioral Neuroscience

???Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology

?During my graduate training I instructed seven semesters of a psychobiology laboratory course designed to introduce students to a number of classic experiments relating neurobiology and behavior. The course included weekly lectures and five graded research papers that taught the students American Psychological Association writing format. In teaching this course I gained valuable experience with many types of equipment necessary for conducting research in psychology and physiology. I also served as a teaching assistant for an animal behavior lecture course and its associated laboratory course. For the laboratory section I was involved in both the design and preparation of weekly experiments.

?As a postdoctoral fellow I continued to be involved in teaching, giving guest lectures on central catecholamines and behavior, stress and cardiovascular disease, and animal models for studies on the relationship between psychology and disease. In addition, I prepared and taught a course in Developmental Psychobiology. This course had not been offered previously at the University of Iowa and was designed as an upper division undergraduate and graduate student course. Teaching in these courses served as a useful means for exposing students to the benefits of animal research and led to a number of students becoming actively involved in our laboratory's research.

?From 1991-1994 I served as an instructor in the Psychology department, teaching undergraduate courses and serving as an undergraduate advisor to 40-50 students per semester. I taught one or two courses each semester and was selected as the Psychology Professor of the Year by the undergraduate honor society, Psi Chi. Because of my interest in working with undergraduate students, I was offered and accepted the half-time position of Academic Coordinator for Undergraduate Education in the Psychology Department of the University of Iowa. In this position, I oversee all undergraduate advising within our department, serve as the liaison between our department and the College of Liberal Arts for issues concerning undergraduate education, and serve on the Committee for Undergraduate Studies within the department. I also serve as a faculty representative to the Iowa Student Psychology Association and the University of Iowa chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society in Psychology. The position of Academic Coordinator allows me to directly pursue my interest in improving undergraduate education and working directly with students.

Undergraduate Honors Students

Cindy A. Lemke (1985). Effects of preweanling naltrexone treatment on open field behavior and hot plate sensitivity in rats.

Ronald J. Fisher (1986). The opioid system and its emerging developmental link with stress.

Robin Davisson (1988). The effects of high salt and potassium on the preweanling rats cardiovascular system.

Mark Janes (1990). Dietary protein manipulation and renal development in the pathogenesis of hypertension.

Arvin K. Nanda (1991). High protein and subcutaneous angiotensin II antagonist effects on the developing spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Andrew J. Alt (1993). Effects of preweanling blockade of the renin-angiotensin-system on body fluid balance.

Colleen M. Novak (1993). The relative contributions of beta1 and beta2 adrenoceptors to isoproterenol-induced drinking.

Pamela M. Schneider (1993). Alzheimer's disease and the role of beta-amyloid.

Kelley Ruehs (1994). The age-dependent effects of renin-angiotensin system blockade on drinking behavior.

Ann E. Grevas (1995). Effects of cross-fostering on blood pressure regulation in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Kelsey A. Marshall (1996). Neural mechanisms controlling the renin-angiotensin system during early development in hypertension.

Tris Jacqueline Curtis (1996). The role of the renin-angiotensin system in the ontogeny of drinking behavior in rats.

Trayce R. Peterson (1996). Mother/pup interactions during the preweanling period in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Jennifer E. Turnis (1997). The effects of cross-fostering on the morphology and thermoregulatory ability of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Last modified: September, 1997